Download Insect Taxonomic Diversity

INSECT TAXONOMIC
DIVERSITY
By Madison Persky
Insect Orders
Ephemeroptera
Orthiptera
Diptera
Odonata
Phasmida
Siphonoptera
Blattaria
Hemiptera
Hymenoptera
Isoptera
Coleoptera
Mantodea
Dermatptera
Lepidoptera
Plecoptera
Ephemeroptera
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2 pair of membranous wings
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Hind wings much smaller than the forewings
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Short, fine antennae
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Mandibulate mouthparts
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Tip of abdomen usually with 3 very long
Odonata
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Odonata are an order of aquatic palaeopterous insects.
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Adult odonates are medium to large in size, often conspicuous and/or brightly
colored insects and are aerial predators hunting by sight.
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found at or near fresh water although some species roam widely and may be
found far from their breeding sites.
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The larvae are predatory, aquatic and occur in all manner of inland waters
Blattaria
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eggs usually contained in ootheca
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• leathery forewings.
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• male genitalia asymmetrical
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• cerci variable, with one or more segments
Isoptera
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eusocial, with reproductives, soldiers, and workers of both sexes.
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• wings with basal sutures allowing them to be shed
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• external genitalia rudimentary or lacking
Dermatptera
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an order of insects that comprises the earwigs
Orthiptera
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an order of insects that comprises the grasshoppers, crickets, katydids, etc.
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have a saddle-shaped thorax, hind legs that are typically long and modified for
jumping, and a characteristic song that the male produces by stridulation
Phasmida
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Phasmida are variable in appearance, ranging from relatively generalized forms,
to some that are wonderful mimics of sticks and/or leaves.
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They display varying degrees of brachyptery, and can be winged or wingless.
Hemiptera
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• Piercing or sucking mouthparts appearing as a sharply pointed tube known as a
proboscis or rostrum, which extends from the underside of the head
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•Compound eyes of various forms
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• Antennae vary and may be either short, or long and conspicuous
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• 2 pairs of wings, although some species may be wingless and others have only
forewings.
Coleoptera
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Is the hardened forewings (elytra) six legs and antennae
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In some cases the forewings are reduced
Lepidoptera
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the second largest order of insects and consists of butterflies and moths.
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There are 135 families that contain over 110,000 species
Diptera
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One pair of membranous wings
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•Hind wings are reduced to small club like structures called halteres.
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• Sucking mouthparts, sometimes adapted for piercing e.g. mosquitoes
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•large compound eyes
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•short simple antennae, frilled or bushy in mosquitoes and crane flies
Siphonoptera
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•Laterally compressed bodies
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•Piercing-sucking mouthparts
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•Enlarged hind legs adapted for jumping
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•Strong tarsal claws adapted for holding onto their hosts
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•Backward pointing hairs and bristles for ease of movement through the hair of a
host
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•Small antennae which tuck away into special groves in the head
Hymenoptera
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•Two pairs of membranous wings, although some may be wingless such as some
species of female wasps and the worker caste of ants
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• The forewings are larger than the hind wings and are held together by small
hooks (see below)
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• Females usually have a hardened ovipositor, which may be modified for sawing,
piercing or stinging
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•Compound eyes, usually large
Mantodea
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Relatively large, elongate insects up to several inches long.
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Typical features include triangular heads with large compound eyes set on either
side and usually three ocelli in between(6);
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very flexible articulation between the head and prothorax providing great
mobility and allowing a mantid to "look over its shoulder"(7);
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raptorial forelegs used to capture prey
Plecoptera
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Trinotoperla species
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•Elongated, flattened, soft body
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•2 pairs of membranous wings that are held curved around the body at rest. Some
species are wingless while others have reduced wings
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• Hind wings slightly wider than forewings
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•Long legs
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•Mandibulate mouthparts
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•2 cerci at tip of abdomen
The End!