Diagnostic Characteristics Flashcards
0.6-1.5 mm long
whiteish
eyeless
no antennae
Protura
proturans
0.25-6 mm long
furcula/tenaculum (tail-like appendage)
collophore (tube-like structure underneath)
Collembola
springtails
<7 mm pale colored two caudal filaments (short, sometimes look like pinchers) eyeless/no ocelli lack scales
Diplura
diplurans
up to 15 mm in length cylindrical body, may be arched in live specimens compound eyes: large, contiguous ocelli body with scales 3 caudal filaments relatively parallel maxillary palps prominent
Microcoryphia
bristletails
elongate
flattened
3 caudal filaments, often with cerci projecting at almost right angles from median filament
usually have compound eyes: small, separated
ocelli may be present
body with scales
Thysanura
silverfish
small to medium sized elongate soft-bodied 2 or 3 long caudal filaments membranous wings with numerous cross veins forewings large and triangular hind wings rounded, small or absent antennae short, small, and setaceous
Ephemeroptera
mayflies
wings are elongate, many-veined and membranous large and many-faceted compound eyes setaceous antennae long and slender abdomen chewing mouthparts
Odonata
dragonflies & damselflies
soft-bodied and flattened wings fold flat over abdomen fore wings elongated and narrow long antennae chewing mouthparts
Plecoptera
stoneflies
oval dorsoventrally flattened body cursorial legs head concealed dorsally by pronotum tegmina
Blattodea
cockroaches
usually white soft-bodied abdomen broadly joined to thorax most wingless if winged, wings are membranous-forewings and hind wings equal in size moniliform or filiform antennae
Isoptera
termites
elongate, slender, somewhat flattened body
forceps like cerci
wings shorter than body, don’t project much over the abdomen
filiform antennae
chewing mouth parts (mandibulate)
Dermaptera
earwigs
large (50 mm long or longer in this area)
elongate
raptorial forelegs
extended pronotum (plate-like structure on thorax)
head is freely moveable, can look over their “shoulders”
Mantodea
mantids
elongate and stick like body
wings are reduced or absent
Phasmatodea
stick insects, walking sticks
jumping legs elongate flattened biting/chewing mouth parts winged or wingless forewings many-veined and thickened hind wings broader and membranous body elongate cerci well-developed antennae long, many segmented, and filiform tympana
Orthoptera
grasshoppers, crickets, katydids
wings held flat on body with tips crossing apically
forewings hemelytra
hind wings membranous
piercing-sucking mouthparts
antennae fairly long (4-5 segments)
well-developed compound eyes in most cases
0-2 ocelli
most with a distinct scutellum (shield like structure on thorax)
Hemiptera
(Suborder: Heteroptera)
(true bugs, stink bugs, plant bugs)
sucking mouthparts arising from posterior of head
forwings have uniform texture, either membranous or thickened and leathery
hind wings membranous
wings held tent-like over body
setaceous or filiform antennae
0-3 ocelli
Hemiptera
(Suborder: Homoptera)
(cicadas, scales, plant hoppers, aphids)
wingless
eyes reduced or absent
ocelli absent
antennae 3-5 segmented
Phthiraptera
lice
0.5-5.0 mm slender body sucking mouthparts if present, wings are sclerotized rods with fringe of hairs short antennae
Thysanoptera
thrips
scales on wings
adult mouthparts are sucking
large compound eyes
Lepidoptera
butterflies, moths
small to medium-sized most are dull colored slender body four membranous wings which are very hairy and have scales wings held tent-like over body antennae long and slender, filiform chewing mouthparts, well-developed palps
Trichoptera
caddisflies
0.5-2.0 mm laterally flattened wingless numerous backward-projecting spines and bristles saltatorial hind legs short antennae in grooves on head piercing-sucking mouthparts
Siphonaptera
fleas
wings with many veins soft-bodied 4 membranous reticulated wings wings held tent-like over body mandibulate mouthparts long antennae, filiform, pectinate, clubbed no cerci
Neuroptera
lacewings, antlions, dobsonflies, mantisflies
highly diverse sizes from less than 1 mm to 125 mm elytra, which meet at midline chewing mouthparts nearly all lack ocelli variety of antennal types may have shortened elytra
Coleoptera
beetles
9-22 mm
slender body
head (clypeus) often prolonged below eyes as a beak
most have 4 membranous wings similar in size and venation
Mecoptera
scorpionflies
one pair of wings
halters (knobbed structures - modified wings)
diverse mouthparts including: piercing, sucking, cutting and lapping or sponging
Diptera
true flies
winged species have four membranous wings
hind wings smaller than forewings
hamuli on the anterior margin of the hind wings connect hind and wings
well-developed ovipositor
some species’ ovipositors are modified into a stinger
antennae long, usually 10+ segments
mandibulate mouthparts
many individual have a thin “waist”
Hymenoptera
bees, ants, wasps
