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Insect Taxonomic Diversity
By: Desmond B.
Insect Orders

Ephemeroptera

Odonata

Blattaria

Isoptera

Dermatptera

Orthoptera

Phasmida

Hemipetera

Coleoptera

Lepidoptera

Diptera

Siphonoptera

Hymenoptera

Mantodea

Plecoptera
Ephemeroptera

The name Ephemeroptera is derived from the Greek "ephemera" meaning short-lived, and "ptera" meaning
wings. This is a reference to the short lifespan of most adult mayflies.
Odonata

The name Odonata, derived from the Greek "odonto-", meaning tooth, refers to the strong teeth found on the
mandibles of most adults.
Blattaria

Cockroaches are insects of the order Blattodea, sometimes also called Blattaria, of
which about 30 species out of 4,600 total are associated with human habitats. About
four species are well known as pests.
Isoptera

The name Isoptera, derived from the Greek "iso" meaning equal and "ptera" meaning wings, refers to the
similar size, shape, and venation of the four wings.
Dermatptera

Earwigs have slender flattened body, bead-like antennae, and are easily recognized by the pair of large pincers
(cerci) at the tip of the abdomen. Adult males have 10 abdominal tergites; females, 8.
Orthoptera

Orthoptera is an order of insects with paurometabolous or incomplete metamorphosis, including the
grasshoppers, crickets, cave crickets, Jerusalem crickets, katydids, weta, lubber, Acrida, and locusts.
Phasmida

The Phasmatodea are an order of insects, whose members are variously known as stick insects, walking sticks or
stick-bugs, phasmids, ghost insects and leaf insects.
Hemiptera

Hemiptera is an order of insects most often known as the true bugs, comprising around 50,000–80,000 species of
cicadas, aphids, planthoppers, leafhoppers, shield bugs, and others.
Coleoptera

The Coleoptera /koʊliːˈɒptərə/ order of insects is commonly called beetles. The word "coleoptera" is from the
Greek κολεός, koleos, meaning "sheath"; and πτερόν, pteron, meaning "wing", thus "sheathed wing",
because most beetles have two pairs of wings, the front pair, the "elytra", being hardened and thickened into a
shell-like protection for the rear pair and the beetle's abdomen.
Lepidoptera

The name Lepidoptera, derived from the Greek words "lepido" for scale and "ptera" for wings, refers to the
flattened hairs (scales) that cover the body and wings of most adults.
Diptera

The name Lepidoptera, derived from the Greek words "lepido" for scale and "ptera" for wings, refers to the
flattened hairs (scales) that cover the body and wings of most adults.
Siphonoptera

The name Siphonaptera is derived from the Greek words "siphon" meaning a tube or pipe and "aptera" meaning
wingless. This is an appropriate appellation for these secondarily wingless insects whose mouthparts are
adapted for piercing skin and sucking blood.
Hymenoptera

The name Hymenoptera is derived from the Greek words "hymen" meaning membrane and "ptera" meaning
wings. It is also a reference to Hymeno, the Greek god of marriage. The name is appropriate not only for the
membranous nature of the wings, but also for the manner in which they are "joined together as one" by the
hamuli.
Mantodea

The name Mantodea is derived from "mantis", the Greek word for
these insects.
Plecoptera

The name Plecoptera, derived from the Greek "pleco" meaning folded and "ptera" meaning wing, refers to the
pleated hind wings which fold under the front wings when the insect is at rest.
The End