Common Insect Orders

Insect Collection

What are Insects???0Common Features of Insects:0Three main body parts—head, thorax,

abdomen0Three pairs of legs

0Estimated 30 MILLION species of insects alive 0We only have about 1 MILLION of them identified…

Classification of Insects0Domain – Eukarya0Kingdom – Animalia0Phylum – Arthropoda0Class - Insecta

Order Thysanura

0Identifying Features:0Three “tails”0Silver scales0SMALL

0Commonly Found:0Dark places (under tree bark,

under leaf litter)0Under wood floors in home…

“Bristled Tail”Silver Fish &

Fire Brats

Order Odonata

0Adult Features:0 Slender body0 Transparent wings (4)0 Big eyes

0Nymph Features:0 Aquatic0 Large labium (bottom jaw)

Dragonflies & Damselflies

Order OdonataAdult Nymph

Order Orthoptera

Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids

Order Mantodea

Preying Mantis

Students are NOT allowed to collect these!

Order PhasmatodeaWalking Sticks

Order BlattodeaCockroach

Order Isoptera

0Common Characteristics:0White/milky color of

juvenile worker termites0Queen termites have

wings – four wings of equal size…don’t confuse with queen ants

Termites

Order Dermaptera

Earwigs

Order Anoplura 0Characteristics:

0SMALL0Single claw

Sucking louse

Order Hemiptera

0Common Characteristics:0Very diverse group0Two pairs of wings, both

membranousTrue bugs, aphids,

cicadas

Order Hemiptera

Order Hemiptera

Order Hemiptera

Order NeuropteraGreen Lacewing &

Antlions

Order NeuropteraAdult Antlion Antlion Larvae

Order Coleoptera

0Identifying Features:0Elytra – hardened front wing

Beetles

Order Coleoptera

Order Coleoptera

Order Coleoptera

Order Lepidoptera

Butterflies & Moths

Order Lepidoptera

Order Lepidoptera

Order Diptera

0 Identifying Features:0 One pair of functional wings

Flies, Mosquitoes, &

Crane Flies

Order Diptera

What is this insect?

This is a Hover Fly – NOT a bee. Count the wings!!

Order Siphonoptera

0Characteristics:0Flat0Wingless

Fleas

Order Hymenoptera

Ants, Wasps, Bees

Order Hymenoptera

State Insect: Tarantula Wasp

Order Ephemoptera

0Characteristics:0Three long “tails”0Wings held over back at rest

Mayflies