1. Oklahoma Master Gardeners Basic Entomology for the Home and Landscape Eric J. Rebek Dept. of Entomology and Plant Pathology

2. MG Questions and Answers How can I manage insect pests without insecticides? Why are my pine trees dying? Do some plants repel mosquitoes? Why doesn’t this insecticide work? Oklahoma State UniversityOklahoma Master Gardeners

3. Keys to Insect Management Know your adversary Oklahoma State UniversityOklahoma Master Gardeners Know your landscape Know your tools for control

4. Know Your Landscape Preemptive gardening –good first step in keeping many problems from ever occurring (i.e., preventative maintenance) –proper plant material –proper site identification –proper fertility and watering –overall, good horticultural practices to maintain plant health Oklahoma State UniversityOklahoma Master Gardeners

5. Know Your Landscape Some insects are commonly associated with certain plants Oklahoma State UniversityOklahoma Master Gardeners

6. Know Your Landscape Some of these close associations create a nuisance for the home or landscape Oklahoma State UniversityOklahoma Master Gardeners

7. Know Your Landscape Location of materials in the landscape can affect potential pest problems Oklahoma State UniversityOklahoma Master Gardeners

8. Know Your Adversary Why Study BUG Science? Oklahoma State UniversityOklahoma Master Gardeners Proper ID Associate injury symptoms with pest Selection of proper control strategy

9. Classification of Japanese Beetle  Kingdom Animalia  Phylum Arthropoda  Class Insecta  Order Coleoptera  Family Scarabaeidae  Genus Popillia  Species japonica Oklahoma State UniversityOklahoma Master Gardeners

10. The Arthropods The most abundant, diverse life form on the planet (3/4 of known animal species) Our chief competitor for food, and a major source of potential health problems and annoyance Most are NOT a problem for us Oklahoma State UniversityOklahoma Master Gardeners Phylum Arthropoda (ahr thrŏ pod a)

11. The Arthropods 100,000 species in North America 1,000 species in a typical backyard Mostly beneficial or harmless –Pollination –Food for birds, fish, frogs, etc. –Produce honey, wax, shellac, silk Less than 2% are pests –Destroy food crops, ornamentals –Attack humans, livestock, and pets –Transmit disease Oklahoma State UniversityOklahoma Master Gardeners

12. Arthropod Diversity Coleoptera Lepidoptera Hymenoptera Diptera Hemiptera Other insects Other arthropods

13. What Is an Arthropod? Skeleton on the outside of the body Distinct body segmentation Paired, jointed appendages Dorsal, tubular heart valves Double, ventral nerve chord Open circulatory system Oklahoma State UniversityOklahoma Master Gardeners All arthropods have:

14. Classes of Arthropods Malacostraca (crayfish, lobsters, sowbugs pillbugs)  crustaceans Arachnida (spiders, mites, ticks, scorpions) Chilopoda (centipedes) Diplopoda (millipedes) Insecta (true bugs, beetles, butterflies, wasps, fleas, grasshoppers, silverfish, etc.) Oklahoma State UniversityOklahoma Master Gardeners

15. The Arachnids –Two body regions (cephalothorax + abdomen) –No antennae, never winged –4 pairs of legs Oklahoma State UniversityOklahoma Master Gardeners Class Arachnida (a-rach’-nid-a) Mite Scorpion Spider Tick Harvestman

16. The Chilopods –Two main body regions –Flattened body –30 to 340 legs (1 pair per body segment) –1 pair antennae –Predaceous, can be venomous Oklahoma State UniversityOklahoma Master Gardeners Class Chilopoda (chi lo po da) Centipedes

17. The Diplopods –2 body regions –Body generally rounded –1 pair of antennae –80-400 legs (2 pair per body segment) –Feed on decaying organic matter –Often coil when disturbed Oklahoma State UniversityOklahoma Master Gardeners Class Diplopoda (dip lo po da) Millipedes

18. The Insects Beetles, wasps, butterflies, cicadas, grasshoppers, roaches Oklahoma State UniversityOklahoma Master Gardeners Class Insecta (in sec ta) 3 body regions (head + thorax + abdomen) 3 pairs of legs 1 pair of antennae 0, 1 or 2 pair of wings

19. Insect Physiology 101 Oklahoma State UniversityOklahoma Master Gardeners The insect body is made of a substance called chitin; it must be shed for the insect to grow

20. Insect Growth Metamorphosis Series of changes an insect passes through in its growth and development Growth and development occur through the process of ecdysis (shedding the exoskeleton, or molting) Each molt allows insect to get bigger, change shape, and mature Oklahoma State UniversityOklahoma Master Gardeners

21. Insect Growth Ametabolous Growth –Increase in size, but no changes in characteristics of the insect Oklahoma State UniversityOklahoma Master Gardeners

22. Insect Growth Ametabolous Growth –Protura (Proturans) –Diplura (Diplurans) –Thysanura (Silverfish) –Collembola (Springtails) Oklahoma State UniversityOklahoma Master Gardeners

23. Insect Growth Paurometabolous Development = gradual metamorphosis –Three life stages (egg, nymph, adult) –Change in size, and addition of adult structures, such as reproductive organs, wings. Oklahoma State UniversityOklahoma Master Gardeners

