Orders Flashcards
Apterygota includes;
Archaeognatha and Zygentoma
Zygentoma (common name)
Silverfish
Zygentoma - characteristics
- Dorsoventrally flattened
- Silvery colour (scales)
- Small or no eyes
- Cerci (2) and medial cordal filament (1) are roughly the same
length
Archaeognatha - common name:
Bristletail
Archaeognatha - characteristics:
- Dorsoventrally flattened
- Advanced eyes
- Cerci (2) are shorter than the medial cordal filament (1)
Pterygota includes;
Ephemeroptera and Odonata
Ephemeroptera - common name
Mayfly
Ephemeroptera - characteristics
- Two cerci and one medial cordial filament which are all long and of near equal size
- Forewings (mesothoracic wings) are always larger than the metathoracic wings
- Slender abdomen
- Large compound eyes (males largest)
- Hemimetabolous
Odonata includes;
Anisoptera and Zygoptera
Odonata - characteristics
- Large compound eyes
- Mesothoracic and metathoracic wings are the same length
- Highly modified mouthparts (labium)
- Adults = terrestrial
- Nymphs =
freshwater - Predators
- Nymphs have anal
gills
Anisoptera - common name
Dragonfly
Zygoptera - common name
Damselfly
Anisoptera - characteristics
- Thicker and shorter
body - Larger eyes which
sit closer together - Broader hind wings
- Hold wings flat down (cannot physically move them)
Zygoptera characteristics
- Narrow-bodied
- Smaller eyes that are wider apart
- Wing sets equal size and width
- Wings held upwards and closed at rest
Neoptera describes;
Insects with wings capable of folding and articulating (folding wings over abdomen at rest)
Plecoptera - common name
Stoneflies
Plecoptera - characteristics
- Membranous wings of near equal length (larger than mayflies)
- Rectangular-shaped body
- Two shortened cerci
- Long filiform antennae
- Outwards facing compound eyes
- Aptery and brachyptery common (especially in NZ species)
Dermaptera - common name
Earwigs
Dermaptera - characteristics
- Hind forceps (modified cerci); used for pinching and to held fold wings
- Forewings; modified as shortened tegmina (leathery wing cover)
- Hindwings folded up underneath tegmin
- Dorsoventrally flattened
- Relatively short legs
- Ocelli absent
- NZ species are wingless
- Females provide maternal care
Blattodea - common name(s)
Cockroaches and termites (formerly
Orthoptera - common name(s)
Grasshoppers, locusts, katydids, crickets, weta
Orthoptera - characteristics:
- Chewing mouthparts
- Large hindlegs; modified for jumping (saltatorial)
- Pronotum shield (behind head)
- Females have well developed ovipositor
- Hindwings: folded by pleating
- Primary form of locomotion = jumping
Phasmatodea - common name
Stick or Leaf insects
Phasmatodea - characteristics
- Stick- or Leaf-like appearance
- Usually apterous
- Prothorax = shortened
- Meso & metathorax = elongated
- Elongated abdomen
- Small compound eyes
- IF wings are present; only functional in males
- Behavioural trait; sway side to side to appear more stick/leaf-like
Mantodea - common name
Mantids
Mantodea - characteristics
- Mobile head
- Widely separated eyes
- Raptorial fore-legs; modified for grasping
- Slender antennae
- Forewings leathery
- Hindwings membranous
- Narrow elongated prothorax
Blattodea - common name(s)
Termites (formerly Order Isoptera) and Cockroaches
Blattodea (cockroaches) - characteristics
- Forewings sclerotised
- Spinose legs
- Dorsoventrally flattened
- Large pronotum (protection for the head)
- Tegmen; leathery forewings
- Membranous hindwings (protected)
- Short cerci
- Cursorial legs; modified for running
- Specialised tarsi for running up walls
- Long antennae; sensory organs
Blattodea (termites) - characteristics
- IF wings present; equal length, size and membranous
- Eyes are generally small
- Antennae are reasonably long
- Very small cerci
- Produce ‘alates’; winged individuals (for dispersal)
- Variable morphology with caste systems
- Soldiers & workers have no eyes or wings
- Queen (and King) lose wings after mating
