Entomology Flashcards
‘Apterygota’
Class
Lacking wings in primitive condition; existed before evolution of wings
Two orders: Archaeognatha and Zygentoma
Archaeognatha
Order
Bristletails and Rockhoppers
Monocondylous: mandible articulate in one place with the jaw (all other orders are dicondylous)
Low relative diversity (500)
Under ‘apterygota’
Zygentoma
Order
Silverfish
Apterygotes (non-winged) and dicondylous mandibles, articulating in two places with the jaw
Low relative diversity (560)
Under ‘apterygota’
‘Paleoptera’
Class
Winged insects unable to fold wings back over the abdomen
Two orders: Ephemeroptera and Odonata
Exopterygotes
Term
Wings develop on sheaths external to body cavity, and on dorsal surface; able to see visual evidence of wings during immature stages
All are hemimetabolous
Endopterygotes
Term
Wings develop inside body cavity; unable to see evidence of wings on youth
All are holometabolous
Hemimetabolous
Term
Body form changes gradually with each molt; no radical difference between instars
Young look somewhat similar to adults
Egg –> nymphal instars –> adult
Holometabolous
Term
Undergo a complete metamorphosis; body form chages abruptly at pupal molt
Young look very different to the adults
Egg –> larval instars –> pupa –> adult
Ephemeroptera
Order
Mayflies
Subimago: the penultimate instar is winged
Immature stages (nymhs or naiads) are wingless and aquatic
Low relative diversity (3800)
Under ‘paleoptera’
Odonata
Order
Dragonflies and Damselflies
Males have secondary copulatory apparatus on ventral base of abdomen
Pairs form a tandem wheel while mating
Low relative diversity (6350)
Under ‘paleoptera’
Polyneoptera
Class
Under classification of neopterous, capable of folding wings back against the abdomen when at rest
Hemimetabolous, more distantly related to the holometabola
Six orders, see following cards
Mantodea
Order
Mantids
Raptorial forelegs; tibia and femur with interlocking spines/barbs
Low relative diversity (2500)
Under polyneoptera
Blattodea (a)
Order
Roaches
First segment of throax is shield-like, extending over the head
Body is dorso-ventrally flattened; forewings leathery, hindwings fan-like
Low relative diversity (4600)
Under polyneoptera
Blattodea (b)
Order
Termites
Gut contains endosymbiotic bacteria or protists that aid in the digestion of cellulose
Eusocial / social species
Low relative diversity (3000)
Under polyneoptera
Orthoptera
Order
Grasshoppers, Locusts, Crickets, Katydids
Enlarged hind legs - poweful jumpers; kick tibiae downward and backward to propel forward into leap or flight
Low(ish) relative diversity (24,000)
Under polyneoptera
Dermaptera
Order
Earwigs
Heavily sclerotized (hardened) posterior forceps at the tip of the abdomen; used for defense and courtship
Most species rarely fly; secondarily wingless
Low relative diversity (2000)
Under polyneoptera
Phasmatodea
Order
Walking sticks
Medium to large sized insects, often elongated and cylindrical bodies
Most species are secondarily wingless, especially the females
Low relative diversity (3600)
Under polyneoptera
Embioptera
Order
Web spinners
Spin silk from swollen glands on basal segment of each fore tarsus (on the leg)
Small and elongated bodies; females secondarily wingless
Low relative diversity (450)
Under polyneoptera
Paraneoptera
Class
also called Acercaria
Under classification of neopterous, capable of folding wings back against the abdomen when at rest
Hemimetabolous, more closely related to the holometabola
Derived mouthparts for sucking of fluids
Three orders: Psocodea (ab), Thysanoptera, Hemiptera
Psocodea (a)
Order
Chewing and sucking lice (parasitic)
Dorsoventrally flattened, apteryous (wingless) ectoparasites
Host specificity is high; no free living stage, eggs laid directly on host
Low relative diversity (5100)
Under paraneoptera
Psocodea (b)
Order
Bark lice and Book lice (non-parasitic)
Asymmetrical chewing mandibles; minute and cryptic insects
Commonly secondarily wingless, though some have wings held tent-like over the body
Low relative diversity (6000)
Under paraneoptera
Thysanoptera
Order
Thrips
Three-part needle-like mouthparts; paired maxillary stylets and left portion of the mandible
Mouth is asymmetrical; mouthparts allow them to pierce and suck fungi and plants
Low relative diversity (6300)
Under paraneoptera
Hemiptera
Order
True bugs
Rostrum (or proboscis): mandibles and maxillae form a needle-like stylet, and grooved, beak-like labium supports stylet
Rostrum used to pierce and suck fluids from plants and animals
True bugs include: cicadas, leafhoppers, scales, aphids, mealybugs, spittlebugs. bed bugs
High relative diversity (107,000)
Under paraneoptera
Endopterygota
Class
Contains the most diversity of all insect groups
Wings are developed within the body cavity, and are only seen after a complete metamorphosis
Holometabolous, with young looking dissimilar to the adults
Nine orders: see following cards
Neuroptera
Order
Lacewings, Antlions, Owlflies
Two pairs of equally sized, intricately veined wings (all 4 wings the same)
Most are predators of insects; larvae with biting, chewing, or piercing mouthparts
Low relative diversity (4700)
Under endopterygota
Raphidioptera
Order
Snakeflies
Two pairs of equally sized, intricately veined wings AND elongated prothorax (kinda looks like a long neck)
Long ovipositor sticking out from posterior (looks like a tail)
Low relative diversity (260)
Under endopterygota
Coleoptera
Order
Beetles
Adults have elytra: sclerotized and rigid forewings that cover the pleated hindwings and abdomen
Adult mouthparts mandibulate; occupy every habitat but few are parasites
High relative diversity (400,000)
Under endopterygota
Diptera
Order
Flies
Adults have halteres; hind wings are modified into club-like knobs that are sensory and stabilize flight
Large compound eyes, mouthparts adapted for consuming fluids
High relative diversity (160,000)
Under endopterygota
Siphonaptera
Order
Fleas
Laterally compressed, apteryous (wingless) ectoparasites; jumpers
Has a lower host specificity; life cycle not carried out entirely on host itself
Low relative diversity (2100)
Under endopterygota
Trichoptera
Order
Caddisflies
Adults are mothlike; wings covered with setae (hair-like cuticular extensions)
Many larvae build and inhabit tube casings, sometimes decorated in bark, stone, sand
Low(ish) relative diversity (14,500)
Under endopterygota
Lepidoptera
Order
Butterflies and Moths
Wings covered with scales (modified setae); responsible for wing color and pattern
Distinctive coiled probosics, allows adults to suck liquids (often plant nectar)
High relative diversity (182,500)
Under endopterygota
Hymenoptera
Order
Sawflies, Wasps, Ants, and Bees
Eusociality, coming from multiple origins; many build nests and live in colonies
Important developments: Apocrita (wasp waist) and Aculeata (stinger)
Most adults with chewing mouthparts; many are predators and parasites / parasitoids
High relative diversity (153,000)
Under endopterygota
Strepsiptera
Order
Twisted wing parasites
Males with one pair of hindwings, and club-like forewings on mesothorax; females don’t have wings
HIghly modified, sexually-dimorphic endoparasitoids of hemiptera and hymenoptera
Low relative diversity (600)
Under endopterygota
