1. Introduction to Insects

2. Outline Insects and their relatives How insects rule the world Insect anatomy and biology

3. Insects and their relatives Arthropods are numerous and diverse –Insects (beetles, flies, moths, earwigs, aphids) –Arachnids (spiders, ticks, mites, scorpions) –Crustaceans (crayfish, crabs, lobsters, sowbugs) –Centipedes, millipedes Exoskeleton is a hard outer shell Jointed appendages, segmented body Not arthropods: slugs, snails, earthworms

4. Basic insect body plan Head Thorax Abdomen

5. Basic insect body plan Head ThoraxAbdomen

6. Basic arachnid body plan Cephalothorax Abdomen

7. Basic arachnid body plan Cephalothorax Abdomen

8. Insects 3 body regions 1 pair of antennae 3 pair of legs 2 pair of wings Arachnids 2 body regions No antennae 4 pair of legs No wings

9. Insects rule the world! There are more insects than all other plants and animals combined There are more than 1 million different species 1 out of every 5 animals is a beetle!

10. Small size Multigenerational Flight Metamorphosis Wide variety in food choices Wide variety in habitat resources Why are insects so successful? © Marlin E. Rice

11. Insect metamorphosis Complete metamorphosis: egg, larva, pupa, adult e.g., beetles, butterflies, flies Incomplete metamorphosis: egg, nymph, adult e.g., grasshoppers, true bugs Images from Cornell University, Http://nides.bc.ca/Assignments/Insects/Metamorphosis3.htm

12. Insects eat everything Carnivore, animal matter Herbivore, plant matter Omnivore, plant and animal matter Detrivore, organic matter Saprophore, decaying matter

13. Are these insects? © Marlin E. Rice

14. How to ID insects: wings beetle waspbutterflyfly earwiggrasshoppertrue bug L. Jesse © Marlin E. Rice

15. Chewing: grasshoppers, beetles, praying mantis Piercing-sucking: mosquitoes, true bugs Siphoning: butterflies, moths Sponging: house fly How to ID insects: mouthparts Images on this page from R. Bessin, University of Kentucky

16. How to ID insects: antennae freenaturepictures.com

17. How to ID insects: legs walking graspingpollen-carrying digging jumping swimming and grasping L. Jesse © Marlin E. Rice Paul M. Choate, University of Florida

18. Summary There are many keys to help in the accurate identification of insects Wings, antennae, legs, mouthparts © Marlin E. Rice