2. Classification taxonomy, Major insect order and Other Major Pest Orders

What is Taxonomy

Taxonomy is the science of identifying, naming and classifying organisms

Why is classification importants

Identifying the pest correctly allows us to understand its biology. It’s behaviour and how to best treat the pest.

List the Classification Hierarchy largest to smallest

Kingdom

Phylum

Class

Order

Family

Genuis

Species

List the Classification Hierarchy Smallest to largest

species

Genus

Family

Order

Class

Phylum

Kingdom

how do we write scientific names

Including one unknown species and multiple species or unknown species within a genus

Genus + species

Both written in italics

Genus = Capital letter

Speciles written in small letter

Example Musca Domestica

unknown species within a genus- write the genus followed by sp.

example Musca sp.

Multiple species/unknown species within a genus. - Genus followed by spp.

example Musca spp.

List the most important Group for Kingdom

Animalia

List the most important Groups for phylum

Arthropoda

Chordata

List the defining features of Arthropoda

• exoskeleton

• Segmented body

• Jointed appendages

• Moult to grow

List the defining features of chordata

• internal skeleton

• Backbone

• Brain and spinal cord

List the most important classes for phylum Arthropoda and Chordata

Arthropoda

• Insecta

• Arachnida

Chordata

• Mammalia

• Aves

List the defining features of the Insecta class

• Adults have three body segments

• Six legs

• One pair of an antenna

• Many have wings

List the defining features of the class Arachnida

• Adults usually have two body segments

• Eight legs

• No antenna

• No wings

List the defining features of the mammalia class

• Hair or fur

• Female females produce milk

• Warm blooded

• Breathe with lungs

• Most give birth to Live young

List the define features of the Aves class

• Feathers

• Wings

• Beak

• Warm blooded

• Lay hard shell eggs

List the most important orders for Class Insecta

Give examples that fall under each order

Blattodea - Cockroaches & termites

Diptera - Flies, Mosquitoes, Miges and gnats

Hemiptera - Ants, Wasps and wasps

Hymenoptera - Bed bugs & true bugs

Coleoptera - Beetles and Weevils

Lepidoptera - Moths and butterflies

Orthoptera - Grass hoppers, Crickets and Locusts

Siphonaptera - Flees

Zygontoma - Sliver fish

Thysanoptera - Thrips

Pscodea - Lice and Book lice

List the most important orders for Class Arachnida

Give examples that fall under each order

Araneae - Spiders

Acari - Ticks and mites

Scorpiones - scorpions

List the most important orders for Class Mammalia

Give examples that fall under each order

Rodentia - Norway rats, Roof rats and Mice

Chiroptera - Bats
Diprotodontia - Possums

List the most important orders for Class Aves

Give examples that fall under each order

Columbiformes - Pigeons

Passeroformes - Sparrows, Starlings and Mynas

Order for Cockroaches and Termites

Blattodea

Order for Flies and Mosquitoes

Diptera

Order for Ants, Bees and wasps

Hymenoptera

Order for Bed bugs and true bugs

Hemiptera

Order for Beetles and Weevils

Coleoptera

Order for Moths and butterflies

Lepidoptera

Order for Flees

Siphonaptera

Order for Crickets, grasshoppers and Locusts

Orthoptera

Order for Silverfish

Zygontoma

Order for Thrips

Thysanoptera

Order for Lice and Booklice

Pscodea

Order for Spiders

Araneae

Order for Mites and Ticks

Acari (sub class)

Order for Scorpions

Scorpiones

Order for Norway rats, roof rats and mice

Rodentia

Order for Bats

Chiroptera

Order for possums

Diprotodontia

Order for pigeons

Columbiformes

Order for Sparrows, Starlings and Mynas

Passeroformes

What insect fall under order Blattodea

Cockroaches

Termites

What insect fall under order Diptera

Flies, Mosquitoes, Gnats/midges

What insect falls under order Hemiptera

Bed bugs and tyrue buys

What insect falls under order Hymenoptera

Ants,

Wasps and

Bees

What insect falls under order Coleoptera

Beetles

Weevils

What insect falls under order Lepidoptera

Moths

Butterflies

What insect falls under order siphonaptera

Flees

What insect falls under order Zygontoma

Sliver fish

What insect falls under order Orthoptera

Crickets

Grasshoppers

Locusts

What insect falls under order Thysanoptera

Thrips

What insect falls under order Pscodea

Lice

Booklice

what insect falls under order Araneae

Spiders

what insect falls under Acari (subclass)

Ticks

Mites

what insect falls under order scorpiones

Scorpions

what animal falls under order Rodentia

Norway rats

Roof rats

Mice

what animal falls under order Chiroptera

Bats

what animal falls under order Diprotodontia

Possums

what animal falls under order Columbiformes

Pigeons

what animal falls under order Passeroformes

Sparrows

Starlings

Mynas

Which order of insects undergo primitive metamorphosis?

