Insect Orders

Protura

• Small (2 mm or less)

• As many as 800 described species

• Lack antennae and front legs serve a

similar function (these are visible

next to head in adjacent image)

• Soil dwelling insects that feed on

fungi and decaying plant material

Diplura

Larger than proturans (2 – 5 mm

typically, with exceptionally large ones

reaching 5 mm)

• Have antennae

• Elongated body form with little

differentiation between thoracic and

abdominal segments

• Long cerci present

• Capable of limb regeneration!

• Omnivorous with some specialized

predator species

Collembola

Known as springtails for the ability to

propel themselves

• Also small (2 – 3 mm)

• The most diverse of the 3 orders with at

least 8,000 species and possibly many

more undescribed

• Named for collophore organ involved in

their water balance physiology.

• Cosmopolitan, including in parts of

Antarctica

• Forked abdominal appendage—furcula—

is used for ”jumping” movements

ARCHAEOGNATHA

Bristletails; order name refers to “ancient

jaw” (a reference to mouthparts)

• 7 – 15 mm in length; ~500 species

• Ametabolous: continual molting, no

distinct differences between stages, except

size

• Long antennae, large compound eyes and

elongated maxillary palps (see photo)

• Long caudal filament and two cerci

• Indirect sperm transfer

• Consume algae, moss and lichens

THYSANURA

Silverfish; order name refers to the tail

segments

• Large maxillary palps, compound eyes

absent or reduced; dorsoventrally

flattened

• Long caudal filament with cerci on either

side

• Indirect fertilization

• A few synantrhopic (human-associated)

species

THYSANOPTERA