Lecture 10: Insect Classifications

3 most important insect orders (in order from most to least important)

1. Lepidoperta

2. Coleoptera

3. Hemiptera

Coleoptera meaning

“sheath wings”

Lepidoptera meaning

“scale wings”

Dermaptera meaning

“skin wings”

Diptera meaning

“two wings”

Hemiptera meaning

“half wings”

Hymeoptera meaning

“membrane wings”

Neuroptera meaning

“nerve wings”

Orthoptera meanign

“straight wings”

Thysanoptera meaning

“fringed wings”

Which order do beetles and weevils belong to?

Coleoptera

Which order do moths and butterflies belong to?

Lepidoptera

Which order do ants and bees belong to?

Hymenoptera

Which order do mosquitos belong to?

Diptera

Which order do grasshoppers belong to?

Orthoptera

Which order do earwigs belong to?

Dermaptera

Homoptera is subordinate to which order?

Hemiptera

Beetles, weevils, chafers, and fireflies belong to which order?

Coleoptera

What kind of life cycle do coleoptera insects have? List the stages.

Complete: egg → larva (grubs) → pupa → adult

What mouthparts do adult coleoptera have?

Chewing

What mouthparts do larvae coleoptera have?

Chewing

What are the food sources of adult and larvae coleoptera?

Plants, other insects

What kind of wings do coleoptera have? Describe them.

Sheath wings: hard, thick front wings and back wings are membranous

Some coleoptera produce _____

light (like fireflies)

Where are coleoptera commonly found?

Virtually everywhere on plants including flowers, fruits, grass, and trees

What kind of life cycle do dermaptera insects have? List the stages.

Gradual (simple or incomplete): egg → nymph → adult

What kind of mouthparts do dermaptera have?

Chewing

3 food sources of dermaptera

1. Plants

2. They are scanvengers

3. Some are predaceous

Main characteristic of dermaptera

Large pinchers at tail end

Where are dermaptera commonly found?

In damp areas like compost piles and under debris

Earwigs belong to which order?

Dermaptera

Flies, midges, mosquitoes, gnats belong to which order?

Diptera

What kind of life cycle do diptera insects have? List the stages.

Complete: egg → larva (maggots) → pupa → adult

What kind of mouthparts do adult diptera have?

Sponge-like, piercing, and lapping

What kind of mouthparts do larvae diptera have?

Chewing or gnawing

Adult diptera feed on which 4 things?

1. Nectar

2. Honeydew

3. Blood

4. Water

What 2 things do larvae diptera feed on?

1. Plant and animal tissue

2. Living or decaying materials

Where can adult Diptera be found?

Heads of animals, manure piles

Where can larval Diptera be found?

Dead animals, rotting plants and animals, bodies of water

True bugs, bed bugs, stink bugs, water treaders and striders, and box elders belong to which order?

Hemiptera

Hemiptera lifecycle

Incomplete: egg → nymph → adult