Entomology
Insects in Kansas Probably between 15 and 20 thousand species
What is an Insect? Invertebrates Exoskeleton 6 legs 3 body parts –Head –Thorax –Abdomen
Arthropods Insects are Arthropods So are arachnids (spiders, ticks, and mites), centipedes and millipedes, crustaceans
Importance of Insects Some are harmful to humans - less than 100 species Some are beneficial Most are neutral
Reproduction Separate sexes Pathogenesis –Without fertilization
Metamorphosis (types of) None Gradual Incomplete Complete
Complete Metamorphosis Butterflies Houseflies Bees Beetles
Egg
Larva Maggots- flies Grub worms- beetles Meal worms- beetles Caterpillars- butterflies, moths
Caterpillar (larva) 6 legs
Pupa Resting stage Called chrysalises in butterflies Sealed in a cocoon
Dormancy A stage of inactivity in the life cycle
Adult
Molting The shedding of the exoskeleton to allow for growth
Major Orders There are over 40 orders
Order Coleoptera Beetles
Order Diptera Flies Gnats Mosquitoes
Order Lepidoptera Moths Butterflies
Order Lepidoptera Luna Moth
Order Lepidoptera Monarch Viceroy
Order Hymenoptera Ants Bees Wasps
Order Hymenoptera Cicada Killer Wasp
Order Hymenoptera - Carpenter Ants
Order Orthoptera Crickets Grasshoppers Katydids
Order Isoptera Termites
Order Hemiptera – True bugs Stink bugs bed bugs water strider
Order Homoptera Cicada Aphids
Order Odonata Dragonflies
Order Mantodea Praying Mantises