Insect Taxnomic Diversity
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Transcript of Insect Taxnomic Diversity
Insect Taxnomic Diversity
BY: Jerrie Womack Insect orders Ephemeroptera Orthoptera Diptera
Odonata Phasmida
Siphonoptera Blattaria Hemiptera Hymenoptera Isoptera Coleoptera
Mantodea Dermatptera Lepidoptera Plecoptera The name Ephemeroptera
is derived from the Greek "ephemera" meaning short-lived, and
"ptera" meaning wings. This is a reference to the short lifespan of
most adult mayflies. Mayflies range in length from 0.04 to 3.2
inches (1 to 81.2 millimeters). They come in a variety of colors,
including white, yellow, pinkish, gray, or black. In fact, this is
the oldest group of winged insects alive today. The four
transparent wings of the mayfly are held together straight over the
body. A network of veins supports each wing. The first pair of
wings is much larger than the second; in some species the second
pair of wings is very small or even missing altogether.
Ephemeroptera The Odonata (from the Greek odon-o meaning tooth),
commonly known as dragonflies and damselflies, is a fascinating
insect order. (In some areas, the term dragonfly is used for both
groups.) The 2 pairs of wings of the damselflies are alike, whereas
the hind wings of the dragonflies are broader than the front wings
Over short distances they can reach speeds of 70 kph/45 mph. They
can hover, and fly backwards and forwards. The nymphs are aquatic,
carnivorous and sluggish, and are usually found in slow moving or
still water. On hatching from the eggs the larvae start feeding at
once. Odonata Blattaria Blattodea -- cockroaches; in some
classifications considered an order There are thought to be around
4,000 known species of cockroach in existence but only about 30 of
the different species of cockroach are the ones that humans come
into contact with. The cockroach is dated around 300 million years
old, with fossil evidence suggesting that the modern cockroach is
much smaller than the original roach. Today the cockroach is on
average, about an inch long. Cockroaches are thought to be able to
have up to four litters of young every year. The female cockroach
lays between 10 and 90 eggs per time, which hatch in a matter of
days. Flattened oval bodies, dark brown or reddish in color
Isoptera Consist of termites and white ants Adults
(Reproductive)
Body may be darkly pigmented Head well-developed, with chewing
mouthparts and beaded antennae Compound eyes present Two pairs of
membranous wings, all similar in shape and size; wings are shed
after mating Immature (Workers & Soldiers) body pale in color,
somewhat ant-like in appearance but with a broader junction between
thorax and abdomen Compound eyes small or absent Head large and
cylindrical or small and round Antennae beaded Mouthparts chewing;
sometimes with large mandibles Dermaptera The name Dermaptera,
derived from the Greek "derma" meaning skin and "ptera" meaning
wings, refers to the thickened forewings that cover and protect the
hind wings.Adults: Antennae slender, beaded Mouthparts mandibulate,
prognathous Tarsi 3-segmented Front wings short and leathery Hind
wings semicircular and pleated Cerci enlarged to form pincers
(forceps) Immatures: Structurally similar to adults Developing
wingpads may be visible on thorax Orthoptera Immatures Structurally
similar to adults
The name Orthoptera, derived from the Greek "ortho" meaning
straight and "ptera" meaning wing, refers to the parallel-sided
structure of the front wings (tegmina). Adults Antennae filiform
Mouthparts mandibulate, hypognathous Pronotum shield like, covering
much of thorax Front wings narrow, leathery (tegmina); hind wings
fan-like Hind legs usually adapted for jumping (hind femur
enlarged) Tarsi 3- or 4-segmented Cerci short, unsegmented
Immatures Structurally similar to adults Developing wingpads often
visible on thorax Phasmida Body and legs very long and slender; no
wings in our spp. (one species in Florida has very short wings,
many exotic forms are fully winged) Usually found on trees or
shrubs Herbivorous stick insects Classification Kingdom Animalia
(Animals) Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods) Subphylum Hexapoda
(Hexapods) Class Insecta (Insects) Order Phasmida (Walkingsticks)
Hemiptera The name Heteroptera, derived from the Greek
"hetero-"em> meaning different and "ptera" meaning wings, refers
to the fact that the texture of the front wings is different near
the base (leathery) than at the apex (membranous). Adults: Antennae
slender with 4-5 segments Proboscis 3-4 segmented, arising from
front of head and curving below body when not in use Triangular
scutellum present behind pronotum Front wings with basal half
leathery and apical half membranous (hemelytra). Wings lie flat on
the back at rest, forming an "X". Tarsi 2- or 3-segmented Pronotum
usually large, trapezoidal or rounded Coleoptera The forewings of
beetles are heavily sclerotised and form protective covers over the
hind wings. The forewings are called elytra and Coleoptera means
'sheath wings' i.e. the hard sheath-like elytra over the soft hind
wings. The elytra are not used in flight but are lifted out of the
way of the hind wings. At rest the elytra meet in a straight line
down the middle of the back. The elytra may completely cover the
abdomen or may be shorter exposing part of the abdomen. The hind
wings are membranous and are used for flight. At rest they are
folded protectively under the elytra. Some species do not have hind
wings and their elytra are generally fused together. Beetles are
often confused with cockroaches (Blattodea) or bugs (Hemiptera) but
can be distinguished from the former by their forewings which are
modified into elytra and meet in a straight line down the back and
from the later by their chewing rather than sucking mouthparts.