- Feed on wood, dry grass, fungi, and animal dung
Psocodea - common name
Lice (chewing and sucking)
Psocodea - characteristics
- Typically wingless
- Dorsoventrally flattened
- Shortened antennae
- Legs adapted for gripping (prehensile tarsal claws)
- Very small eyes
- Hairs/bristles point backwards
- Ectoparasites
Thysanoptera - common name
Thrips
Thysanoptera - characteristics
- Thin & small body size (slender)
- Thin wings
- Fringed wings (setal fringe)
- Asymmetrical highly modified mouthparts
- Cone-shaped head
- Sucking insect
- Legs well developed for walking
- Mainly feed on; fungi, pollen grains, and plant tissues
Hemiptera - common name(s)
True bugs, including; aphids, cicadas, leafhoppers, scale insects, shield bugs, bed bugs
Hemiptera - characteristics
- Highly modified mouthparts for piercing/sucking (stylet)
- Contains two canals; saliva delivery and fluid uptake
- Some are apterous
- Previously divided into two sub-orders;
1) Heteroptera; have hemilytra
2) Hemoptera; have tent shaped wings
Holometabola includes;
Insects that undergo holometabolism - such as Megaloptera, Neuroptera, Coleoptera, Diptera, Mecoptera, Siphonaptera, Trichoptera, Lepidoptera, Hymenoptea
Neuroptera - common name
Antlion (lacewing)
Neuroptera - characteristics
- Net-veined wings
- Folded wings that often extend past the abdomen
- Well-developed wing venation
- Larvae; inject neurotoxins into prey with large mandibles
Megaloptera - common name
Dobsonfly
Megaloptera - characteristics
- Larvae = toe biters
- Larvae look like centipede but ‘legs’ are actually gills
- Antennae = long and thread-like
- Can easily see meso & meta-thorax (even in size)
- Body quite parallel
- Eyes widely separated apart
- Membranous wings that are broad at the base
- Not strong fliers
- Adults do not eat
Coleoptera - common name
Beetles
Coleoptera - characteristics
- Elytra; rigid, sclerotised - protects hind wings
- Wings elaborately folded under elytra
- Hindwings are membranous BUT do not have extensive venation
- Prothorax is distinct and large
- Chewing mouthparts
- Mesothorax & metathorax fused = pterothorax
- Larvae typically have sclerotised head capsules with mandibles
- Usually have five-segmented thoracic legs
- Larvae lack ventral abdominal prolegs
Siphonaptera - common name
Fleas
Siphonaptera - characteristics
- Laterally compressed (streamlined body)
- Apterous
- Piercing and sucking mouthparts
- ONLY have lateral ocelli
- Tarsal claws; for holding onto the host
- Hind legs modified for jumping
- Bristles pointed backwards for streamlining
Diptera - common name
True flies
Diptera - characteristics
- Only have ONE pair of wings
- Second pair of wings; highly modified structures for stabilising flight
(halteres) - Antennae can have different forms; long & slender OR aristate (shortened)
- Large compound eyes
- Mouthparts often highly modified, either; biting, sucking, or lapping
Trichoptera - common name
Caddisflies
Trichoptera - characteristics
Larvae;
- 3 pairs of legs and anal proleg
- Aquatic
- Net building
Adults;
- Adults are moth-like; covered in hairs
- Long antennae
- Reduced mouthparts
- Two pairs of haired wings
- MOST; hold wings at rest in a roof-like pose
- Large compound eyes
- Adults are short-lived
Lepidoptera - common name(s)
Butterflies and moths
Lepidoptera - characteristics
- Lapping mouthparts; long coiled proboscis
- Two large pairs of wings; most veins are longitudinal
- Hind and fore-wings linked by frenulum (wing coupling), jugum, or simple
overlap
Differences between Moths and Butterflies;
1) Filiform or pectinate antennae
2) Clubbed/knobbed antennae and more present during the day
Hymenoptera - common name(s)
Ants, Bees, and Wasps
Hymenoptera - characteristics
- Minute to large
- Abdomen is petiole (waisted)
- Wings are held together by hooks (hamuli)
- Mutlisegmented antennae; can have many different forms
- Female ovipositor; modified for stinging AND laying eggs
- Larvae variable
