Insect Taxnomic Diversity BY: Jerrie Womack

Insect orders Ephemeroptera Orthoptera Diptera Odonata Phasmida Siphonoptera Blattaria Hemiptera Hymenoptera Isoptera Coleoptera Mantodea Dermatptera Lepidoptera Plecoptera

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. Mayflies range in length from 0.04 to 3.2 inches (1 to 81.2 millimeters). They come in a variety of colors, including white, yellow, pinkish, gray, or black. In fact, this is the oldest group of winged insects alive today. The four transparent wings of the mayfly are held together straight over the body. A network of veins supports each wing. The first pair of wings is much larger than the second; in some species the second pair of wings is very small or even missing altogether. Ephemeroptera

The Odonata (from the Greek odon-o meaning tooth), commonly known as dragonflies and damselflies, is a fascinating insect order. (In some areas, the term dragonfly is used for both groups.) The 2 pairs of wings of the damselflies are alike, whereas the hind wings of the dragonflies are broader than the front wings Over short distances they can reach speeds of 70 kph/45 mph. They can hover, and fly backwards and forwards. The nymphs are aquatic, carnivorous and sluggish, and are usually found in slow moving or still water. On hatching from the eggs the larvae start feeding at once. Odonata

Blattaria Blattodea -- cockroaches; in some classifications considered an order There are thought to be around 4,000 known species of cockroach in existence but only about 30 of the different species of cockroach are the ones that humans come into contact with. The cockroach is dated around 300 million years old, with fossil evidence suggesting that the modern cockroach is much smaller than the original roach. Today the cockroach is on average, about an inch long. Cockroaches are thought to be able to have up to four litters of young every year. The female cockroach lays between 10 and 90 eggs per time, which hatch in a matter of days. Flattened oval bodies, dark brown or reddish in color

Isoptera Consist of termites and white ants Adults (Reproductive) Body may be darkly pigmented Head well-developed, with chewing mouthparts and beaded antennae Compound eyes present Two pairs of membranous wings, all similar in shape and size; wings are shed after mating Immature (Workers & Soldiers) body pale in color, somewhat ant-like in appearance but with a broader junction between thorax and abdomen Compound eyes small or absent Head large and cylindrical or small and round Antennae beaded Mouthparts chewing; sometimes with large mandibles

Dermaptera The name Dermaptera, derived from the Greek "derma" meaning skin and "ptera" meaning wings, refers to the thickened forewings that cover and protect the hind wings.  Adults: Antennae slender, beaded Mouthparts mandibulate, prognathous Tarsi 3-segmented Front wings short and leathery Hind wings semicircular and pleated Cerci enlarged to form pincers (forceps) Immatures: Structurally similar to adults Developing wingpads may be visible on thorax

Orthoptera Immatures Structurally similar to adults The name Orthoptera, derived from the Greek "ortho" meaning straight and "ptera" meaning wing, refers to the parallel-sided structure of the front wings (tegmina). Adults Antennae filiform Mouthparts mandibulate, hypognathous Pronotum shield like, covering much of thorax Front wings narrow, leathery (tegmina); hind wings fan-like Hind legs usually adapted for jumping (hind femur enlarged) Tarsi 3- or 4-segmented Cerci short, unsegmented Immatures Structurally similar to adults Developing wingpads often visible on thorax

Phasmida Body and legs very long and slender; no wings in our spp. (one species in Florida has very short wings, many exotic forms are fully winged) Usually found on trees or shrubs Herbivorous stick insects Classification Kingdom Animalia (Animals) Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods) Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods) Class Insecta (Insects) Order Phasmida (Walkingsticks)

Hemiptera The name Heteroptera, derived from the Greek "hetero-"em> meaning different and "ptera" meaning wings, refers to the fact that the texture of the front wings is different near the base (leathery) than at the apex (membranous). Adults: Antennae slender with 4-5 segments Proboscis 3-4 segmented, arising from front of head and curving below body when not in use Triangular scutellum present behind pronotum Front wings with basal half leathery and apical half membranous (hemelytra). Wings lie flat on the back at rest, forming an "X". Tarsi 2- or 3-segmented Pronotum usually large, trapezoidal or rounded

Coleoptera The forewings of beetles are heavily sclerotised and form protective covers over the hind wings. The forewings are called elytra and Coleoptera means 'sheath wings' i.e. the hard sheath-like elytra over the soft hind wings. The elytra are not used in flight but are lifted out of the way of the hind wings. At rest the elytra meet in a straight line down the middle of the back. The elytra may completely cover the abdomen or may be shorter exposing part of the abdomen. The hind wings are membranous and are used for flight. At rest they are folded protectively under the elytra. Some species do not have hind wings and their elytra are generally fused together. Beetles are often confused with cockroaches (Blattodea) or bugs (Hemiptera) but can be distinguished from the former by their forewings which are modified into elytra and meet in a straight line down the back and from the later by their chewing rather than sucking mouthparts.

