1. Insect taxonomic diversity
By: Jarrett Houston

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

3. Ephemeroptera Damsel flies Head hypognathous to prognathous eyes large
antennae shorter to longer than head
mouthparts mandibulate (chewing) 
fore and hing wing pads develop on meso-
and metanotum, respectively
hind legs usually longer than forelegs
abdomen 10-segmented 
abdomen with paired lateral gills
abdomen ending in 3 caudal filaments
(= 2 lateral cerci and a terminal filament)

4. Odonata Dragonflies and Damselflies Abdomen long and slender
Large compound eyes
3 ocelli
Very small antennae
Mandibulate mouthparts
Two pairs of membranous wings of similar shape and size
Complex wing venation with many cells
Damselflies and dragonflies are very similar but can be separated by looking at their wings. In dragonflies the hind wings are slightly broader than the forewings and in damselflies both wings are more or less similar size. Wings are held horizontally to the body in dragonflies and vertically in damselflies when at rest

5. BlaTTaria Blattodea roaches Cockroaches
eggs usually contained in ootheca
leathery forewings.
male genitalia asymmetrical
cerci variable, with one or more segments

6. Isoptera Termites Pale, elongate body
2 pairs of membranous wings of equal length. Wings are present in reproductive castes only and shed after mating
Manipulated (chewing) mouthparts
Antenna about the same length as the head

7. Dermatptera Earwigs Flattened elongated body
Heavily sclerotized pincer-like cerci.. Females have straight cerci with a inward pointing tip and males have curved cerci
2 pairs of wings. The forewings are short and protectively hardened. The hind wings are membranous and folded in a fan-like way underneath the forewings when not in use. Some species are also wingless
Chewing (mandibulate) mouthparts
Moderately long antennae

8. Orthoptera Crickets, katydids, grasshoppers, etc.
Orthopterans have a generally cylindrical body, with hind legs elongated for jumping.
They have manipulate mouthparts and large compound eyes, and may or may not have oculi, depending on the species.
The antennae have multiple joints, and are of variable length.
The first and third segments of the thorax are enlarged, while the second segment is much shorter.
They have two pairs of wings, which are held overlapping the abdomen at rest.
The forewings, or terminal, are narrower than the hind wings and hardened at the base, while the hind wing is membranous, with straight veins and numerous cross-veins.
At rest, the hind wings are held folded fan-like under the forewings.
The final two to three segments of the abdomen are reduced, and have single-segmented cerci.

9. phasmida Stick Insects Most are wingless, but some have wings
Slow-moving
Usually large in overall size
Long, thin antennae
In stick insects, the legs are spaced out over a very long thorax
In stick insects, the body is long, thin and cylindrical
In leaf insects (which are mainly tropical in distribution), the bodies are dorso ventrally flattened with leaf-like projections on body and legs
Hemi metamorphosis(egg — nymph — adult)

10. hemiptera bugs, aphids and cicadas
2 pairs of wings, although some species may be wingless and others have only forewings. Wings are generally membranous but in some species the forewings may be hardened at the base
Piercing or sucking mouthparts appearing as a sharply pointed tube known as a proboscis or rostrum, which extends from the underside of the head
Compound eyes of various forms
Up to 3 ocelli present
Antennae vary and may be either short, or long and conspicuous
The young of helipterums look like small adults. Some bugs may be mistaken for beetles but can be distinguished by their mouthparts as beetles have mandibulate mouthparts while bugs have sucking/piercing mouthparts

11. coleoptera
Beetles
2 pairs of wings. Forewings hardened, hind wings membranous
Mandibulate mouthparts which are designed for biting and chewing
Antennae present in a variety of forms
Compound eyes in a variety of sizes and shape

12. lepidoptera Moths and butterflies
2 pairs of membranous wings that are covered in tiny scales which overlap like shingles on a roof. A few moths are wingless
Large compound eye
One ocelli present above each eye
Antennae present. Antennae are long and slender in female moths and generally feathery in male moths. Butterflies have clubbed antennae
Mouthparts are formed into a sucking tube known as a haustellum
The larvae are typically known as caterpillars and have a sclerotised head with chewing (mandibulate)mouthparts, 3 pairs of thoracic legs and often short, unsegmented prolegs on the abdomen.

13. diptera Flies and mosquitoes 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
short simple antennae, frilled or bushy in mosquitoes and crane flies

14. siphonoptera Fleas Laterally compressed bodies
Piercing-sucking mouthparts
Enlarged hind legs adapted for jumping
Strong tarsal claws adapted for holding onto their hosts
Backward pointing hairs and bristles for ease of movement through the hair of a host
Small antennae which tuck away into special groves in the head
The species Ctenocephalides felis (above) is the introduced cat flea but can survive on a wide range of host species. The larvae of all fleas appear grub- like and are usually found in the nests of their host or other areas where they commonly rest.

15. hymenoptera Bees, ants and wasps
Two pairs of membranous wings, although some may be wingless such as some species of female wasps and the worker caste of ants
The forewings are larger than the hind wings and are held together by small hooks (see below)
Females usually have a hardened ovipositor, which may be modified for sawing, piercing or stinging
Most hymenopterans have a constriction between the first 2 segments of the abdomen, which is known as a 'wasp waist'
Chewing (mandibulate) mouthparts, although in some species such as bees the lower lip is modified to form a tongue
Compound eyes, usually large
The larvae of hymenopterans lack many of the above external features. They vary in body shape and size depending on the species. Some display a distinct head, a thorax with 3 pairs of legs and an abdomen, although most are grub-like with no legs.

16. mantodea Praying mantis Elongated body
Raptorial front legs with one or two rows of spines
2 pairs of wings, both of which are used in flight. Although some species have reduced wings and others are wingless
Forewings protectively hardened to cover the membranous hind wings when at rest
Very mobile triangular shaped head with distinctive ocelli
Large compound eyes
Short to medium sized filiform antennae
The males of most species are fully winged while many females have either reduced wings or no wings at all. The nymphs of praying mantis look like small adults but lack wings or have developing wing buds.
Some species of Neuropterans in the family Mantispidae, like the one pictured below can be mistaken for praying mantis as they also have raptorial front legs, however further examination reveals they do not have the hardened forewings present in Mantodea.

17. Plecoptera Stone flies Elongated, flattened, soft body
2 pairs of membranous wings that are held curved around the body at rest. Some species are wingless while others have reduced wings
Hind wings slightly wider than forewings
Long legs
Mandibulate mouthparts
2 cerci at tip of abdomen
The larvae of stoneflies are aquatic and appear similar to the adults but lack wings. Larvae also possess external gills along the edge of their abdomens and at the tip.

18. The end