RECOGNITION OF COMMON ORDERS OF INSECTS

Odonata - dragonflies and damselflies

• long slender membranous wings with many cross-veins

• hind wings similar to forewings

• chewing mouthparts

• long, slender abdomen

• larvae are aquatic

Orthoptera - grasshoppers, kaydids, and crickets

• forewings leathery and narrow

• chewing mouthparts

• many have hind legs modified for jumping

Blattaria - cockroaches

• forewings elongate, often thickened (leathery)

• chewing mouthparts

• running legs

• cerci

• long antennae

Phasmida - walkingsticks

• chewing mouthparts

• looks like a stick

Mantodea - praying mantids

• forewings elongate, often thickened (leathery)

• chewing mouthparts

• enlarge forelegs for grasping prey

• distinctive neck

Hemiptera - true bugs

• forewings thickened at base

• hind wings membranous

• piercing-sucking mouthparts

Neuroptera - lacewings, ant lions

• fore and back wings membranous with many veins

• chewing mouthparts

• antennae long and many segmented

Coleoptera - beetles

• hardened forewing (elytra)

• hind wings membranous

• chewing mouthparts

• elytra meet in straight line down back

Lepidoptera - butterflies and moths

• fore and hind wings with scales

• antennae long and many segmented

• adults - siphoning mouthparts

• larvae - chewing mouthparts

Diptera - flies and mosquitoes

• forewings membranous

• hind wings absent, replaced with balancing organs called halteres

• different types of mouthparts

Hymenoptera - bees, wasps, and ants

• fore and hind wings membranous

• antennae usually threadlike

• chewing mouthparts with modification for sucking