Insect Orders

and

Their Annotated Classification

Cesa Ó

 

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Introduction to the Entomology

CONTENTS: * Brief Description of Insecta * Annotated classification * Insecta | Apterygota « Protura « Thysanura « Diplura « Collembola | Pterygota | Exopterygota (hemimetabola) « Ephemeroptera « Odonata «Plecoptera « Dictyoptera « Grylloblattodea « Phasmida « Orthoptera « Dermaptera « Embioptera « Isoptera « Psocoptera « Zoraptera « Mallophaga « Anoplura or Siphunculata « Thysanoptera « Homoptera « Heteroptera or Hemiptera | Endopterygota (holometabola) « Megaloptera « Raphidioptera « Neuroptera « Mecoptera « Trichoptera « Lepidoptera « Diptera « Siphonaptera « Hymenoptera « Coleoptera « Strepsiptera

 

 

Brief Description

The class Insecta is divided into orders on the basis of the structure of the head, including eyes, mouthparts, and antennae; the thorax, including legs and wings; and the abdomen, including segmentation, spiracles, and appendages (cerci, styli, furcula).

The genitalia and their accessory structures, usually located in the ninth abdominal segment, are important in classification. Other taxonomic criteria include bristles (their form and arrangement are known as chaetotaxy), sensory receptors (spines, hairs, sensilla, tympanal organs), pattern of wing venation, and position of mouthparts. In addition, type of metamorphosis and form of larva and pupa are used to distinguish insects. Back to the Contents

 

 

Annotated classification.

 

CLASS INSECTA

 

Body divided into head, thorax, and abdomen; head with 1 pair of antennae, mouthparts consisting of a pair of mandibles and 2 pairs of maxillae, the 2nd pair fused medially; thorax with 3 pairs of legs and usually 1 or 2 pairs of wings; segmented abdomen lacks walking appendages; genital opening near anus; metamorphosis usually occurs; about 1,000,000 species named; worldwide distribution. Back to the Contents

 

Subclass Apterygota

 

Primitively wingless; metamorphosis slight or absent (ametabola); adult with 1 or more pairs of pregenital appendages; adult mandibles articulate with head capsule at a single point. Back to the Contents

 

Order Protura.

 

Minute in size; mouthparts entognathous (withdrawn in head capsule) and piercing; no antennae or compound eyes; abdomen with 11 segments, well-developed telson (last abdominal segment); tracheal system present or absent; malpighian tubules reduced to papillae; metamorphosis slight. Back to the Contents

 

Order Thysanura (bristletails).

 

Mouthparts ectognathous (exposed) adapted for biting; antennae many-segmented, only basal segment with muscles; compound eyes present or absent; tarsi of legs with 2 to 4 segments; 11-segmented abdomen ends in segmented median filament plus a variable number of lateral, styliform, pregenital appendages and a pair of many-segmented cerci; tracheal system and malpighian tubules present; metamorphosis slight or absent. Back to the Contents

 

Order Diplura (or Entotrophi).

 

Mouthparts entognathous; antennae with many segments, all with muscles; compound eyes and ocelli absent; tarsi of legs with one segment; abdomen without terminal median filament and with lateral styliform appendages on most pregenital segments, ends in paired cerci; tracheal system present; malpighian tubules absent or vestigial. Back to the Contents

 

Order Collembola (springtails).

 

Mouthparts entognathous, adapted for biting; antennae with 4 segments, the first 3 with muscles; compound eyes absent; abdomen 6-segmented, usually with a ventral tube on segment I, a retinaculum on segment III, and a forked springing organ (furcula) on segment IV; tracheal system usually absent; no malpighian tubules; metamorphosis absent. Back to the Contents

 

Subclass Pterygota

 

Winged or secondarily wingless; metamorphosis; adults without pregenital abdominal appendages; adult mandibles (unless greatly modified) articulating with head capsule at 2 points. Back to the Contents

 

Division Exopterygota (hemimetabola)

 

Metamorphosis simple, sometimes slight; pupal instar rarely present; wings develop externally; immature stages commonly resemble adults in structure and habits. Back to the Contents

 

 

Order Ephemeroptera (mayflies).

 

Soft-bodies with short setaceous (bristle-like) antennae and vestigial mouthparts; wings held vertically at rest, hind pair much reduced; intercalary veins and many crossveins present; abdomen with long cerci, and with or without a medial caudal filament; larvae (nymphs) aquatic, campodeiform (elongated and flattened) with tracheal gills of varied form; true adult preceded by a subimago (winged instar). Back to the Contents

 

 

Order Odonata (dragonflies).

