Entomology Insects in Kansas Probably between 15 and 20 thousand species

Entomology

Insects in Kansas• Probably

between 15 and 20 thousand species

What is an Insect?

• Invertebrates• Exoskeleton• 6 legs• 3 body parts

– Head– Thorax– Abdomen

Arthropods• Insects are

Arthropods• So are

arachnids (spiders, ticks, and mites), centipedes and millipedes, crustaceans

Importance of Insects• Some are

harmful to humans - less than 100 species

• Some are beneficial

• Most are neutral

Reproduction

• Separate sexes• Pathogenesis

– Without fertilization

Metamorphosis (types of)

• None• Gradual• Incomplete• Complete

Complete Metamorphosis

• Butterflies• Houseflies• Bees• Beetles

Egg

Larva

• Maggots- flies• Grub worms-

beetles• Meal worms-

beetles• Caterpillars-

butterflies, moths

Caterpillar (larva)

• 6 legs

Pupa• Resting

stage• Called

chrysalises in butterflies

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•Sealed in a cocoon

Dormancy

• A stage of inactivity in the life cycle

Adult

Molting

• The shedding of the exoskeleton to allow for growth

Major OrdersThere are over 40 orders

Order Coleoptera

• Beetles

Order Diptera

• Flies• Gnats• Mosquitoes

Order Lepidoptera

• Moths• Butterflies

Order Lepidoptera

Luna Moth

Order Lepidoptera

Monarch

Viceroy

Order Hymenoptera

• Ants• Bees• Wasps

Order Hymenoptera

• Cicada Killer Wasp

Order Hymenoptera - Carpenter Ants

Order Orthoptera

• Crickets• Grasshoppers• Katydids

Order Isoptera • Termites

Order Hemiptera – True bugs

• Stink bugs• bed bugs• water

strider

Order Homoptera

CicadaAphids

Order Odonata

• Dragonflies

Order Mantodea

• Praying Mantises