24. Insect Growth - Isoptera (Termites) -Dermaptera (Earwigs) -Phthiraptera (Lice) - Psocoptera (Booklice) - Zoraptera(Angel insects) Oklahoma State UniversityOklahoma Master Gardeners Gradual Metamorphosis

25. Insect Growth -Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, Roaches, Walkingsticks, Mantids) -Thysanoptera (Thrips) - Hemiptera (True Bugs, Aphids, Scales, Leafhoppers, Plant Hoppers, Whiteflies) Oklahoma State UniversityOklahoma Master Gardeners Gradual Metamorphosis

26. Insect Growth Hemimetabolous Development = simple (incomplete) metamorphosis –Three life stages (egg, naiad, adult) –Immature stage is aquatic Oklahoma State UniversityOklahoma Master Gardeners

27. Insect Growth Incomplete Metamorphosis - Ephemeroptera (Mayfly) - Odonata (Dragonfly) - Plecoptera (Stonefly) Oklahoma State UniversityOklahoma Master Gardeners

28. Insect Growth Holometabolous Development = complete metamorphosis –Four life stages (egg, larva, pupa, adult) Oklahoma State UniversityOklahoma Master Gardeners

29. Insect Growth Complete Metamorphosis - Neuroptera (Lacewings) - Coleoptera (Beetles) - Mecoptera (Scorpionfly) - Lepidoptera (Butterfly) - Diptera (True Fly) - Siphonaptera (Flea) - Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps) Oklahoma State UniversityOklahoma Master Gardeners

30. Insect Orders Insects can be grouped into orders quite easily with a bit of practice. Key in on the following: –Wing type and number –Mouthparts –Type of development –Other body structures (legs, antennae, etc.) Oklahoma State UniversityOklahoma Master Gardeners

31. Insect Mouthparts Oklahoma State UniversityOklahoma Master Gardeners Chewing

32. Insect Mouthparts Oklahoma State UniversityOklahoma Master Gardeners Chewing-lappingSponging Honeybee House fly

33. Insect Mouthparts Oklahoma State UniversityOklahoma Master Gardeners Piercing-sucking Leafhopper Flea Mosquito Louse Stable Fly

34. Insect Mouthparts Oklahoma State UniversityOklahoma Master Gardeners SiphoningRasping ThripsButterfly

35. Insect Wings Oklahoma State UniversityOklahoma Master Gardeners Beetle - elytra Thrips – fringed True bug - hemelytra Grasshopper - tegmina Wasp – membranous

36. Antennae Oklahoma State UniversityOklahoma Master Gardeners

37. Legs Oklahoma State UniversityOklahoma Master Gardeners

38. Major Groups of Insects Coleoptera (= sheath-winged) - Beetles Oklahoma State UniversityOklahoma Master Gardeners Complete metamorphosis Chewing mouthparts Hardened wing covers (elytra) on adults, antennae are various

39. Major Groups of Insects Diptera (= two-winged) - Flies, gnats, mosquitoes Oklahoma State UniversityOklahoma Master Gardeners Complete metamorphosis Mouthparts various 1 pair of membranous wings, and 1 pair of little knobs called halteres (= hindwings)

40. Major Groups of Insects Hemiptera (= half-winged) - True bugs Oklahoma State UniversityOklahoma Master Gardeners Gradual metamorphosis Piercing-sucking mouthparts 2 pairs of wings with hemelytra (outer wings); half membranous and half leathery

41. Major Groups of Insects Hemiptera - Aphids, scales, whiteflies, leafhoppers, cicadas Oklahoma State UniversityOklahoma Master Gardeners Gradual metamorphosis Piercing-sucking mouthparts 2 pairs of clear wings, some wingless Some reproduce without males

42. Major Groups of Insects Hymenoptera (= membrane-winged) - Ants, bees, wasps Oklahoma State UniversityOklahoma Master Gardeners Complete metamorphosis Chewing mouthparts Membranous wings

43. Major Groups of Insects Lepidoptera (= scale-winged) - Butterflies, moths, skippers Oklahoma State UniversityOklahoma Master Gardeners Complete metamorphosis Siphoning mouthparts (adult), chewing mouthparts (larva) 2 pairs of wings with colored scales

44. Major Groups of Insects Orthoptera (= straight-winged) - Grasshopper, cricket, praying mantis, walkingstick, cockroach Oklahoma State UniversityOklahoma Master Gardeners Gradual metamorphosis Chewing mouthparts Outer wings leathery, inner ones membranous

45. Major Groups of Insects Neuroptera (= nerve-winged) - Lacewings, antlions, snakeflies, mantispids, dobsonflies Oklahoma State UniversityOklahoma Master Gardeners Complete metamorphosis Chewing mouthparts (adult), piercing mouthparts (larva) Membranous wings with many veins Most are predaceous

46. Major Groups of Insects Thysanoptera (= fringe-winged) – thrips Oklahoma State UniversityOklahoma Master Gardeners Gradual metamorphosis Rasping-sucking mouthparts 2 pairs of “feathery” wings