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An Introduction to Backyard Bugs

Joshua Huckabee

A Brief Introduction to Entomology

• What is entomology?

– Entomology is the study of insects; however, in the

informal sense, the term can be used to apply to

arachnids, myriapods and other terrestrial

arthropods.

Why Study Entomology?

• The study of entomology is VERY important

to humans! Entomology is useful for:

– Farming and Gardening

– Medicine

– Understanding Ecosystems

– Forensics

– Military

– Fun!

– Many other reasons

Ian Wright

The Basics: Taxonomy

• Human taxonomy:

• Kingdom – Animalia

• Phylum – Chordata

• Class – Mammalia

• Order – Primate

• Family – Hominidae

• Genus – Homo

• Species – sapiens

The basics: Taxonomy

• Kingdom – Plantae

• Division (in plants we use division instead of

phylum) – Tracheophyta

• Class – Magnoliopsida

• Order - Solanales

• Family – Solanaceae

• Genus – Datura

• Species – wrightii

The basics: Taxonomy

• Kingdom – Animalia

• Phylum – Arthropoda

• Class – Insecta

• Order – Lepidoptera

• Family – Nymphalidae

• Subfamily - Daninae

• Genus – Danaus

• Species - plexippus

What Are Insects?

• Insects are animals belonging to the Class

Insecta

– Insect comes from the Latin word insectum, which

means “cut into sections”

– Insects have compound eyes

– Insects have six legs

– Most insects have one to two sets of wings

The Basics: Diversity

• Insects are found on every continent (yes,

including Antarctica) and in every imaginable

habitat.

• There are approximately 30 orders of insects

and about 1,000,000 described species.

• There are an estimated 10 quintillion

(10,000,000,000,000,000,000) roaming the

Earth right now!

http://masters.agron.iastate.edu/

The Orders: Coleoptera

• The largest insect order (ca. 400,000 species)

• Characterized by hard wing coverings called

elytra

• Exhibit complete metamorphosis

• Are extremely diverse

Local Beetles • Family: Carabidae

• Fiery Searcher (Calosoma scrutator )

Local Beetles

• Family: Scarabaeidae

• Subfamily: Cetoniinae

• Figeater (Cotinis mutabilis)

The Orders: Lepidoptera

• Second largest order (ca. 180,000 species)

• Includes both moths and butterflies

• Characterized by their scaly wings

• Exhibit complete metamorphosis

• Many larvae require very specific diets

Gary Saunders

robertthompsonphotography.com

Local Moths • Family: Sphingidae

• White-lined sphinx moth (Hyles lineata)

• Host Plants: Four o’clocks, grape, tomato

C.D. Barrentine Craig Morgan

Local Moths

• Family: Erebidae

• Subfamily: Arctiinae

• Giant Leopard Moth (Hypercompe scribonia)

Dennis Totin

Jeff Trahan

Local moths • Family: Saturniidae

• Polyphemus Moth (Antheraea polyphemus)

Local Butterflies

• Family: Papilionidae

• Subfamily: Papilioninae

• Swallowtail butterflies (Papilio)

M. McCarty

Tom Murray

Victor Engle

P. rumiko

M.J. Hatfield

P. cresophontes

The Orders: Hymenoptera

• Third largest order (ca. 150,000 species)

• Includes bees, wasps, ants and related families

• Characterized by membranous wings

• Exhibit complete metamorphosis

Local Wasps

• Family: Braconidae

• Cotesia congregata

Beatriz Moisset

Local Wasps • Family: Crabronidae

• Eastern Cicada Killer (Sphecius speciosus)

Local Wasps

• Family Mutillidae

• Velvet ant (Dasymutilla sp.)

The Orders: Diptera

• True flies (ca. 120,000 species)

• Includes flies, gnats, mosquitos and midges

• Characterized by two wings and a pair of halteres

• Exhibit complete metamorphosis

Wikipedia.org

Local Flies

• Family: Syrphidae – The Hoverflies

Ann Collins

Local Flies

• Family: Asilidae – The Robber Flies

• Southern Bee Killer (Mallophora orcina)

Greg Lasley

Ken Rosenthal

Local Flies

• Family: Tabanidae – The Horse and Deer Flies

Arlo Pelegrin

Ted Kropiewnicki

The Orders: Hemiptera

• True bugs (ca. 80,000 species)

• Divided into three suborders: Auchenorrhyncha,

Heteroptera, & Sternorrhyncha

• Characterized by beak-like mouth parts (rostrum)

• Exhibit incomplete metamorphosis

Local True Bugs

• Family: Reduviidae – The Assasin Bugs

• Wheel bug (Arilus cristatus)

John R. Maxwell Micki Killoran

Local True Bugs

• Family: Coreidae

• Leaf-footed bugs (Leptoglossus sp.)

Kelly McGough

whatsthatbug.com whatsthatbug.com

Minor Orders: Odonata

• Dragonflies and Damselflies (ca. 6,000 species)

• Have aquatic larvae and terrestrial adults

• EXCELLENT fliers!

• Exhibit an incomplete life cycle

Minor Orders: Neuroptera

• Includes lacewings, antlions, mantisflies and kin (ca.

6,000 species)

• Have two pairs of “sinewy” wings

• All predatory

Local Neuropterans

• Family: Chrysopidae – Green Lacewings

Tom Murray

Local Neuropterans

• Family: Mantispidae – The Mantisflies

Suggested Reading

• A Field Guide to Common Texas Insects (Texas

Monthly Fieldguide Series), Jackman and Drees

• A Field Guide to Insects: America North of Mexico,

Borror and White

• Insects of Texas: A Practical Guide, Kattes

• Dragonflies and Damselflies of Texas, Abbott

• Bugguide.net