Introduction to Arthropod & Insect Diversity

Scientific Classification Kingdom General specific Class Division/Phylum species Order Family Genus

Characteristics to classify organisms: CELL TYPE Prokaryotic cell type DNA is free floating Eukaryotic cell type DNA is surrounded by a membrane

Characteristics to classify organisms: NUMBER OF CELLS unicellular multicellular OR

Characteristics to classify organisms: MODE OF NUTRITION (how organisms eat) Photosynthesis: utilizing energy from the sun to produce food Absorbing: to suck up or take up (like a sponge) Engulfing: to flow over and enclose

ANIMALIA  Eukaryotic  Multicellular  Engulfing heterotrophs PLANTAE  Eukaryotic  Multicellular  Photosynthetic autotrophs FUNGI  Eukaryotic  Multicellular  Absorptive heterotrophs PROTISTA  Eukaryotic  Unicellular or Multicellular  Heterotrophs  Photosynthetic autotrophs ARCHAEBACTERIA  Prokaryotic  Unicellular  Found in very harsh conditions (i.e. bottom of the ocean or volcanic vents)  Oldest living organisms EUBACTERIA  Prokaryotic  Unicellular  Found in neutral conditions (i.e. human body and food)  Lactobacillus bulgaricus (or L. acidophilus) and Streptococcus thermophilus helps produces yogurt from milk KINGDOM CHART

The Importance of Insects Some insects are harmful: Some insects are beneficial: Pollinate flowers Important Products Research Balance Nature Destroy food crops Stings & Bites Causes Sickness Money Loss

Metamorphosis: A change in physical form The insect’s exoskeleton does not grow with them and must be shed and re-grown each time they get larger. Monarch Caterpillar Monarch Butterfly COMPLETE CHANGEsmall change Worker Termite Termite Nymph

An insect has four characteristics: 1. Three body segments: Head, Thorax and Abdomen Dragonfly HEAD: The eyes, antennae, and mouthparts are on the head. THORAX: The 3 pairs of legs and wings are attached to this body segment. ABDOMEN: This body segment holds all reproductive organs. 3. Three pairs of legs (6 legs in total) 2. One pair of antennae 4. Usually 1 or 2 pairs of wings

Where do insects fit in the scientific classification picture? KingdomAnimalia PhylumArthropoda jointed foot segmented body exoskeleton (external skeleton) Class Insecta 6 legs 3 body parts (head, thorax, abdomen) 1 pair of antennae Wings (usually) Order General specific

Blow fly Order Diptera Flies and Mosquitoes Fruit Fly Mosquito CHARACTERISTICS: one pair of wings; large eyes

Order Lepidoptera Butterflies and Moths Kamehameha Butterfly Blackburn’s Butterfly Luna Moth Monarch Caterpillar Monarch Butterfly CHARACTERISTICS: undergo metamorphosis; have colorful wings

Order Coleoptera Beetles Rainbow Scarab Beetle © Charles LeWallen Dung Beetle © Charles LeWallen Lady Bugs CHARACTERISTICS: hard wings which meet in the middle; chew their food; some are colorful

Order Isoptera Termites Australian Termite Mound Queen Wood Damage Workers & Soldiers CHARACTERISTICS: eat wood or dead plant parts; highly social; undefined segments

Order Hymenoptera Ants, Bees and Wasps Velvet Ant Yellow Jacket Carpenter Ant © Charles LeWallen Honey Bee © Charles LeWallen CHARACTERISTICS: sting or bite; social insects; major pollinators

Order Hemiptera or Order Heteroptera True Bugs Spiny Assassin Bug © Charles LeWallen Stink Bug Leaf-footed Bug © Charles LeWallen CHARACTERISTICS: suck liquid for food; hard wings with delicate tip; fold their wings under; most give off unpleasant odor

Order Orthoptera Grasshoppers, Crickets and Katydids Narrow Winged Katydid © Charles LeWallen Bird Grasshopper Cricket CHARACTERISTICS: strong hind legs; make “music” or songs; all have different ways to eat

Order Blattaria Cockroaches Cinereous CockroachMadiera Cockroach

Below there are some pictures of some insects. Can you pick out the characteristics they all have in common?

Appearing below will be pictures of different arthropods. Some are insects and some are not. Armed with your new definition, can you pick out the non-insects?

Resources Pictures provided by –Charles LeWallen – –Bishop Museum –Neil Reimer ( Hawaii State Department of Agriculture) Other informative websites