Order Zygentoma

• Silverfish

Life cycle: egg → young → adult
Young resemble adults; there is no pupal stage.

Which order of insects undergo incomplete metamorphosis? (5)

Order Blattodea

• Cockroaches

• Termites

Order Orthoptera

• Grasshoppers

• Crickets

• Locusts

Order Hemiptera

• Bed bugs

• True bugs

Order Thysanoptera

• Thrips

Order Psocodea

• Lice

• Booklice

Life cycle: egg → nymph → adult

Which order of insects undergo complete metamorphosis? (5)

Order Diptera

• Flies

• Mosquitoes

• Midges

• Gnats

Order Coleoptera

• Beetles

• Weevils

Order Lepidoptera

• Moths

• Butterflies

• Caterpillars are the larval stage

Order Siphonaptera

• Fleas

Order Hymenoptera

• Ants

• Bees

• Wasps

Life cycle: egg → larva → pupa → adult.

Which orders undergo primitive, incomplete and complete metamorphosis?

Metamorphosis	Orders	Your examples
Primitive	Zygentoma	Silverfish
Incomplete	Blattodea	Cockroaches, termites
	Orthoptera	Grasshoppers, crickets, locusts
	Hemiptera	Bed bugs, true bugs
	Thysanoptera	Thrips
	Psocodea	Lice, booklice
Complete	Diptera	Flies, mosquitoes, midges, gnats
	Coleoptera	Beetles, weevils
	Lepidoptera	Moths, butterflies, caterpillars
	Siphonaptera	Fleas
	Hymenoptera	Ants, bees, wasps

What insects have chewing mouthparts?

• Cockroaches

• Termites

• Beetles

• Weevils

• Grasshoppers

• Crickets

• Locusts

• Silverfish

• Ants

• Wasp larvae

• Bee larvae

• Caterpillars

• Booklice

What are the key identifications, (7)

feeding structures

life cycle of Araneae?

• Key identification:

  • Eight legs

  • Two main body regions: cephalothorax and abdomen

  • No antennae

  • No wings

  • Chelicerae with fangs

  • Pedipalps

  • Spinnerets may be visible at the end of the abdomen

  Feeding: Predatory; inject venom through the fangs and consume liquefied prey.

  Life cycle:
  Egg → spiderling → adult.
  Spiders grow by moulting.

What are the key identifications, (6)

feeding structures and

life cycle of Acari?

Key identification:

• Very small mites and ticks

• Body usually appears fused into one main region

• No antennae

• No wings

• Adults and nymphs usually have eight legs

• Larvae usually have six legs

Feeding structures: Mouthparts vary. They may pierce, suck, cut or rasp tissue.

Life cycle:
Egg → larva → nymph → adult.
Some species have several nymphal stages.

What are the key identifications, (6)

feeding structures and

life cycle of scorpions?

Key identification:

• Eight legs

• Two large pincers called pedipalps

• Segmented abdomen

• Long segmented tail

• Venomous stinger at the end of the tail

• No antennae or wings

Feeding: Predatory; pincers capture prey and the mouthparts tear and consume it.

Life cycle:
Live young → juveniles → adult.
Young scorpions ride on the mother’s back until their first moult.

What are the key identifications of rodents? (8)

• One pair of large, continuously growing incisors in the upper jaw

• One pair of continuously growing incisors in the lower jaw

• No canine teeth

• A gap called a diastema between incisors and cheek teeth

• Teeth are adapted for gnawing

• Fur-covered body

• four legs and a tail

• Most are omnivorous or opportunistic feeders

What are the key identifications of Columbiformes? (7)

• Stocky-bodied birds

• Small head and short neck

• Short legs

• Broad, pointed wings

• Often produce a cooing call

• Commonly feed on seeds, grains and food waste

• Often roost or nest on buildings, ledges and bridges

What are the key identifications of Passeriformes? (6)

• Perching birds

• Three toes pointing forward and one backward

• Adapted feet for gripping branches, wires and ledges

• Usually small to medium-sized

• Many species nest in cavities, roof spaces or building structures

• Diet varies from seeds and insects to human food waste

Pest examples: house sparrow, common myna and common starling.