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Insect
taxonomic
Diversity
BY: SAPOHIA REAVES

Ephemeroptera
•
Orthoptera
•
Diptera
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Odonata
•
Phasmida
•
Siphonoptera
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Blattaria
•
Hemiptera
•
Hymenoptera

Isoptera
•
Coleopteran
•
Mantodea
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Dermatptera
•
Lepidoptera
•
Plecoptera
Ephemeroptera
Mayflies are small to medium sized insects with an average
wingspan up to 15 millimeters. mayflies have only a short
adult life ranging from a few hours up to a day or two
depending on the species. Mayflies can be recognized by
the following characteristics:
•
2 pair of membranous wings
•
Hind wings much smaller than the forewings
•
Short, fine antennae
•
Mandibulate mouthparts
•
Tip of abdomen usually with 3 very long
Odonata
You'll find Aeshna in still waters such as ponds, lakes, and bogs.
They are predators that eat fly larvae, beetle larvae, caddisfly
larvae, and mayfly larvae. Their bodies are typically
camouflaged with patterns of green and brown. This genus has
more species than the rest of the genus of Aeshnidae combined.
The adults are the most common blue darners in the Northern
Hemisphere. Aeshna can be differentiated by looking at the eyes,
abdomen, and antennae. The compound eyes are much shorter
than they are wide (Fig. B). Spines can be observed on
abdominal segments six through nine (Fig C). The paraprocts are
shorter than the combined length of segments 8 and 9 (Fig. D).
Finally, the distance between the base of the antennae and the
rear of the head is about twice the length of the antennae (Fig.
E).
Blattaria
Cockroaches live in a wide range of
environments around the world. Pest
species adapt readily to a variety of
environments, but prefer warm conditions
found within buildings. Many tropical
species prefer even warmer environments
and do not fare well in the average
household. Cockroaches are mainly
nocturnal[10] and will run away when
exposed to light. A peculiar exception is
the Asian cockroach, which is attracted to
light. Cockroaches leave chemical trails in
their feces, as well as emitting airborne
pheromones for swarming and mating.
These chemical trails transmit bacteria
onto surfaces.Other cockroaches will
follow these trails to discover sources of
food and water, and also discover where
other cockroaches are hiding.
Isoptera
The termites or white ants regarded as a suborder
of Neuropterans. They have large, equal, and
naked wings not folded in repose, welldeveloped mandatory jaws, and short manyjointed antenna. The larva and pupa resemble
the neuters; the latter are wingless. This suborder
is represented by the family Termitidæ alone. Like
ants, and some bees and wasps — all of which
are placed in the separate order Hymenoptera
— termites divide labor among castes, produce
overlapping generations and take care of young
collectively. Termites mostly feed on dead plant
material, generally in the form of wood, leaf litter,
soil, or animal dung, and about 10% of the
estimated 4,000 species (about 3,106
taxonomically known) are economically
significant as pests that can cause serious
structural damage to buildings, crops or
plantation forests. Termites are major detritivores,
particularly in the subtropical and tropical
regions, and their recycling of wood and other
plant matter is of considerable ecological
importance.
Dermatptera
•
Earwigs are a distinctive group of insects of small to medium
size, ranging from 5 to 50 millimeters in length. Earwigs are
sometimes confused with Staphylinid beetles, but can be
distinguished from the latter by the presence of pincer-like
cerci, which Staphylinid beetles lack. Earwigs are mostly dark
colored (brown to black) and can be recognized by the
following features:
Flattened elongated body Heavily sclerotized pincer-like
cerci. Females have straight cerci with a inward pointing tip
and males have curved cerci2 pairs of wings. The forewings
are short and protectively hardened. The hind wings are
membranous and folded in a fan-like way underneath the
forewings when not in use. Some species are also wingless
Chewing (manipulate) mouthparts Moderately long
antennae.
Orthoptera
2 pairs of wings. The forewings are narrower
than the hind wings and hardened or
leathery at the base. They are held roof-like
overlapping the abdomen at rest. The hind
wing is membranous and held folded fan-like
under the forewings when at restMandibulate
mouthparts Large compound eyes Antennae
may be short to very long depending on the
species. Grasshoppers have relatively short
antennae while crickets and katydids
generally have long antennae Hind legs are
enlarged and modified for jumping The
general appearance of this order makes it
difficult to confuse with other insects. The
young of Orthoptera look like small wingless
adults. Many orthopterans can produce
sound by rubbing their legs, wings or
abdomen together. It is predominantly males
that produce these sounds to attract females
Plasmida
The labrum is emarginated.
All possess a pair of exocrine glands inside the
prothorax (in a few species, these glands can
discharge an irritating, tear gas-like spray used
for defense).
The intestine has unique filament bearing glands.
Thorax fused with abdominal sternum I
The dorso-ventral muscles of the abdomen are
numerous, short, and arranged in parallel.
Males of many species possess a unique sclerite
termed the vomer. This structure is located
above the genitalia and permits the male to
clasp the female.
