Insect Diversity

Question 1

Ancestral, unwinged insects (class and orders)

Answer 1

Apterygota (subclass), orders: Zygentoma, Archaeognatha

Question 2

Order Zygentoma

Answer 2

Silverfish
-Scavengers, detritivores
-3 long (tail like ) appendages

-thorax not arched
-eyes not contiguous
-styli

Question 3

Ancestral winged insects, no wing folding (class and orders)

Answer 3

Paleoptera (class), orders: Ephemeroptera, Odonata

Question 4

Order Ephemeroptera

Answer 4

Mayflies
-wings held above body
-2 wing pairs usually
-3 terminal filaments

-adults short lived, DONT feed
-larvae have lateral abdominal gills and aquatic grazers

Question 5

Order Odonata

Answer 5

Dragonflies and Damselflies
-two pairs of elongated netted wings
-small/bristle-like antennae
-large eyes
-larvae w/ apical abdominal gills

-larvae are aquatic
-larvae/adults are predators

Question 6

Derived insects with wing folding, can fold wings over backs, 90% diversity

Answer 6

Neoptera (class)

Question 7

Order Orthoptera

Answer 7

Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids
-4 wings or wingless
-thread-like antennae
-somewhat thickened forewings
-jumping hindlegs
-chewing mouthparts

-all stages herbivorous

Question 8

Order Mantodea

Answer 8

Mantids
-raptorial front legs
-two wing pairs
-threadlike antennae
-prothorax elongate

-all stages predatory

Question 9

Order Blattodea (C)

Answer 9

Cockroaches
-wings folded over back
-oval flattened body
-thread like antennae
-head concealed below pronotum

-all stages scavengers

Question 10

Order Blattodea (T)

Answer 10

Termites
-4 identical wings
-soft bodied
-chewing mouthparts
-thread like antennae

-social
-only reproductive stage winged
-live/eat wood (all stages)

Question 11

Order Dermaptera

Answer 11

Earwigs
-Large cerci, forcep-like
-forewing pad-like
-hind wing fan-like

-all stages scavengers for decaying plant material

Question 12

Order Plecoptera

Answer 12

Stoneflies
-two large apical cerci
-four membranous wings folded over back
-hindwing fan-like
-larvae with feathery gills on thorax and base of abdomen

-adults don’t feed
-larvae aquatic

Question 13

Order Psocodea

Answer 13

Lice
-wingless
-flattened
-chewing/sucking mouthparts
-single large tarsal claw

-all stages obligatory blood-feeders
-feed on mammals (sucking) and birds (chewing)

Question 14

Order Hemiptera

Answer 14

True bugs, Plant hoppers, Aphids, Scale insects, Cicadas
-tubular sucking mouthparts
-wings folded flat over back
-forewings membranous

-all stages parasitic on plants or animals

Question 15

Order Thysanoptera

Answer 15

Thrips
-small, long, slender insects
-wings narrow and fringed
-mouthparts conical and asymmetrical

-all stages parasitic on plants, scavengers or predators

Question 16

Order Neuroptera

Answer 16

Lacewings, Dobson flies, Alderflies
-4 similar membranous wings
-wings held roof-like over back
-chewing mouthparts
-long, threadlike antennae

-predatory
-adults may also feed on nectar and honeydew

Question 17

Order Coleoptera

Answer 17

Beetles
-forewings hardened, forming shell over back
-hindwings folded beneath, used for flight

-rarely parasites, wide variety of life styles

Question 18

Order Siphonaptera

Answer 18

Fleas
-laterally flattened
-wingless
-antenna hidden
-absent or tiny eyes
-sucking mouthparts

-adults wingless blood-feeding parasites on birds and mammals
-larvae scavengers

Question 19

Order Diptera

Answer 19

Flies
-one pair of wings on mesothorax
-metathoracic wings modified in halteres
-large eyes

-variety of lifestyles

Question 20

Order Lepidoptera

Answer 20

Butterflies and Moths
-large flat wings covered in scales
-wings held erect above body at rest
-tubular sucking mouthparts
-thread-like or apically knobbed antenna

-larvae herbivorous
-adults feed on pollen feeders and nectar

Question 21

Order Hymenoptera

Answer 21

Wasps, Bees, Ants
-four membranous wings
-narrow “waist” between thorax and abdomen
-long ovipositor or sting in females

-variety of lifestyles