By Vincent Mannino County Extension Director – Fort Bend

1,350,000 Living Species of Plants & Animals 800,000 (60%)

Major Arthropod Classes (jointed foot) Species Percentages  Insecta = 90%  Arachnida = 6%  Crustacea = 2.5%  Chilopoda & Diplopoda = 1.5%

 Body composed of 3 divisions.  Head bears 1 pair of antennae and one pair of compound eyes and up to 3 simple eyes.  Thorax bears 3 pair of legs and 1-2 pairs of wings.  Abdomen bears the ovipositor. Insecta

 Body composed of 2 divisions  cephlathorax (head+thorax)  abdomen.  Antennae are absent  Eyes are simple  4 pairs of legs attached to cephlathorax  Mainly terrestrial. Arachnida Banana spider

Crustacea  Mostly aquatic  Breathe by gills  2 pairs of antennae  4 or more pairs of legs  some modified for swimming

 Terrestrial  Breathe by air tubes  Legs on each body segment  Chilopoda – 1 pair  Diplopoda – 2 pairs  One pair of antennae  Chilopoda has poison glands behind the head. Chilopoda & Diplopoda Millipede Centipede

The World of Insects 250,000 U. S. SPECIES  Not Economically Important - 225,000 (90%)  Economic Pests - 7,500 (3%)  Beneficial - 17,500 (7%)

 Key Pests  Occasional Pests  Secondary pests Basic Economic Pest Categories

Key Pests Those which cause economic losses and/or misery almost annually.

Occasional Pests Those which infrequently cause economic losses; generally due to specific weather factors.

Secondary Pests Those occasional pests or non-pests which cause economic losses due to a man-made disruption.

External Anatomy of an Insect

Ways Insects Damage Plants  Chew, tunnel, & mine leaves, stems, fruit and roots.  Pierce and suck leaves, stems and fruit  Cause egg-laying damage and use plant parts for nesting  Inject toxins into leaves and disseminate disease

Mouthparts stylet coil hook snout sponging mandibles

A.running; B.jumping; C.digging; D.grasping; E.catching; F.walking & digging; G.reduced leg used for walking & digging; H.walking on water Legs Types

Antennae

Wings Membranous Lacey

Insect Growth & Development Types of Metamorphosis  No Metamorphosis  Gradual Metamorphosis  Incomplete Metamorphosis  Complete Metamorphosis

No Metamorphosis

Gradual Metamorphosis

Incomplete Metamorphosis

Complete Metamorphosis

Order COLEOPTERA The Beetles  Diverse, 40% of all insects  Complete metamorphosis  Chewing mouthparts  Wings - 4, front wings being elytra  Variable antennae

Order: COLLEMBOLA The Springtales  None are harmful  Fercula present  No metamorphosis  Chewing mouthparts  No Wings  Antennae - short, filiform

Order: DERMAPTERA The Earwigs  Large cerci, scavengers  Gradual Metamorphosis  Chewing mouthparts  Wings - 4, leathery, short  Antennae - filiform

Order: DIPTERA The Flies  Diverse  Excellent flyers  Sponging or sucking mouthparts  Complete metamorphosis  Wings - 2, rear wings reduced to halteres  Antennae - short bristle-like or filiform

Order: EPHEMEROPTERA The Mayflies  Short-lived (for a day)  Long cerci  Mouthparts: adults have none, naiads have chewing  Incomplete Metamorphosis  Wings - 4, large, membranous  Short filiform-type antennae

 Comments: Sap feeders  Sucking Mouthparts  Gradual Metamorphosis  Wings - 4, front wings are hemeltyra  Antennae - generally long, filiform  All have a scutellum Order: HEMIPTERA The True Bugs (stinkbugs)

Order: HOMOPTERA CICADAS, HOPPERS, WHITEFLY, APHIDS, SCALES  Most diverse group,  Sap-feeders  Sucking Mouthparts  Gradual Metamorphosis  Wings - 4, similar in form, held roof-like  Antennae - filiform to bristle- like

 Many beneficial species  Chewing to modified sucking mouthparts  Complete metamorphosis  Wings - 4, membranous  Antennae segments Order: HYMENOPTERA WASPS, BEES, ANTS

 Comments: Highly social, wood feeders  Chewing Mouthparts  Gradual Metamorphosis  Wings - 4 (on reproductives), equal in size  Antennae - Moniliform, filiform Order: ISOPTERA TERMITES

 Comments: Larvae mostly plant feeders  Larvae have chewing mouthparts, adults have sucking  Complete metamorphosis  Wings - 4, scaly  Variable antennae Order: LEPIDOPTERA MOTHS & BUTTERFLIES

 Comments: Most all are beneficial  Mouthparts - Chewing, sucking  Complete metamorphosis, larvae predaceous  Wings - 4, with many cross veins  Antennae - filiform Order: NEUROPTERA ALDERFLIES, LACEWINGS, ANTLIONS,...

 Comments: Primitive, large insects w/ prominent wing veins  Incomplete metamorphosis  Wings - 4, dragonfs. hold wings out, damself. fold wings up.  Short, filiform antennae. Order: ODONATA DRAGONFLIES & DAMSELFLIES

 Comments: Primitive, straight- winged  Chewing Mouthparts  Gradual Metamorphosis  Wings - 4, front pair leathery  Antennae - Variable Order: ORTHOPTERA GRASSHOPPERS, CRICKETS, ROACHES, MANTIDS

 Comments: Primitive, large, soft- bodied, cerci present  Chewing mouthparts, many adults do not feed  Incomplete metamorphosis  Wings - 4, large, membranous  Long filiform antennae Order: PLECOPTERA STONEFLIES

 Comments: Minute insects, disease transmitters  Rasping/sucking mouthparts  Incomplete Metamorphosis  Wings - 4, fringed  Antennae - short, 4-9 segments Order: THYSANOPTERA THRIPS

 Comments: Small, flattened laterally  Sucking mouthparts  Complete metamorphosis  Wingless  Reduced antennae Order: SIPHONAPTERA Fleas

BUGS, NATURE & YOU ~ We Can Get Along! ~ The End!