Upload
angela-hoover
View
220
Download
2
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Insect Hunters
Insect BustersWho Ya Gonna Call?
Hexapoda• Six-legged• 30 million species (Triplehorn & Johnson)• All habitats• 31 orders (30 in N.A.)• Typically classified by wing characteristics
– Ptera
• Metamorphosis– Complete (egg, larva, pupa, adult)– Incomplete (egg, nymph/naiad, adult)
Ephemeroptera
• Mayflies• Soft-bodied• 2 or 3 long, threadlike
tails• Large, triangular front
wings with small, rounded hind wings
• Small, bristle-like antennae
• Live one to two years in water in nymph stage and one to two days in adult stage
Orthoptera
• Plant feeders- pests to cultivated pests
• Elongated body-may or may not be winged
• 2 pairs of wings
Forewing (tegmina), Hind wing larger & membranous
• Larger hind legs
Orthoptera
• Mandibulate• Metamorphosis is
simple• Some of the best
known insect singers • Grasshoppers &
Crickets (cockroaches previously)
Blattodea
• Shares many features of grasshoppers & crickets
• Oldest winged insect• Flattened oval bodies• Long, swept back antennae• Have wings• Females lay egg packets• Simple metamorphosis• Flourish anywhere there is
sufficient food & warmth
Hemiptera – “True Bugs”• 2 pair of wings,
– front wing is thick and leathery, tips are membranous;– hind wings are membranous
• Visible triangle called scutellum • Sucking and piercing mouthpart • Incomplete metamorphosis• Terrestrial and aquatic habitats• Reduvidae - transmit Chagas Disease
Homoptera
• Includes: Cicadas, Hoppers (tree and leaf), Spittlebugs, Whiteflies, and Aphids
• There are approximately 45,000 species worldwide – 6,000 of which are in N. America
• They are all plant feeders• Metamorphosis is simple in
homopterans
Homoptera
• Methods of reproduction:– Sexually: Male and Female mate (Cicadas
and Leafhoppers)– Parthenogenetically: All Female, no mating
• Aphids produce many billions in lifetime
• Characteristics:– Have sucking, beaklike mouthparts that arise
far back beneath the head– Wings are uniformly membranous
Neuroptera
• Order name means “nerve wings” due to the net of crisscrossing veins
• Beneficial because they help control destructive insects
• Have many veins in 4 transparent wings and an especially wide border of cross veins on the front margin of the forewings
• There are about 4,500 species worldwide, and 338 in N. America
Neuroptera• Includes: Lacewings, Mantidflies,
Antlions, and Spongillaflies• Characteristics:
– They all have 2 pairs of wings – similar in size and have elongate oval shape
– When at rest, the wings are held “rooflike” over the body. In use, they beat in a poorly coordinated fashion
– Their mouthparts are adapted for chewing
– Antennae may be threadlike, clubbed or toothed (like a comb)
– Most species have large compound eyes
Neuroptera
• Neuroptera go through complete metamorphosis:– Larvae do not resemble the adults– Most larvae are predators– All larvae have large, sickle-shaped
mandibles that are used to seize and eat smaller insects or sponges
– Pupation occurs in silken cocoons spun in sand or soil
Coleoptera
• Common Name: Beetles• Largest Order of Insects• Elytra – armor-like
forewings cover flight wings
• Segmented legs and antennae
• Chewing mouthparts with well developed mandibles (jaws)
• Simple brain with many sense organs
Diptera• Identification
– One pair of membranous wings– Vestigial second pair of wings (halteres) – Large compound eyes – Most have sucking mouth parts
• Complete metamorphosis– Aquatic and terrestrial larva
• maggots
Diptera
• Diverse group – inhabiting numerous niches
• Importance– Important food source
for many animals – Parasites– Vectors for disease
• Malaria, African Sleeping Sickness, West Nile, River blindness
Lepidoptera
Lepidoptera
Moths and Butterflies
Complete metamorphosis– Egg– Larvae (Caterpillar)- destructive– Pupa (adult)- cocoon or chrysalis– Adult
• Chewing mouthparts in caterpillar and sucking, coiled mouthparts in the adult
• Scales on the wings
Lepidoptera• Moths• No clubs on antennae• Appear more at night• Feathery antennae that
pick up pheromones released by female
• Butterflies• 120,000 Species• Clubbed antennae• Appear more in the day• Slimmer bodies, more
colors
Tricoptera
• Caddisfly• “hair wings”• Resemble moths
– No proboscis, instead have pronounced palps– Very long antennae– Most have no scales on wings– Aquatic larvae, instead of terrestrial caterpillars
• Make case of leaves, twigs, sand grains• Pupae emerge, swim to shore, then adult emerges
Odonata• Dragonflies and Damselflies• Small antennae• Long legs- not suitable for walking• Chewing mouthparts• Nymphs are aquatic, adults are found near water• Highly predaceous on flying insects
Hymenoptera
• Made up of sawflies, wasps, ants and bees
• Probably most beneficial of entire insect class. Contains parasites, predators and most importantly, pollinators (bees)
• Great diversity of habits and behaviors.
• Most are in social organizations (wasps, bees and ants)
Hymenoptera• Ovipositor is tube used to lay eggs.• In most Hymenoptera have a modified
ovipositor; a sting• Only females can sting• The sex of Hymenoptera is determined by
fertilization.
Hymenoptera
Interesting Fact:
*Bees die when they sting because they have barbs on their stingers that restrict the stinger from leaving the skin; therefore, when the bee flies away she is literally pulling her guts out.
*The queen’s stinger has no barbs so she is able to sting and not die.
Isoptera– Termites– “same wing”– Commonly called “white ants” WRONG!
• Hind wings are the same size as forewings• Soft, light-colored body• No petiole• Antennae are not elbowed• Sterile casts are females
only from fertilized eggs
– Caste system• Reproductives• Workers• Soldiers