Download Insect taxonomic diversity

INSECT TAXONOMIC
DIVERSITY
By: Michael Brown
INSECT ORDERS
Ephemeroptera
Orthoptera
Diptera
Odonata
Phasmida
Siphonoptera
Blattaria
Hemiptera
Hymenoptera
Isoptera
Coleoptera
Mantodea
Dermatptera
Lepidoptera
Plecoptea
EPHEMEROPTERA
In complete egg development (egg,
nymph, adult)
Immatures are aquatic (naiads)
Unable to fold wings back
Common in freshwater habitats
worldwide
ODONATA
While both dragonflies and damselflies
belong to the Odonata and share
many common features, then are a
number of noticeable differences as
well. Even before hatching from the
egg, differences in morphology of the
egg distinguish dragonflies (Anisoptera)
from damselflies (Zygoptera).
BLATTERIA
Cockroaches leave chemical trails in
their feces, as well as emitting airborne
pheromones for swarming and mating
ISOPTERA
Hemimetabola
incomplete development (egg, nymph,
adult)
Orthopteroid
closely related to Blattodea and
Mantodea
Distribution: Extremely common in
tropical and subtropical
climates. Generally less abundant in
temperate regions.
DERMATPTERA
Hemimetabola
incomplete development (egg, nymph,
adult)
Orthopteroid
closely related to Orthoptera and
Phasmatodea
Distribution: Common and widely
distributed throughout the
world. Largest diversity is found in the
tropics and subtropics
ORTHOPTERA
Filiform antennae
Hind legs modified for jumping
Front wings thickened and parallelsided (tegmina
PHASMIDA
Hemimetabola
incomplete development (egg, nymph,
adult)
Orthopteroid
closely related to Orthoptera and
Dermaptera
Distribution: Common in tropical and
subtropical climates where they are
found living on their host plants.
HEMIPTERA
Hemimetabola
incomplete development (egg, nymph,
adult)
Hemipteroid
closely related to Thysanoptera and
Psocoptera
Distribution: Abundant worldwide. All
species are terrestrial herbivores.
COLEOPTERA
These beetles are the heaviest of all
insects, yet they are strong fliers that
buzz loudly when visiting flowers for
nectar and pollen. The larvae live in
the soil where they feed on roots.
LEPIDOPTERA
Front and hind wings with large surface
area
Body and wings mostly covered with
tiny pigmented scales
DIPTERA
Only one pair of membranous wings
present
Hind wings modified as halteres
SIPHONOPTERA
Teardrop-shaped body bilaterally
flattened
Long hind legs adapted for jumping
Heavy bristles (ctenidia) often present
on gena and/or pronotum
HYMENOPTERA
Holometabola
complete development (egg, larva,
pupa, adult)
The Hymenoptera is divided into two
suborders:
Symphyta (sawflies and horntails) have
a broad junction between thorax and
abdomen
Apocrita (ants, bees, and wasps) have
a narrow junction between the thorax
and abdomen.
Distribution: Common worldwide. Third
largest order of insects
MANTODEA
Hemimetabola
incomplete development (egg, nymph,
adult)
Orthopteroid
closely related to Orthoptera and
Blattodea
Distribution: Common in tropical and
subtropical climates.
PLECOPTERA
Hemimetabola
incomplete development (egg, nymph,
adult)
Orthopteroid
closely related to Orthoptera and
Embioptera
Distribution: Common in and around
fast-moving streams in temperate and
boreal climates.
THE END