Page 1
1
NEOPTERA = exopterygotes and Endopterygota
= “outside” and“inside” wings
Plecoptera = Stoneflies(plectos = pleated; pteron = a wing)
• Metamorphosis = hemimetabolous• Key features:
– Wings fold over back =Neoptera– Aquatic larvae– Often used as bio-indicators
for stream pollution
Blattodea = Cockroaches
(blatta = cockroach)• Metamorphosis = hemimetabolous• Key features:
– Flattened body– Front wings toughened as
protective cover hind wings– Eggs often laid in toughened
ootheca– Only about 40 species (1%) of
cockroach are considered pests.
Isoptera = Termites(iso = equal, like; pteron = a wing)
• Metamorphosis = hemimetabolous• Key features:
– Social insects with different castes
– Symbionts convert wood etc to nutrients
Orthoptera = grasshoppers, crickets,
katydids(orthos = straight; pteron = a wing)
• Metamorphosis = hemimetabolous• Known species = 20,000• Key features:
– Hind legs for jumping– Sound production using hind legs or
front wings
Orthoptera = grasshoppers, crickets, katydids
(orthos = straight; pteron = a wing)
• Swarms of the migratory grasshoppers can number in the billions, causing severe crop damage along the way.
Page 2
2
Mantodea = Mantids(mantis = diviner, prophet)
• Metamorphosis = hemimetabolous• Key features:
– Mobile triangular head– Raptorial front legs– Eggs laid in papery, foam-like egg
cases (ootheca)
Phasmatodea = stick and leaf insects
(phasma = apparition, spectre)• Metamorphosis = hemimetabolous• Key features:
– Slow-moving, herbivorous– Leaf-like or stick-like body– Eggs often ant-dispersed
Dermaptera = Earwigs(dermatos = skin; pteron = a wing)
• Metamorphosis = hemimetabolous• Key features:
– Forceps-like cerci, male combat– Leathery front wings– Semicircular hind wings– Maternal care common
♀
♂
Embioptera = web spinners(embios = lively; pteron = a wing)
• Metamorphosis = hemimetabolous• Key features:
– Gregarious in silk galleries– Swollen first tarsal segment
containing silk glands– Females wingless, males
winged– Escape behavior is to move
backward
alternate: Embiidina
Hemiptera = bugs, aphids, hoppers
(hemi = half; pteron = a wing)
• Metamorphosis = hemimetabolous• Known species = 82,000 • Key features:
– Fifth largest order– Mouthparts forming a
sucking/piercing beak or rostrum– Stink glands and sound
producing organs sometimes present
Hemiptera, 3 suborders
1. Heteroptera = true bugs
2. Auchenorrhyncha = the hoppers
3. Sternorrhyncha = plant lice, whiteflies, aphids, scale insects
Page 3
3
• Hemipterans of note:– Oncopeltus fasciatus
(milkweed bug)– Kerria lacca (lac
insect)– Magicicada spp.
(Periodic cicadas)– Dactylopius coccus
(cochineal insect)– Cimex lectularius
(bed bug)– Triatoma infestans
(Kissing bug)– Many others...
