Insect Identification

Question 1

elongage & cylindrical to compact & spherical; internal mouthparts; furcola & collophore

Answer 1

Collembola (Springtails)

Question 2

loss of eyes; long multi-segmented antennae; internal mouthparts; 2 cerci - filiform or forceps-like

Answer 2

Diplura (Two-pronged bristletails)

Question 3

antennae absent; legs act as antennae; internal mouthparts

Answer 3

Protura (Coneheads)

Question 4

dorso-ventrally flattened (5-30 mm in length); 3 terminal filaments (medial caudal appendage; 2 lateral cerci)

Answer 4

Zygentoma (Silverfish)

Question 5

dorso-ventrally flattened; humped thorax (6-25 mm in length); three terminal filaments (2 short lateral cerci; medial caudal appendage)

Answer 5

Archaeognatha (Bristletails)

Question 6

clear head, thorax, abdomen with: clear walking legs; immatures typically have 3 (sometimes 2) terminal filaments; adults = wings (held upright above the body)

Answer 6

Ephemeroptera (Mayflies)

Question 7

wings = held upright (damselflies), held to side (dragonflies); complex arrangement of wing veins; prominent eyes (typically surrounding the head); large thorax; elongate abdomen

Answer 7

Odonata (dragonflies & damselflies)

Question 8

2 sets of wings; forewings are enlarged with extensive venation and are somewhat thickened (tegmina); hind legs enlarged for jumping

Answer 8

Orthoptera (grasshoppers, crickets)

Question 9

day active, fast moving herbivores orthoptera; moving the hind leg across the folded front wing to make sound

Answer 9

Caelifera (grasshoppers)

Question 10

night-active, predators & herbivores orthoptera; front wing has teeth that rasp when shuffled across a scraper on the other front wing

Answer 10

Ensifera (crickets)

Question 11

forcep-like cerci; short tegmina

Answer 11

Dermptera (earwigs)

Question 12

most with two pairs of large membranous wings; generally two cerci; some have tracheal gills

Answer 12

Plecoptera (stoneflies)

Question 13

wings are tegmina; enlarged pronotum; overlapping generations; caste system

Answer 13

Blattodea (cockroaches and termites)

Question 14

elongate pronotum; wings lay flat; raptorial forelegs

Answer 14

Mantodea (praying mantis)

Question 15

large body with compact cylindrical body or with conspicuous camouflage mechanisms; mimicking branches, twigs and leaves; often sexually dimorphic - males smaller than females

Answer 15

Phasmatodea (walking sticks and leaves)