Invertebrates - insects

Odonata (order of dragonflies and damselflies)

• 4 obvious long, relatively thin wings

• dragonflies have thick body

• damselflies have thin body

Blattodea (order of cockroaches)

• resemble beetles

• forewings sclerotized while hind wings are membranous

• cockroaches are usually dull brown or red (rather than brightly coloured like beetles).

• Antennae are swept back

Isoptera (infraorder of termites)

• similar to ants

• pronounced “pinched” area between abdomen and thorax in ants and not termites

Mantodea (order of praying mantis)

• forelimbs in bent prayer pose

• body is elongated

Orthoptera (order of Crickets, grasshoppers, katydids)

• enlarged hind legs for jumping

hemiptera (order of bugs and true bugs)

• the suborder of hemiptera - wings cross over body

• the suborder of homoptera - wings form a tent over the back

Coleoptera (order beetles)

• forewings are very thick and tough

• brightly coloured & patterned

Diptera (order of flies)

• rear wings are small and called “halteres”

• only front wings are obvious

Lepidoptera (order of butterflies and moths)

• four very broad wings

• moths tend to have feathery antennae

• butterflies tend to have knobby antennae

Hymenoptera (order of ants, bees and wasps)

• May have obvious wings (bees, wasps and male ants)

• May not have obvious wings (most ants)

• “pinched” area between abdomen and thorax