insect taxonomy Flashcards
Neoptera refers to an infraclass of new winged insects, what are the two suborders within this
1) exopterygota = Hemimetabola, wings develop externally, nymph-> adult, no larval stage
2) endopterygota = Holometabola, most advanced insect order, wings develop internally, larvae->pupae->adult, larave look different to adult
what is the advanatge of endopterygota larvae looking different to the adult stage compared to exopterygota whos nymph and adults look similar
there is no/ reduced competition between the two life stages as they occupy different niches e.g. larvae eat leaves vs butterflies feed on nectar
what are some of the species within the exopterygota sub order
1) plectoptera/stone flies
2) dictyoptera = cockroaches/termites/mantids
3) mantodea = mantids
4) Notoptera= ice crawlers/ heelwalkers
5) Dermatptera = earwigs
6) Orthoptera = grasshoppers/crickets/bush crickets
7) Phasmatodea = stick/leaf insects
8) embiotera = webspinners
9) Zoraptera = angel insects
10) psocodea = lice
11) hemiptera = true bugs
12) Thysanoptera = thrips
outline plecoptera/stone flies
= good bioindicators as sensitive to organic pollution
= important in aquatic food chains
= wings have veins forming double ladder
= weak flying
= 7 families and 34 spp in UK
= double prong structures on anterior end
outline Blattodea (cockroaches and termites) included in Dictyoptera
cockroaches= broad, flattned for fast running, toughened wings called tegmina, detrivores, 3 native UK spp
termites= social insects with castes, ecosystem engineers
outline characteristics of the mantodea/mantids
= mobile, triangular head
= modifed front legs for prey capture
= tropical and sub tropical spp
= predators
~2000 known spp
outline characteristics of the notoptera/ice crawlers and heel walkers
discovered and rediscovered = name orginally coined in 1915 for group of fossil orthopteroids
= resurrected in 2004 after discovery of mantophasmatidae = wingless carnivores in Africa
ice crawlers= wingless extremophiles living in temps 1-4 degrees
outline characteristics of dermaptera/ earwigs
two prong structures called cerci on anterior end = staight in females, curved in males
flattened throax and abdomen
thickened forwing(tegmina)
hingwind large, semi-circular and membraneous with complex folding mechanism
female show parental care
omnivores and scavengers
outline characteristics of orthoptera/grasshoppers, crickets and bushcrickets
- long hind legs modified for jumping
- forewings often form striulatory organs
- songs can be used for ID
- herbivourous and detrivores
~20,000 spp
what are orthoptera split into
1) caelifera = short antenna
2) ensifera = leggy/long antenna e.g. bushcricket
outline characteristic of phasmatodea aka stick and leaf insects
- slender (stick) or broad (leaf) body
- slow moving herbivores confined to vegetation
- defences include camoflage, bright coloured hindwings, spines and deaf feigning
- none native to UK but 3 spp successfully established in cornwall, devon and isles of Scilly from New Zealand
outline characteristics of embiotera aka webspinners
- form silk galleries to live
- swollen first tarsal segment contains silk glands
- females = wingless
herbivores
~200 spp
outline the characteristics of zoraptera aka angel insects
small termite like
gregarious
rare
~30 spp
outline characteristics of psocodea aka lice
small and oftem cryptic
micoflora feeders
some spp pests of stored productes
detrivores
parasitic lice = ectoparasitic at juvinile/adult stage
- secondarily wingless
- dorsoventrally flattened
- eyes reduced/absent
- modified mouthparts
what are the four suborders in hemiptera aka true bugs
1) heteroptera= includes aquatic bugs
2) auchenorrhyncha = cicadas, leafhoppers, treehoppers
3) sternorrhyncha = includes aphids and scale insects
4) coleorrhyncha = contains only the family peloridiidae
outline characteristics of thysanoptera aka thrips
most spp 1-3 mm
narrow bodies and wings with reduced venation
wings carry fringes of long cilia
slender antenna
well developed eyes
mouthparts modifed= left manible only present
feed on fungi, leaves = crop pests
outline the characteristics of the megaloptera aka alderflies in endopterygota
- broad flattened head with biting mouthparts and large compound eyes
- 2 pairs of similar wings
- resemble neuroptera
- all fresh water predator strong jaws
- large heads and elongated bodies
outline characteristics of neuroptera aka lacewigs, antlions, matidflies and relatives in endopterygota
- head with large compound eyes
- complex wing venation
- larvae specalised predators with elongated mandibles adapted for piercing and sucking
- body form varies between families depending on nature of prey
- significant predator of pests
outline characteristics of coleoptera aka beetles in endopterygota
- largest insect group= challenging to indentify
- hard elytra cover most of body
- larvae main feeding stage= food may differ from adult and may occupy same or different habitat as adult
- ID of larvae is hard as morphology differs
~370,000 known spp
what are the coleoptera aka beetles split into
1) Adephaga
2) myxophaga = feed on algae
3) polyphaga = omnivore beetles
outline characteristics of strepsiptera aka stylops in endopterygota
- stylops refers to particular family of strepsipterans
- endoparasites of insects such as bees, wasps, leafhoppers, silver fish and cockroaches
- rarley seen
- sexually dimorphic
- females neotenic= look like larvae
outline characteristics of mecoptera aka scorpion flies in endopterygota
- easily recognisable by elongated mouthparts = rostrum
- rostrum has biting and chewing parts at end
- adults and larvae are scavengers
~550 known spp
outline characteristics of raphidioptera aka snakeflies in endopterygota
- mobile elongated pronotum
- strong, specalised mouthparts
- larvae heads with projecting mandible
- three pairs of true legs but no prolegs
- possess an adhesive organ on abdomen used to fasten themselves to vertical surfaces
outline characteristics of siphonaptera aka fleas in the endopterygota
- highly specalised life history and morphology
- obligate parasites on mammals and birds
- secondarily wingless and dark in colouration
- legs long, hind pair adapted for jumping
- larvae are small, pale, lack eyes and has mouthparts adapted for chewing
- feeding on various organic matter especially the faeces of mature fleas
outline the characteristics of diptera aka true flies in the endopterygota
- diverse insect grouo
- one pair of functional wings
- hind wing modified into halteres
- large compound eyes and 3 ocelli
- larve = no true legs but some spp have prolegs
- head not distinguishable from the body
outline the characteristics of trichoptera aka caddisflies in endopterygota
- nocturnal
- two pairs of hairy/scaly wings
- many adults do not feed/ few on nectar
- aquatic larvae indicators of water quality
- divided into three groups based on use of silk = net-making, case-making and free living
outline characteristics of lepidoptera aka butterflies/moths in endopterygota
- widespread and easily recognised
- closley related to trichoptera
- wings flattened scales
- mouthparts adapted into tubular proboscis
- important group of phytophagous insetcs
outline characteristics of hymenoptera aka bees, wasps, sawflies and ants into endopterygota
- largest and most complex of insect orders
- wings linked by hamuli
- haplodiploid sex determination= females = diploid, males= haploid
- wide range of lifecycles. complex social behaviour
majority of hymenoptera are parasitic
what are hymenoptera split into
1) Apocrita = aculeata and parasitica
2) symphata
