1. Common Insect Orders Adapted from Berkeley Natural History Museums lesson “A Quick Way to Identify Common Insect Orders”

2. Parts of an insect

3. Parts of an insect
Abdomen
Head
Thorax

4. Parts of an insect
Abdomen
Head
Thorax
3 pairs of legs

5. Parts of an insect Abdomen Head Thorax 3 pairs of legs
Wings and legs on thorax
3 pairs of legs

6. Important areas to study to identify common insect orders
Abdomen
Head
Thorax
3 pairs of legs

7. Mouthparts: Chewing mandibles mandibles
Just a quick overview of what we mean by mouthparts

8. Mouthparts: Sucking Coiled Piercing Sponging-sucking
Just a quick overview of what we mean by mouthparts
Sponging-sucking

9. Orthoptera (grasshoppers, crickets, katydids) Greek "ortho" = straight, "ptera" = wing
Spot ID
Jumping legs
parallel-sided structure of front wings

10. Orthoptera (grasshoppers, crickets, katydids) Greek “orthos” = straight, “pteros” = wing
Orthodontist – person who straightens teeth.

11. Orthoptera (grasshoppers, crickets, katydids)
Orthodontist – person who straightens teeth.

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

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

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

15. Coleoptera (beetles)

16. Coleoptera (beetles)
Spot ID
Chewing mouthparts

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

18. Lepidoptera (butterflies, moths) Greek “lepido”= scale, “ptero”= wing

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

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

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

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

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

24. 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

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

26. 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

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

28. 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.

29. 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.

30. 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.

31. 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.

32. Hemiptera (true bugs, also sometimes called Heteroptera) Greek “hemisys” = half, “ptero” = wing

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

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

35. Homoptera (hoppers, aphids, scales, cicadas) Greek “homo” = uniform, “ptero” = wing
Spot ID
A beak: piercing-sucking mouthparts
Forewings covering hindwings
Wings all membranous

36. Homoptera (hoppers, aphids, scales, cicadas) Greek “homo” = uniform, “ptero” = wing
Some entomologists now combine Order Homoptera with Order Hemiptera because the DNA has been found to be similar. In this case, Homoptera would be considered a suborder.

37. Neuroptera (ant lions, lacewings, mantidflies) Greek "neuron" = nerve and "ptera" = wings
Spot ID
four membranous net-veined wings
forewings and hindwings about the same size

38. Neuroptera (ant lions, lacewings, mantidflies) Greek "neuron" = nerve and "ptera" = wings
Spot ID
Larvae have elongated mandibles adapted for piercing and sucking
Oliver the Owlfly larva is an example
Antlion larvae (doodlebugs)

39. Thysanoptera (thrips) Greek "thysano-" = fringed, “ptera" = wing
Very small insects with a range of 1/32 to 1/8 inch in length
Feed on plants, considered crop pest