1. Insect Classification
Insects & Diseases

2. Kingdom Phylum Class > Order Family Genus Species
Remember the classification scheme?
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
> Order
Family
Genus
Species

3. Approximately 30 orders.
Most are insignificant and are only studied for scientific purposes.

4. Non-Insect Pests Mites Ticks Spiders Mollusks (also spelled mollusc)
Snails
Slugs

5. Coleoptera - Beetles
Largest number of species – 1 in 5 living creatures is a beetle!
Mostly CHEWING MOUTHPARTS
Complete Metamorphosis
Two pairs of wings
Front pair thick, hard, meet in a line
Back pair membranous, used for flight
Some of our best known pest species
Japanese beetle
white grub
weevils
rootworms

6. Coleoptera (beetles) Greek “koleos”= sheath, “ptero”= wing

7. Coleoptera (beetles)
Spot ID
Chewing mouthparts

8. Coleoptera (beetles) Spot ID Chewing mouthparts
Forewings (elytra) form hard shell covering hindwings

9. Lepidoptera – Butterflies & Moths
Variable size
Adults have 2 pairs of membranous wings covered with scales
Antennae usually knobbed, thread-like, or feathery
Complete metamorphosis
Mouthparts
Adults – lapping or sucking
Larvae – chewing

11. Lepidoptera (butterflies & moths) Greek “lepido”= scale, “ptero”= wing
Coiling-sucking mouthparts

12. Lepidoptera (butterflies & moths) Greek “lepido”= scale, “ptero”= wing
Coiling-sucking mouthparts
Four wings covered with scales

14. Many familiar friends and foes in Lepidoptera:
Caterpillars
Butterflies
Moths
Cutworms
Armyworms
Borers
Leafminers

15. Diptera - Flies One pair of wings Halteres in place of hindwings
Piercing, sucking, sponging mouthparts
Complete metamorphosis
Larvae known as maggots
usually legless, many aquatic
Important econ. pest, disease vectors
Mosquitos, flies
Mostly beneficials for hort. crops

16. Diptera (flies) Latin “di”= two, “ptero”= wing

17. Diptera (flies) Latin “di”= two, “ptero”= wing
Spot ID
Two wings

18. Diptera (flies) Latin “di”= two, “ptero”= wing
Spot ID
Two wings
Hind wings reduced to halteres

19. Diptera (flies) Latin “di”= two, “ptero”= wing
Spot ID
Two wings
Hind wings reduced to halteres
Sponging-sucking mouthparts
Except mosquitoes and some others that pierce skin

20. Hymenoptera – Ants, Bees, & Wasps
Two pairs of wings or wingless
Antennae with 10 or more segments
Mouthparts chewing/lapping
Complete metamorphosis
Female ovipositor may be modified into stinger or saw-like structure
Many are colonial
Many harmful and beneficial species
bees, wasps, ants, sawflies

21. Hymenoptera (bees, wasps, & ants) Greek “hymen”=membrane, “ptero”=wing or Hymen, the Greek god of marriage because the forewing & hindwings are joined together with small hooks
Hooks not shown

22. Hymenoptera (bees, wasps, ants)
Spot ID
Chewing mouthparts
Because they are joined together and the hindwings are often small, it can be difficult to tell whether there are four wings.

23. Hymenoptera (bees, wasps, ants)
Spot ID
Chewing mouthparts
Four membranous wings
Because they are joined together and the hindwings are often small, it can be difficult to tell whether there are four wings.

24. Hymenoptera (bees, wasps, ants)
Spot ID
Chewing mouthparts
Four membranous wings
Waist often constricted
Because they are joined together and the hindwings are often small, it can be difficult to tell whether there are four wings.

25. Hymenoptera (bees, wasps, ants)
Spot ID
Chewing mouthparts
Four membranous wings
Waist often constricted
Females with ovipositor or stinger at end of abdomen
Because they are joined together and the hindwings are often small, it can be difficult to tell whether there are four wings.
Female pelecinid wasp with long ovipositor.

26. Hemiptera – True Bugs
Two pairs of wings usually present; flat over body when resting
Forewings with the basal portion thickened and leathery and the wingtip membranous
Hindwings entirely membranous
Piercing, sucking beak
Simple metamorphosis – juveniles (nymphs) resemble adults
Chinch bugs
Squash bugs
Box elder bugs

27. Milkweed Bug

28. Hemiptera (true bugs) Greek “hemi” = half, “ptero” = wing
Spot ID
A beak: piercing-sucking mouthparts

29. Hemiptera (true bugs) Greek “hemi” = half, “ptero” = wing
Spot ID
A beak: piercing-sucking mouthparts
Forewings covering hindwings
Wing half membrane, half thickened

30. Homoptera – Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids, & Scale
Some consider this a suborder of Hemiptera
May or may not have wings
Some with wings held tent-like
Many are plant feeders
Piercing/sucking beak
Simple metamorphosis
Some bear live offspring (viviparity)
Can be very small

31. Homoptera continued Many important ornamental and greenhouse pests
Aphids
Whitefly
Scale
Leafhoppers
Cicadas
Mealybugs

32. Diversity in Homoptera
Cicadas, Thorn bug, Leafhopper, Aphids, Mealybug, Whitefly, Euonymus scale

33. Other orders, classes, phyla
Class Insecta
Order Dermaptera – earwigs
Order Thrysanthoptera – thrips
Order Neuroptera – lacewings, mantids, ect.
Order Orthoptera – crickets, grasshoppers, roaches
Class Diplopoda – Millipedes
Class Chilopoda – Centipedes
Class Archnida
Order Acari
Ticks
Mites
Phylum Mollusca
Slugs
Snails
Managed in same ways as insects

34. Orthoptera (grasshoppers, crickets)
Spot ID
Jumping hind legs
Orthodontist – person who straightens teeth.

35. Orthoptera (grasshoppers, crickets)
Spot ID
Jumping hind legs
Some with ovipositor at hind end
Orthodontist – person who straightens teeth.

36. Dermaptera (earwigs) Greek “derma” = skin, “ptero” = wing
Spot ID
Long skin-like hindwings folded under very short forewings

37. Dermaptera (earwigs) Greek “derma” = skin, “ptero” = wing
Spot ID
Long skin-like hindwings folded under very short forewings
Pinchers off end of abdomen

38. The End