Download An introducton to backyard bugs

An Introduction to Backyard Bugs
Joshua Huckabee
A Brief Introduction to Entomology
• What is entomology?
– Entomology is the study of insects; however, in the
informal sense, the term can be used to apply to
arachnids, myriapods and other terrestrial
arthropods.
Why Study Entomology?
• The study of entomology is VERY important
to humans! Entomology is useful for:
– Farming and Gardening
– Medicine
– Understanding Ecosystems
– Forensics
– Military
– Fun!
– Many other reasons
Ian Wright
The Basics: Taxonomy
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Human taxonomy:
Kingdom – Animalia
Phylum – Chordata
Class – Mammalia
Order – Primate
Family – Hominidae
Genus – Homo
Species – sapiens
The basics: Taxonomy
• Kingdom – Plantae
• Division (in plants we use division instead of
phylum) – Tracheophyta
• Class – Magnoliopsida
• Order - Solanales
• Family – Solanaceae
• Genus – Datura
• Species – wrightii
The basics: Taxonomy
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Kingdom – Animalia
Phylum – Arthropoda
Class – Insecta
Order – Lepidoptera
Family – Nymphalidae
Subfamily - Daninae
Genus – Danaus
Species - plexippus
What Are Insects?
• Insects are animals belonging to the Class
Insecta
– Insect comes from the Latin word insectum, which
means “cut into sections”
– Insects have compound eyes
– Insects have six legs
– Most insects have one to two sets of wings
The Basics: Diversity
• Insects are found on every continent (yes,
including Antarctica) and in every imaginable
habitat.
• There are approximately 30 orders of insects
and about 1,000,000 described species.
• There are an estimated 10 quintillion
(10,000,000,000,000,000,000) roaming the
Earth right now!
http://masters.agron.iastate.edu/
The Orders: Coleoptera
• The largest insect order (ca. 400,000 species)
• Characterized by hard wing coverings called
elytra
• Exhibit complete metamorphosis
• Are extremely diverse
Local Beetles
• Family: Carabidae
• Fiery Searcher (Calosoma scrutator )
Local Beetles
• Family: Scarabaeidae
• Subfamily: Cetoniinae
• Figeater (Cotinis mutabilis)
The Orders: Lepidoptera
•
•
•
•
•
Second largest order (ca. 180,000 species)
Includes both moths and butterflies
Characterized by their scaly wings
Exhibit complete metamorphosis
Many larvae require very specific diets
Gary Saunders
robertthompsonphotography.com
Local Moths
• Family: Sphingidae
• White-lined sphinx moth (Hyles lineata)
• Host Plants: Four o’clocks, grape, tomato
C.D. Barrentine
Craig Morgan
Local Moths
• Family: Erebidae
• Subfamily: Arctiinae
• Giant Leopard Moth (Hypercompe scribonia)
Dennis Totin
Jeff Trahan
Local moths
• Family: Saturniidae
• Polyphemus Moth (Antheraea polyphemus)
Local Butterflies
• Family: Papilionidae
• Subfamily: Papilioninae
• Swallowtail butterflies (Papilio)
M. McCarty
Tom Murray
P. rumiko
Victor Engle
P. cresophontes
M.J. Hatfield
The Orders: Hymenoptera
•
•
•
•
Third largest order (ca. 150,000 species)
Includes bees, wasps, ants and related families
Characterized by membranous wings
Exhibit complete metamorphosis
Local Wasps
• Family: Braconidae
• Cotesia congregata
Beatriz Moisset
Local Wasps
• Family: Crabronidae
• Eastern Cicada Killer (Sphecius speciosus)
Local Wasps
• Family Mutillidae
• Velvet ant (Dasymutilla sp.)
The Orders: Diptera
•
•
•
•
True flies (ca. 120,000 species)
Includes flies, gnats, mosquitos and midges
Characterized by two wings and a pair of halteres
Exhibit complete metamorphosis
Wikipedia.org
Local Flies
• Family: Syrphidae – The Hoverflies
Ann Collins
Local Flies
• Family: Asilidae – The Robber Flies
• Southern Bee Killer (Mallophora orcina)
Greg Lasley
Ken Rosenthal
Local Flies
• Family: Tabanidae – The Horse and Deer Flies
Arlo Pelegrin
Ted Kropiewnicki
The Orders: Hemiptera
• True bugs (ca. 80,000 species)
• Divided into three suborders: Auchenorrhyncha,
Heteroptera, & Sternorrhyncha
• Characterized by beak-like mouth parts (rostrum)
• Exhibit incomplete metamorphosis
Local True Bugs
• Family: Reduviidae – The Assasin Bugs
• Wheel bug (Arilus cristatus)
Micki Killoran
John R. Maxwell
Local True Bugs
• Family: Coreidae
• Leaf-footed bugs (Leptoglossus sp.)
Kelly McGough
whatsthatbug.com
whatsthatbug.com
Minor Orders: Odonata
•
•
•
•
Dragonflies and Damselflies (ca. 6,000 species)
Have aquatic larvae and terrestrial adults
EXCELLENT fliers!
Exhibit an incomplete life cycle
Minor Orders: Neuroptera
• Includes lacewings, antlions, mantisflies and kin (ca.
6,000 species)
• Have two pairs of “sinewy” wings
• All predatory
Local Neuropterans
• Family: Chrysopidae – Green Lacewings
Tom Murray
Local Neuropterans
• Family: Mantispidae – The Mantisflies
Suggested Reading
• A Field Guide to Common Texas Insects (Texas
Monthly Fieldguide Series), Jackman and Drees
• A Field Guide to Insects: America North of Mexico,
Borror and White
• Insects of Texas: A Practical Guide, Kattes
• Dragonflies and Damselflies of Texas, Abbott
• Bugguide.net