Lepidoptera The mouth parts of Lepidoptera mainly consist of the
sucking kind; this part is known as the proboscis or 'haustellum'.
The proboscis consists of two tubes held together by hooks and
separable for cleaning. The proboscis contains muscles for
operating. Each tube is inwardly concave, thus forming a central
tube up which moisture is sucked. Suction takes place due to the
contraction and expansion of a sac in the head.[5] The study of
insect mouthparts was helpful for the understanding of the
functional mechanism of the proboscis of butterflies (Lepidoptera)
to elucidate the evolution of new form-function. The study of the
proboscis of butterflies revealed surprising examples of
adaptations to different kinds of fluid food, like nectar, plant
sap, tree sap, dung for example and of adaptations to the use of
pollen as complementary food at a genus of neotropic butterflies.
An extreme long proboscis appears within different groups of flower
visiting insects, but is relatively rare. Diptera One pair of
membranous wings
Hind wings are reduced to small club like structures called
halteres. The halteres are used as stabilisers during flight
Sucking mouthparts, sometimes adapted for piercing e.g. mosquitoes
large compound eyes The small club-like halteres, as seen here are
situated behind the much larger forewings. The base of halteres are
flexible and when they are moved a fly or mosquito is able to
control its flight. As the haltere bends at the base, a fly or
mosquito can change flight speed or direction making them more
manoeuvrable compared to many other flying insects Siphonoptera
Siphonaptera, commonly known as fleas, are parasitic insects that
reside on their hosts for as long as they can. Fleas only preside
on mammals or birds as they depend on either feathers or fur for
protection. The fleas will feed on their host using a long and
slender, piercing mouth to suck the blood of their hosts. Although
some species can only reside on specific hosts, most species of
fleas are can move from host to Morphologically most fleas are less
than 5mm in length and are laterally flattened. The shape of their
bodies, being tall and skinny instead of short and flat, helps them
travel between fur and feathers with relative ease. On their hind
legs, fleas have enlarged coxae. These allow fleas to jump a
distance of a foot or more which is around 50 times their body
length (Milne). Interestingly, fleas do not just jump straight up
in the air. As they are jumping, fleas will do a complete
somersault in the air (Urquhart). Eyesight is a sense which is not
particularly important to fleas. Most species have only minute
compound eyes, while some species have no eyes at all. Instead
fleas depend more on the sense of feeling to know when a
perspective host is near (Milne). Hymenoptera The name Hymenoptera
is derived from the Greek words "hymen" meaning membrane and
"ptera" meaning wings. It is also a reference to Hymeno, the Greek
god of marriage. The name is appropriate not only for the
membranous nature of the wings, but also for the manner in which
they are "joined together as one" by the hamuli Holometabola
complete development (egg, larva, pupa, adult) The Hymenoptera is
divided into two suborders: Symphyta (sawflies and horntails) have
a broad junction between thorax and abdomen Apocrita (ants, bees,
and wasps) have a narrow junction between the thorax and abdomen.
Distribution:Common worldwide. Third largest order of insects.
Praying Mantids are from medium to large in size
Praying Mantids are from medium to large in size. They have
elongated body and free movable triangular head. Their antennae are
slender, segmented and longer in male than in female. The
pro-thorax is usually narrow and elongate. Their fore-legs are
spiny and strong. They have hardened forewings for protection and
membranous hind wings for flying, although some species are
wingless. Praying Mantids hold their wings flat over the abdomen.
The wings of male are usually functional while wings of female
often reduced or even absent. Mantodea The Order Mantodea consists
of the mantises, sometimes called the "praying mantises" because of
the manner in which their forelegs are positioned resembles a
praying stance. There are over 2,200 known species of mantis
worldwide. The words praying mantis are sometimes incorrectly
written as preying mantis; this is incorrect even though mantises
are predatory animals. Although the term "praying mantis" is now
sometimes used to describe all the members of the Order Mantodea,
the term was originally used to describe a single member of the
species, the European mantis. Plecoptera Stoneflies comprise a
hemimetabolous order of16 families and more than 2000 species of
aquatic insects distributed on all continents except Antarctica,
and most major islands except notably Cuba, Fiji, Hawaii, and New
Caledonia. They are primarily associated with running water, where
nymphs inhabit mineral or organic substrates of streambeds, and the
winged adults rest throughout their seasonal lives in streamside
microhabitats such as rocks, moss, debris, leafpacks, and riparian
vegetation. A few species occur in waveswept substrates of cold
alpine and boreal lakes, or in intermittent streams. Stonefly
adults (Fig. 1D and 1E) are variable in size from about 5 to 50 mm,
and in color from black to green or yellow, often marked with
distinctive light or dark patterns. The aquatic adult of one
species known from the depths of Lake Tahoe (Capnia lacustra) and a
few other species are apterous (wingless), but most adults are
winged. The wings of males and females of some species, or
particular populations of a species, are shortened (brachypterous)
and they do not fly, but the typical condition is of two pairs of
wings as long or longer than the abdomen (macropterous). THE
END.