Insect Orders

Collembola

Include springtails and snow fleas. Entognathous (internal mouthparts) and ametabolous (no metamorphosis). They like moist areas (like soil and leaf litter), are “long” and multisegmented, and are not true insects. They have a furca (weird tail thing) and multisegmented antennae.

Protura

Include proturans. Ametabolous, anamorphic, entognathous mouthparts, and dwell in soil. They’re small, have a conical head with a fusiform body (fat middle skinny ends), and lack eyes and antennae.

Diplura

Two tails, include diplurans. Ametabolous, epimorphic, entognathous, and like moist areas. Lack eyes, long/multisegmented antennae, and mostly unpigmented. Have a conical head with a fusiform body.

Archaeognatha

Bristletails. Minor crop pests, mandibles have one point of articulation. Long antennae, humped thorax, ametabolous, ectognathous. Have large compound eyes.

Zygentoma

Silverfish. Ametabolous, ectognathous, dorsoventrally flattened, NOT humped, small (or no) compound eyes. Long antennae, and some MIGHT produce cellulase. Have styli.

Ephemeroptera

Mayflies. Ravenous aquatic larva with abdominal gills. Vestigial winged adults. Hemimetabolous.

Odonata

Dragon/damselflies. Ravenous aquatic larva, equally ravenous adults. Larvae have prehensile mouthparts.