Phthiraptera = Parasitic lice(phtheiros = louse;
a+pteron = wingless)• Metamorphosis = hemimetabolous• Key features:
– Small, wingless ectoparasites living permanently on vertebrate hosts
– Legs modified for clinging
Psocoptera = barklice and booklice
(psokos = gnawed; pteron = a wing)
• Metamorphosis = hemimetabolous• Key features:
– Common on trees, vegetation, and litter
– Parthenogenesis (females give rise to females) is common
Thysanoptera = Thrips(thysanos = fringed; pteron = a wing)
• Metamorphosis = hemimetabolous
• Key features:– Mainly liquid feeders– Hair-fringed wings– Some species have
maternal care, social behaviors
The EndopterygotaNeuroptera =
Lacewings & antlions
• Metamorphosis = holometabolous
• Key features:– Prominent eyes– Wing venation complex
and net-like
Page 4
4
MegalopteraAlderflies & Dobsonflies
• Metamorphosis = holometabolous
• Key features:– Aquatic larva– Adults do not feed– Male mandibles used for
combat
Raphidioptera -Snakeflies
• Metamorphosis = holometabolous
• Elongated pronotum• Ovipositor (females
only)
Coleoptera = Beetles(koleos = sheath; pteron = a
wing)• Metamorphosis =
holometabolous• Known species = 370,000
(37.0% of all insect species)• Key features:
– Front wings modified as rigid elytra covering hind wings
– Pronotum large and distinct
Coleoptera
• Four suborders1. Archostemata (3 primitive families)2. Myxophaga (aquatic or associated with
water)
3. Adephaga (terrestrial and aquatic; mostly predacious)
4. Polyphaga (variable; some 149 families)
Strepsiptera = Twisted-winged insects(streptos = twisted; pteron = wing)
• Metamorphosis = holometabolous• Key features:
– Endoparasites of insects– Sexually dimorphic– Adult females typically neotenous
(retaining immature features) = no eyes, legs, wings, external genitalia
– Phylogenetic placement under debate (either with Coleoptera or Diptera) ♀
♂Diptera = Flies, mosquitoes
(di = two; pteron = wing)
• Metamorphosis = holometabolous• Known species = 122,000 (12.2%)• Key features:
– One pair of functional wings– Halteres (balancing organs)
Page 5
5
Diptera = Flies, mosquitoes(di = two; pteron = a wing)
• Two diverse suborders– Nematocera & Brachycera
• Some families parasitic• Dipterans of note:
– Phaenicia sericata – green blow fly (medical use)
– Aedes aegypti (dengue fever, yellow fever, encephalitis)
– Culex spp. (Many diseases)– Glossina spp. – tsetse fly (Sleeping
sickness)– Anopholes gambia (Malaria): the
deadliest insect...– Drosophila melanogaster (model
organism)
Mecoptera = Scorpionflies(mekos = long; pteron = a wing)
• Metamorphosis = holometabolous
• Key features:– Distinctive elongated face– Mostly in damp wooded areas– Males present females with
nuptial gifts
Siphonaptera = Fleas(siphon = pipe, tube; a+pteron = wingless)
• Metamorphosis = holometabolous
• Key features:– Small, wingless
ectoparasites on mammals and birds
– Adults are blood feeders– Characteristic jumping
ability
Trichoptera = Caddisflies(trichos = hair; pteron = a wing)
• Metamorphosis = holometabolous
• Key features:– Aquatic larvae, typically in
self-constructed cases or shelters, or nets
– Nocturnal and moth-like– Weakly developed
mouthparts (nectar feeding)– Used as a bio-indicator for
stream pollution
Lepidoptera = Butterflies, moths(lepidos = scale; pteron = a wing)
• Metamorphosis = holometabolous• Distribution = worldwide• Known species = 165,000 (16.5%)• Key features:
– Entire body and wings covered with overlapping tiny scales
– Usually have sucking mouthparts
Lepidoptera
Lepidoptera of note:– Manduca sexta (tobacco
hornworm) – popular experimental animal
– Lymantria dispar (Gypsy moth) and many pests (Clover Cutworm, Soybean Looper, Corn Earworm, Alfalfa Looper, Celery Looper, Tobacco budworm, Wheat armyworm, Lawn armyworm, etc.)
– Many gorgeous creatures
Page 6
6
Hymenoptera = Bees, wasps, ants(hymen = membrane; pteron = a wing)
• Metamorphosis = holometabolous• Key features:
– Second largest order: Abundant and ubiquitous
– Body usually with constricted waist– Some species are social– Ovipositor may be modified as a
stinger
Hymenoptera
• Two suborders– Symphyta
(sawflies),– Apocrita
(parasitoid group, stinging group .
Insecta includes 3 divisions: Archaeognatha, Thysanura, Pterygota
(mandible articulation, wings +/-)
Pterygota comprised of 3 divisions: Ephemeroptera, Odonata, and Neoptera
(wing folding)
Neoptera divided into two basic groups; “exopterygote” orders and Endopterygota
(where wings develop)