Hemiptera
The insects in this order are extremely
diverse in their size, shape and color. There
are about 6000 described species in
Australia, ranging in size from 1 to 110
millimeters in length. The name Hemiptera
means 'half wing' and all hemipterans
share the following features. Hemipterans
develop by incomplete metamorphosis
and young (or nymphs) generally
resemble small, wingless adults in general
structure although their colour and
markings may be very different. In some
species such as cicadas, the nymphs who
are specialised for burrowing appear quite
different from the adults. Nymphs will
moult 6 to 8 times depending on the
species before they attain maturity.
Coleoptera
The main distinguishing characteristic of
the Coleoptera (sheath-winged) is the
hardened forewings (elytra) six legs and
antennae. In some cases the forewings
are reduced ,
2) "Sheath" refers to the elytra which forms
a protective covering over the
membranous hindwings and the relatively
soft dorsal abdominal wall.
3) All beetles have complete
metamorphoses, i.e. egg-larva (several
instars)-pupa- adult. It is that feature,
complete metamorphosis, in combination
with the elytra which characterizes insects
of the order Coleoptera.
Lepidoptera
This is one of the most well known and easily
recognizable orders of insects and contains
about 21 000 species in Australia. Moths and
butterflies are grouped together in the order
Lepidoptera, which means 'scaly wings'. Below
are the main characteristics of butterflies and
moths.
Diptera
True flies are insects of the order Diptera
(from the Greek di = two, and ptera =
wings). The common names of the
members of this order (Diptera) are written
as two words: crane fly, robber fly, bee fly,
moth fly, fruit fly, etc. Flies, gnats,
maggots, midges, mosquitoes, keds, bots,
etc. are all common names for members
of the order Diptera. Diptera means two
wings; di = two, ptera = wings. Flies do
very well with their single pair of fore wings.
The hind pair are often reduced to a
couple of knob-like
Siphonaptera
Fleas are the insects forming the order
Siphonaptera. They are wingless, with
mouthparts adapted for piercing skin and
sucking blood. Fleas are wingless insects (1/16
to 1/8-inch (1.5 to 3.3 mm) long) that are
agile, usually dark colored (for example, the
reddish-brown of the catflea), with tube-like
mouth-parts adapted to feeding on the
blood of their hosts. Their legs are long, the
hind pair well adapted for jumping: a flea
can jump vertically up to 7 inches (18 cm)
and horizontally up to 13 inches (33 cm),[3]
making the flea one of the best jumpers of all
known animals (relative to body size), second
only to the froghopper. The tough body is
able to withstand great pressure, likely an
adaptation to survive attempts to eliminate
them by mashing or scratching. Even hard
squeezing between the fingers is normally
insufficient to kill a flea. However, rolling them
back and forth a dozen times disables their
legs, resulting in death.
Hymenoptera
The Hymenoptera are one of the largest
orders of insects, comprising the sawflies,
wasps, bees and ants. Over 150,000 species
are recognized, with many more remaining to
be described. The name refers to the wings of
the insects, and is derived from the Ancient
Greek ὑμήν (hymen): membrane and πτερόν
(pteron): wing. The hind wings are connected
to the fore wings by a series of hooks called
hamuli.
Females typically have a special ovipositor for
inserting eggs into hosts or otherwise
inaccessible places. The ovipositor is often
modified into a stinger. The young develop
through holometabolism, (complete
metamorphosis) — that is, they have a wormlike larval stage and an inactive pupal stage
before they mature.
Mantodea
Mantodea (or mantises, mantes) is an order of
insects that contains over 2,400 species and
about 430 genera in 15 families worldwide in
temperate and tropical habitats. The English
common name for the order is the mantises,
or rarely (using a Latinized plural of Greek
mantis), the mantes. The name mantid refers
only to members of the family Mantidae,
which was, historically, the only family in the
Order, but with 14 additional families
recognized in recent decades, this term can
be confusing. The other common name,
often applied to any species in the order, is
"praying mantis",[2] because of the typical
"prayer-like" posture with folded fore-limbs,
although the egg corn "preying mantis" is
sometimes used in reference to their
predatory habits.[3][4] In Europe and other
Plecoptera
The Plecoptera are an order of insects,
commonly known as stoneflies. Some 3,500
species are described worldwide,[1] with new
species still being discovered. Stoneflies are
found worldwide, except Antarctica.[2]
Stoneflies are believed to be one of the most
primitive groups of Neoptera, with close
relatives identified from the Carboniferous
and Lower Permian geological periods, while
true stoneflies are known from fossils only a bit
younger. The modern diversity, however,
apparently is of Mesozoic origin.[3]
Plecoptera are found in both the Southern
and Northern Hemispheres, and the
populations are quite distinct, although the
evolutionary evidence suggests species may
have crossed the equator on a number of
occasions before once again becoming
geographically isolated.[4][3]
All species of Plecoptera are intolerant of
water pollution, and their presence in a
stream or still water is usually an indicator of
good or excellent water
The End