 

Predaceous insects with biting mouthparts; 2 pairs of elongate membranous wings, each with a complex network of small crossveins and a conspicuous stigma; compound eyes very large and prominent; antennae short and filiform (threadlike); abdomen elongated and slender with male accessory armature on 2nd and 3rd ventral segments; larvae (nymphs) aquatic, with labium modified to form a prehensile organ for catching prey; breathing by rectal or caudal gills. Back to the Contents

 

 

Order Plecoptera (stoneflies).

 

Soft-bodied insects, some large with long, bristle-like antennae; mouthparts of biting type, but weak; wings membranous, folded back over the abdomen in repose; tarsi of legs with 3 segments; abdomen usually bears a pair of long, jointed cerci; young (nymphs) aquatic, campodeiform, usually with long antennae, cerci, and tracheal gills of varied type. Back to the Contents

 

 

Order Dictyoptera (cockroaches, mantids).

 

2 pairs of wings; thickened forewings called tegmina; hindwings folded longitudinally fanwise; hindlegs similar to middle ones, adapted for running; tarsi of legs 5-segmented; mandibulate mouthparts, adapted for chewing. Back to the Contents

 

 

Order Grylloblattodea (grylloblattids).

 

Wingless; eyes small or absent; female ovipositor well developed; all legs similar, adapted for running; tarsi of legs 5-segmented; mandibulate mouthparts, adapted for chewing. Back to the Contents

 

 

Order Phasmida (stick and leaf insects).

 

Often wingless; when winged, tegmina often shorter than wings; all legs similar, adapted for walking; mandibulate mouthparts; no tympanum; female ovipositor short, often concealed. Back to the Contents

 

 

Order Orthoptera (grasshoppers, crickets).

 

2 pairs of wings (forewings called tegmina); femur of hindleg enlarged for jumping; tarsi of legs usually with 3 or 4 segments; special auditory and stridulatory (sound-producing) organs often present; mandibulate mouthparts, adapted for chewing. Back to the Contents

 

 

Order Dermaptera (earwigs).

 

Elongated insects with chewing mouthparts; forewings reduced to very short leathery tegmina devoid of veins; hindwings semicircular with radially disposed veins, folded fanwise and then transversely; many species wingless; cerci unjointed and modified to form heavily sclerotized forceps.

Back to the Contents

 

Order Embioptera (webspinners).

 

Gregarious insects inhabiting silken funnels; chewing mouthparts; both pairs of wings similar, with the radial vein (R) greatly thickened, other veins often reduced; short 2-segmented cerci; female wingless, larva-like. Back to the Contents

 

 

Order Isoptera (termites or white ants).

 

Social insects polymorphic in form (i.e., live in large communities consisting of reproductive forms, wingless sterile soldiers, and young stages, or workers); biting mouthparts; wings alike, elongated, membranous, capable of being shed by basal fractures; anterior wing veins strongly sclerotized; fine network between other veins; cerci short; genitalia rudimentary in both sexes; show affinities with cockroaches. Back to the Contents

 

 

Order Psocoptera (booklice or psocids).

 

Small or minute insects with long filiform antennae, delicate membranous wings (though many are wingless), head with Y-shaped epicranial suture, enlarged post-clypeus (sclerite on the face); maxilla with a rodlike lacinia (inner lobe) partly sunk into head capsule; labial palps much reduced; cerci absent. Back to the Contents

 

 

Order Zoraptera.

 

Minute winged or wingless insects with 9-segmented moniliform (beadlike) antennae; Y-shaped epicranial suture; normal maxillae and labial palps; wings with simplified venation, capable of being shed at basal fracture lines; cerci short, with single segment. Back to the Contents

 

 

Order Mallophaga (chewing lice).

 

Wingless ectoparasites, chiefly on birds; eyes reduced, no ocelli, antennae with 3 to 5 segments; mouthparts modified for biting; prothorax distinct and free; mesothorax and metathorax often partly fused; thoracic spiracles ventral; cerci absent. Back to the Contents

 

 

Order Anoplura or Siphunculata (sucking lice).

 

Wingless ectoparasites of mammals; eyes reduced or absent; antennae with 3 to 5 segments; mouthparts, highly modified for piercing and sucking, retracted into head when not in use; thoracic segments fused; thoracic spiracles dorsal; cerci absent. Back to the Contents

 

 

Order Thysanoptera (thrips).

 

Minute slender-bodied; short antennae, piercing mouthparts; wings, when present, very narrow with much reduced venation and long marginal setae; cerci absent, metamorphosis includes 1 or 2 inactive pupal instars. Back to the Contents

 

 

Order Homoptera (cicadas, hoppers, whiteflies, aphids, scale insects).

Plant feeders; mouthparts adapted for sucking; beak arises from back of head; wings, when present, usually number four; front wings with uniform structure, either membranous or slightly thickened; wings at rest usually held rooflike over body; male scale insects with only 1 pair of wings; ocelli present or absent; compound eyes usually well developed. Back to the Contents

 

 

Order Heteroptera or Hemiptera (true bugs).

