Insect Biology Orders to Know

Thysanura (silverfish)

wingless, 3 cerci

Ephemeroptera (mayflies)

3 long cerci, wings held straight over back

Odonata (dragonflies and damsel flies)

long skinny bodies, membranous wings held to the sides or over back

Mantodea (mantis)

leathery wings flattened over back, “praying” front legs

Orthoptera (grasshoppers)

leathery wings, hind legs for jumping

Phasmatodea (stick bugs)

sticklike, wingless

Isoptera (termites)

wingless unless reproductive, white to yellow colored

Blattodea (cockroaches)

leathery wings flattened over back, scurries

Dermaptera (earwigs)

Cerci like forceps, short wings

Plecoptera (stoneflies)

2 cerci, membranous wings folded over back

Thysanoptera (thrips)

tiny, mostly wingless

Hemiptera (true bugs)

sucking mouthparts, half leathery, half membranous wings

Psocoptera (booklice)

round head and abdomen, membranous tent shaped wings

Phthiraotera (lice)

tiny, flightless

Megaloptera (dobsonflies)

large membranous wings, robust mouthparts

Raphidioptera (snakefly)

tented membranous wings, elongated prothorax

Neuroptera (lacewings)

tented membranous wings, longish prothorax

Coleoptera (beetles)

elytra, chewing mouthparts

Diptera (flies)

membranous set of wings and halteres

Siphonaptera (flea)

wingless, blood sucking

Trichoptera (caddisflies)

scaly wings tented over back, vestigial mouthparts

Lepidoptera (butterflies, moths)

scaly wings, proboscis

Hymenoptera (ants, bees)

1st abdomen segment fused to thorax, constricted waists