Common insect orders

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Common insect orders
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Insects are the most species-rich group of
organisms on earth as indicated in this
species-scape. The size of the organism reflects
the number of described species.
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Parts of an insect
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Parts of an insect
Abdomen
Head
Thorax
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Parts of an insect
Abdomen
Head
Thorax
3 pairs of legs
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Parts of an insect
Abdomen
Head
Thorax
Wings and legs on thorax
3 pairs of legs
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Important areas to study to identify common
insect orders
Abdomen
Head
Thorax
3 pairs of legs
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Mouthparts
mandibles
Chewing
mandibles

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Mouthparts
Sucking
Coiled
Piercing
Sponging-sucking
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Odonata (dragonflies, damselflies)
Greek odon tooth (referring to teeth on
their mandibles)


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Odonata (dragonflies, damselflies)
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Odonata (dragonflies, damselflies)

• Spot ID
• Long slender wings

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Odonata (dragonflies, damselflies)

• Spot ID
• Long slender wings
• Long thin body

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Blattodea (roaches)Latin blatta cockroach
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Blattodea (roaches)
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Blattodea (roaches)

• Spot ID
• Flat

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Blattodea (roaches)

• Spot ID
• Flat
• Spiny legs

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Blattodea (roaches)

• Spot ID
• Flat
• Spiny legs
• Long antennae

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Orthoptera (grasshoppers, crickets)Greek
orthos straight, pteros wing
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Orthoptera (grasshoppers, crickets)
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Orthoptera (grasshoppers, crickets)

• Spot ID
• Jumping hind legs

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Orthoptera (grasshoppers, crickets)

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

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Dermaptera (earwigs)Greek derma skin,
ptero wing
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Dermaptera (earwigs)Greek derma skin,
ptero wing

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

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Dermaptera (earwigs)Greek derma skin,
ptero wing

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

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Hemiptera (bugs, hoppers, aphids, scales,
cicadas)Greek hemisys half, ptero wing
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Hemiptera (bugs, hoppers, aphids, scales,
cicadas)Greek hemisys half, ptero wing

• Spot ID
• A beak piercing-sucking mouthparts

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Hemiptera (bugs, hoppers, aphids, scales,
cicadas)Greek hemisys half, ptero wing

• Spot ID
• A beak piercing-sucking mouthparts
• Forewings covering hindwings
• Wing half membrane, half thickened
• or
• Wing all membranous

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Coleoptera (beetles)Greek koleos sheath,
ptero wing
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Coleoptera (beetles)
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Coleoptera (beetles)

• Spot ID
• Chewing mouthparts

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Coleoptera (beetles)

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

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Diptera (flies)Latin di two, ptero wing
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Diptera (flies)Latin di two, ptero wing
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Diptera (flies)Latin di two, ptero wing

• Spot ID
• Two wings

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Diptera (flies)Latin di two, ptero wing

• Spot ID
• Two wings
• Hind wings reduced to halteres

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Diptera (flies)Latin di two, ptero wing

• Spot ID
• Two wings
• Hind wings reduced to halteres
• Sponging-sucking mouthparts
• Except mosquitoes and some others that pierce skin

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Hymenoptera (bees, wasps, ants)Greek
hymenmembrane, pterowing or Hymen, the
Greek god of marriage because the forewing
hindwings are joined together with small hooks
Hooks not shown
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Hymenoptera (bees, wasps, ants)
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Hymenoptera (bees, wasps, ants)

• Spot ID
• Chewing mouthparts

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Hymenoptera (bees, wasps, ants)

• Spot ID
• Chewing mouthparts
• Four membranous wings

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Hymenoptera (bees, wasps, ants)

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

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Hymenoptera (bees, wasps, ants)

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

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Lepidoptera (butterflies, moths)Greek lepido
scale, ptero wing
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Lepidoptera (butterflies, moths)Greek lepido
scale, ptero wing

• Coiling-sucking mouthparts

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Lepidoptera (butterflies, moths)Greek lepido
scale, ptero wing

• Coiling-sucking mouthparts
• Four wings covered with scales

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Insects and other Arthropods