Lepidoptera The mouth parts of Lepidoptera mainly consist of the sucking kind; this part is known as the proboscis or 'haustellum'. The proboscis consists of two tubes held together by hooks and separable for cleaning. The proboscis contains muscles for operating. Each tube is inwardly concave, thus forming a central tube up which moisture is sucked. Suction takes place due to the contraction and expansion of a sac in the head.[5] The study of insect mouthparts was helpful for the understanding of the functional mechanism of the proboscis of butterflies (Lepidoptera) to elucidate the evolution of new form-function. The study of the proboscis of butterflies revealed surprising examples of adaptations to different kinds of fluid food, like nectar, plant sap, tree sap, dung for example and of adaptations to the use of pollen as complementary food at a genus of neotropic butterflies. An extreme long proboscis appears within different groups of flower visiting insects, but is relatively rare.

Diptera One pair of membranous wings Hind wings are reduced to small club like structures called halteres. The halteres are used as stabilisers during flight Sucking mouthparts, sometimes adapted for piercing e.g. mosquitoes large compound eyes The small club-like halteres, as seen here are situated behind the much larger forewings. The base of halteres are flexible and when they are moved a fly or mosquito is able to control its flight. As the haltere bends at the base, a fly or mosquito can change flight speed or direction making them more manoeuvrable compared to many other flying insects

Siphonoptera Siphonaptera, commonly known as fleas, are parasitic insects that reside on their hosts for as long as they can. Fleas only preside on mammals or birds as they depend on either feathers or fur for protection. The fleas will feed on their host using a long and slender, piercing mouth to suck the blood of their hosts. Although some species can only reside on specific hosts, most species of fleas are can move from host to Morphologically most fleas are less than 5mm in length and are laterally flattened. The shape of their bodies, being tall and skinny instead of short and flat, helps them travel between fur and feathers with relative ease. On their hind legs, fleas have enlarged coxae. These allow fleas to jump a distance of a foot or more which is around 50 times their body length (Milne). Interestingly, fleas do not just jump straight up in the air. As they are jumping, fleas will do a complete somersault in the air (Urquhart). Eyesight is a sense which is not particularly important to fleas. Most species have only minute compound eyes, while some species have no eyes at all. Instead fleas depend more on the sense of feeling to know when a perspective host is near (Milne).

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 Holometabola complete development (egg, larva, pupa, adult) The Hymenoptera is divided into two suborders: Symphyta (sawflies and horntails) have a broad junction between thorax and abdomen Apocrita (ants, bees, and wasps) have a narrow junction between the thorax and abdomen. Distribution: Common worldwide. Third largest order of insects.

Praying Mantids are from medium to large in size Praying Mantids are from medium to large in size. They have elongated body and free movable triangular head. Their antennae are slender, segmented and longer in male than in female. The pro-thorax is usually narrow and elongate. Their fore-legs are spiny and strong. They have hardened forewings for protection and membranous hind wings for flying, although some species are wingless. Praying Mantids hold their wings flat over the abdomen. The wings of male are usually functional while wings of female often reduced or even absent.    Mantodea The Order Mantodea consists of the mantises, sometimes called the "praying mantises" because of the manner in which their forelegs are positioned resembles a praying stance. There are over 2,200 known species of mantis worldwide. The words praying mantis are sometimes incorrectly written as preying mantis; this is incorrect even though mantises are predatory animals. Although the term "praying mantis" is now sometimes used to describe all the members of the Order Mantodea, the term was originally used to describe a single member of the species, the European mantis.

Plecoptera Stoneflies comprise a hemimetabolous order of16 families and more than 2000 species of aquatic insects distributed on all continents except Antarctica, and most major islands except notably Cuba, Fiji, Hawaii, and New Caledonia. They are primarily associated with running water, where nymphs inhabit mineral or organic substrates of streambeds, and the winged adults rest throughout their seasonal lives in streamside microhabitats such as rocks, moss, debris, leafpacks, and riparian vegetation. A few species occur in waveswept substrates of cold alpine and boreal lakes, or in intermittent streams. Stonefly adults (Fig. 1D and 1E) are variable in size from about 5 to 50 mm, and in color from black to green or yellow, often marked with distinctive light or dark patterns. The aquatic adult of one species known from the depths of Lake Tahoe (Capnia lacustra) and a few other species are apterous (wingless), but most adults are winged. The wings of males and females of some species, or particular populations of a species, are shortened (brachypterous) and they do not fly, but the typical condition is of two pairs of wings as long or longer than the abdomen (macropterous).

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