 

Mouthparts adapted for piercing-sucking, with slender segmented beak arising from front of head; basal portion of front wing (called a hemelytron) thickened and leathery, with tip membranous; hindwings entirely membranous; wings at rest held flat over abdomen with membranous tips of front wings overlapping; ocelli present or absent; compound eyes usually well developed. Back to the Contents

 

 

Division Endopterygota (holometabola)

 

Metamorphosis complex, accompanied by a pupal instar; immature stages differ from adult in structure and habits; wings develop internally during larval stages. Back to the Contents

 

 

Order Megaloptera (alderflies, dobsonflies).

 

Head prognathous (mouthparts located anteriorly on a horizontal head); biting mouthparts; filiform antennae; 2 pairs of large similar wings, at rest held rooflike or nearly flat over abdomen; larvae elongated, with biting mandibles. Back to the Contents

 

 

Order Raphidioptera (snakeflies).

 

Head prognathous, elongated; biting mouthparts; filiform antennae; prothorax elongated, cylindrical; 2 pairs of similar elongated wings, at rest held rooflike over abdomen; larvae elongated, flattened, with biting mandibles. Back to the Contents

 

 

Order Neuroptera (lacewings).

 

Head hypognathous (mouthparts located ventrally on a vertical head); antennae varied; 2 pairs of similar wings, at rest held rooflike over abdomen; larvae elongated or broad, with piercing, sucking jaws. Back to the Contents

 

 

Order Mecoptera (scorpionflies).

 

Slender carnivorous insects with elongated filiform antennae, head usually a downward directed rostrum, with biting mouthparts; legs long, slender; wings similar, membranous, carried longitudinally and horizontally in repose; abdomen elongated with short cerci; male genitalia prominent (recalling a scorpion's stinger); larva eruciform (caterpillar-like) with biting mouthparts, sometimes with abdominal feet as well as 3 pairs of thoracic legs; pupae exarate (appendages free). Back to the Contents

 

 

Order Trichoptera (caddisflies).

 

Small to moderate mothlike insects with bristle-like antennae; mandibles vestigial or absent; wings membranous, hairy, at rest held rooflike over the back; larvae aquatic, more or less eruciform, usually living in cases held by means of hooked caudal appendages; pupae exarate with strong mandibles.

Back to the Contents

 

Order Lepidoptera (butterflies, moths).

 

2 pairs of membranous wings, few crossveins; wings, body, and appendages covered with broad scales; mandibles normally vestigial or absent; maxillae forming coiled sucking proboscis; larvae eruciform, with spiracles on most segments, often with 5 pairs of prolegs on the abdomen in addition to the 3 pairs of thoracic true legs; pupae usually obtect (appendages glued to body).

Back to the Contents

 

Order Coleoptera (beetles).

 

Minute to large in size; modified forewings are horny or leathery (elytra), usually meet to form a straight middorsal suture; hindwings membranous, folded below elytra, often vestigial or absent; mouthparts adapted for chewing; prothorax large and mobile, mesothorax much reduced; larvae varied (campodeiform and eruciform), pupae exarate, without articulated mandibles. Back to the Contents

 

 

Order Hymenoptera (ants, bees, wasps, sawflies).

 

2 pairs of membranous wings, venation often much reduced; hindwings smaller and connected to forewings by a row of hooklets; mouthparts primarily of biting type but often adapted for sucking fluids; abdomen usually constricted at the base (except sawflies) with first segment fused to metathorax; ovipositor always present and modified for sawing, piercing or stinging; larvae usually legless with distinct head, in sawflies eruciform with locomotory appendages; pupae exarate, usually in a cocoon. Back to the Contents

 

 

Order Diptera (true flies).

 

1 pair of membranous wings; hindwings modified to form halteres; sucking mouthparts, usually forming a proboscis, sometimes adapted for piercing; mandibles rarely present; labium usually expanded distally to give a pair of fleshy lobes; prothorax and metathorax small and fused, large mesothorax; larvae eruciform and legless, often with head reduced and retracted; tracheal system varied; pupae either free and exarate or enclosed in the hardened larval cuticle (puparium). Back to the Contents

 

 

Order Siphonaptera (fleas).

 

Small, wingless, laterally compressed; adults ectoparasitic on warm-blooded animals; compound eyes absent; usually a pair of ocelli; short antennae in grooves on head; mouthparts modified for piercing and sucking; both maxillary and labial palpi present; thoracic segments free; coxae of legs very large; larvae slender, eruciform and legless; pupae exarate, enclosed in cocoon. Back to the Contents

 

Order Strepsiptera Back to the Contents

 

Updated November 14th 1999