Insect Classification

Insects & Diseases

Remember the classification scheme? Kingdom Phylum Class > Order Family Genus Species

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Approximately 30 orders. Most are insignificant and are only studied for scientific purposes.

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Mites Ticks Spiders Mollusks (also spelled mollusc) ◦ Snails ◦ Slugs

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Largest number of species – 1 in 5 living creatures is a beetle! Mostly CHEWING MOUTHPARTS Complete Metamorphosis Two pairs of wings

◦ Front pair thick, hard, meet in a line ◦ Back pair membranous, used for flight

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Some of our best known pest species ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦

Japanese beetle white grub weevils rootworms

Spot ID  Chewing mouthparts

Spot ID  Chewing mouthparts  Forewings (elytra) form hard shell covering hindwings

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Variable size Adults have 2 pairs of membranous wings covered with scales Antennae usually knobbed, thread-like, or feathery Complete metamorphosis Mouthparts ◦ Adults – lapping or sucking ◦ Larvae – chewing

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Coiling-sucking mouthparts

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Coiling-sucking mouthparts Four wings covered with scales

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Many familiar friends and foes in Lepidoptera: ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦

Caterpillars Butterflies Moths Cutworms Armyworms Borers Leafminers

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One pair of wings Halteres in place of hindwings Piercing, sucking, sponging mouthparts Complete metamorphosis Larvae known as maggots ◦ usually legless, many aquatic

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Important econ. pest, disease vectors Mosquitos, flies Mostly beneficials for hort. crops

Spot ID  Two wings

Spot ID  Two wings ◦ Hind wings reduced to halteres

Spot ID  Two wings ◦ Hind wings reduced to halteres 

Sponging-sucking mouthparts ◦ Except mosquitoes and some others that pierce skin

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Two pairs of wings or wingless Antennae with 10 or more segments Mouthparts chewing/lapping Complete metamorphosis Female ovipositor may be modified into stinger or saw-like structure Many are colonial Many harmful and beneficial species ◦ bees, wasps, ants, sawflies

Hooks not shown

Spot ID  Chewing mouthparts

Spot ID  Chewing mouthparts  Four membranous wings

Spot ID  Chewing mouthparts  Four membranous wings  Waist often constricted

Spot ID  Chewing mouthparts  Four membranous wings  Waist often constricted  Females with ovipositor or stinger at end of abdomen

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Two pairs of wings usually present; flat over body when resting Forewings with the basal portion thickened and leathery and the wingtip membranous Hindwings entirely membranous Piercing, sucking beak Simple metamorphosis – juveniles (nymphs) resemble adults ◦ Chinch bugs ◦ Squash bugs ◦ Box elder bugs

Spot ID  A beak: piercing-sucking mouthparts

Spot ID  A beak: piercing-sucking mouthparts  Forewings covering hindwings ◦ Wing half membrane, half thickened

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Some consider this a suborder of Hemiptera May or may not have wings Some with wings held tent-like Many are plant feeders Piercing/sucking beak Simple metamorphosis Some bear live offspring (viviparity) Can be very small

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Many important ornamental and greenhouse pests ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦

Aphids Whitefly Scale Leafhoppers Cicadas Mealybugs

Diversity in Homoptera

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Class Insecta ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦

Order Order Order Order

Dermaptera – earwigs Thrysanthoptera – thrips Neuroptera – lacewings, mantids, ect. Orthoptera – crickets, grasshoppers, roaches

Class Diplopoda – Millipedes Class Chilopoda – Centipedes Class Archnida ◦ Order Acari  Ticks  Mites

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Phylum Mollusca  Slugs  Snails

Managed in same ways as insects

Spot ID  Jumping hind legs

Spot ID  Jumping hind legs  Some with ovipositor at hind end

Spot ID  Long skin-like hindwings folded under very short forewings

Spot ID  Long skin-like hindwings folded under very short forewings  Pinchers off end of abdomen