1. Entomology 101 Orders of Insects II
David J. Shetlar, Ph.D.
The “BugDoc”
The Ohio State University,
OARDC & OSU Extension
Columbus, OH
© Sept, 2009, D.J. Shetlar, all rights reserved

2. (complete metamorphosis)
Orders of Insects
(complete metamorphosis)
Coleoptera – beetles
Neuroptera - dobsonfly, lacewings
Hymenoptera - sawflies , bees, wasps
Tricoptera - caddisflies
Lepidoptera - butterflies & moths
Siphonaptera - fleas
Diptera - gnats, mosquitoes, flies

3. Order Coleoptera (=sheath wing) beetles
Largest order in animal kingdom
Chewing mouthparts
Complex metamorphosis
4 wings
Forewings (elytra) are hardened, opaque, meet in the midline of back
Feed on plants, organic matter, stored products; or predatory

4. Coleoptera (sheath wing)
(beetles & weevils; >300K spp.)
[front wings shelllike, usually covering abdomen; hind wings membranous, folded under forewings; antennae variable, but evident; chewing mouthparts; larvae variously shaped - elongate, grublike, etc.]
Ground beetle
Passalid beetle
Ground beetle larva

5. (beetles & weevils; >300K spp.)
Coleoptera
(beetles & weevils; >300K spp.)
Lady beetle
Rove beetle
May/June
beetle
Bluegrass billbug adult & larva

6. Cicada Parasite Beetle

8. “Caterpillar Hunter” – a ground beetle

9. Stag beetle

10. “Lighteningbug” or “Firefly” – Lampyrid beetle

11. Longhorn beetle

12. Emerald Ash Borer

13. Acorn weevil

14. Lady Beetle life stages: egg, larva, pupa & adult

15. Bluegrass billbug life stages
Japanese beetle life stages

16. Order Neuroptera (=nerve wing) lacewings & dobsonflies, antlions, owlflies
Membranous, 2 pairs
Approximately equal size
Many veins & cross-veins
Chewing mouthparts, sometimes larvae with sucking mandibles
Complex metamorphosis
Members of interest are predators

17. Neuroptera (=nerve wing)
(dobsonfly, lacewings, antlions; 5.5K spp.)
[two pair wings with numerous veins, elongate larvae with elongate mandibles, larvae & adults usually predatory]
Green lacewing adult
Eggs
Cocoon
Larva

18. Owlfly
Dobsonfly
Mantisfly
Snakefly
Brown Lacewing

19. Antlion pits, larva (=doodlebug) & adult

20. Order Hymenoptera (=marriage wing) bees, wasps, sawflies, ants
Wings:
4 membranous wings
Hind pair smaller than front pair
Pairs attached by row of small hooks
Bees, wasps, & ants have second abdominal segment constricted & narrow; i.e. effect of “wasp-waist”
Sawflies have broadly joined thorax & abdomen

21. Order Hymenoptera bees, wasps, sawflies, ants
Chewing or chewing/lapping mouthparts
Complex metamorphosis
Many beneficial
Parasitoids, predators
Pollinators
Produce honey, beeswax
Some plant feeders
Some members sting; nuisance
Many with complex social habits

22. Hymenoptera (=married wing)
(bees, wasps, sawflies; 115K spp.)
[front wings large, hind wings smaller, both membraneous; chewing mouthparts; some with stings - modified ovipositors; larvae caterpillar-like, sawflies; or maggot-like]
Redheaded pine sawfly adult, larvae, & pupae

23. (bees, wasps, sawflies; 115K spp.)
Hymenoptera
(bees, wasps, sawflies; 115K spp.)
Aphid wasp parasitizing aphid
Ichneumonid wasp attacking wood-boring larva
Yellowjacket wasp
Acrobat ants

24. Carpenter Bee

25. Cocoo Wasp
Trigonalyid Wasp
Special
Parasitic
Wasps
Dryinid Wasp

26. Paper or Umbrella Wasps - Polistes

27. Order Trichoptera (=hair wing) caddisflies
Adult mothlike, but no scales on wings, just hairs
Wings folded roof-like over body
Larvae somewhat caterpillar-like, but aquatic
Larvae often make cases of sand, small pebbles, or plant material

28. Trichoptera (hair wing)
(caddisflies; >7K spp.)
[mothlike adults but no scales on wings; front wings narrow, often covered with hairs; larvae caterpillar-like and aquatic]

29. Order Lepidoptera (=scale wing) moths & butterflies
Shingle-like scales on wings
4 wings, often colorful
Complex metamorphosis
Mouthparts
Chewing in larva
Sucking (siphoning) or none in adults
Proboscis in butterflies: coiled siphon

30. Order Lepidoptera moths & butterflies
Larvae (caterpillars) have 2 to 5 prolegs on abdomen
Larvae feed on plants, stored products
Butterflies have threadlike antennae with a knob, moths have threadlike or feathery antennae
Some adults beneficial as pollinators

31. Lepidoptera (scale wing)
(butterflies, moths, caterpillars; 150K spp.)
[front and hind wings generally covered with scales; adult mouthparts a sucking tube, larvae have chewing mouthparts and prolegs on abdomen]
Cranberry girdler moth
Luna moth
Red admiral butterfly

32. Armyworm moth wing & close-up

33. Skipper Butterfly

34. Polyphemus moth (one of the giant silkworm moths)

35. Buckeye butterfly (go Bucks!)

36. Black swallowtail butterfly
& larva (parsleyworm)

37. Fiery skipper butterfly – adult, egg, larva & pupa in cocoon

38. Order Siphonaptera (sucking wingless) fleas
Body: small, hard, laterally compressed
Wingless
Prominent beak
Mouthparts:
Piercing/sucking in adult
Chewing in larva

39. Order Siphonaptera fleas
Complex metamorphosis
Larvae feed on organic matter
Adults suck blood
Adults transmit disease

40. Siphonaptera (sucking wingless)
(fleas; 2.4K spp.)
[wingless, extoparasitic adults; laterally compressed; jumping hind legs; larvae have chewing mouthparts and resemble midge larvae]
Cat flea adult and larva

41. Order Diptera (two wing) true flies
Mouthparts:
Sucking: modified piercing/ sucking, sponging, lapping, slashing in adult
Modified chewing in larva
One pair wings, on mesothorax
Metathorax has 1 pair of small, knobbed appendages (halteres)
Occasionally wingless

42. Order Diptera flies Complex metamorphosis
Feed on plants, organic matter, stored products, vertebrates; or predators
Transmit animal diseases

43. (flies, midges, mosquitoes; >150K spp.)
Diptera (two wing)
(flies, midges, mosquitoes; >150K spp.)
[front wings membranous; hind wings reduced to small balance organ - haltere; mouthparts piercing-sucking or sponging sucking; larvae wireworm shaped or maggots with chewing or rasping mouthparts]
Mosquito
House fly
Moth fly

44. (flies, midges, mosquitoes; >150K spp.)
Diptera
(flies, midges, mosquitoes; >150K spp.)
Fruit fly
Hover fly adult (on flower), eggs near aphids and larva eating aphids