Entomology 101

The Wonderful World of Insects

Look Up! The Billion Bug Highway

One Million Species

250,000

69,000

Slime molds, seaweed, algae 58,000

yogurt - 5,000

Viruses??

OTHER ANIMALS

INSECTS

Beetles

1in 4 animals

US has about 10% of world’s known insect species

• Largest numbers of described species in the U.S. fall into four insect Orders:

– 23,700 Coleoptera (beetles)

– 19,600 Diptera (flies)

– 17,500 Hymenoptera (ants, bees, wasps)

– 11,500 Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies)

750,000 insect species discovered

It’s estimated we’ve discovered only 10 % of all insect species on planet Earth

Go Team Insect!

152 major crops

Mostly found in SE US. Roll, then bury. Food for adults and larvae

The Big kahuna … Insects fighting

among themselves

Standard Classification System • King Phillip Came Over From Greece Singing – precise vs. common

• Kingdom – Animal • Phylum – Arthropoda • Class – Insecta • Order – Diptera, based on type of metamorphosis,

mouthparts and wings, in flux … • Family – Muscidae - grouping of very closely related

insects • Genus - Musca • Species – domestica • Common Name: housefly

Helicoverpa zea

Insect Characteristics

ALL ADULT INSECTS HAVE: • 3 Body Regions • 3 pairs (6) legs • 2 pairs (4) wings

– with exceptions • 1 pair (2)

Antennae • Mouth

Abdomen

Thorax

Head

Antennae

Legs Legs

Terminology exposure

Insecticides breakdown cuticle an dry insect out

Major Body Parts Used for ID

HEAD

Antennae

Mouthparts

THORAX

Legs

• Walking, jumping,

• Digging, grasping

• Feeling, swimming

• Carrying, building nests

• Cleaning body

• Legs vary in size & form

• Used to ID

Form follows function

Wings!

Monarch Migration

Insect or Not?

Metamorphosis

• Meta = change; Morphe = form • Insects undergo –

– SIMPLE – COMPLETE

• Type of metamorphosis and the developmental

stage of an insect is considered when designing a pest management program.

Molting

• Shed (outer) skeleton to grow more

• Change occurs during molting

‘Instar’ – the stage of life between each molt

First Instar

Fourth Instar

Third Instar

Second Instar

Fifth Instar

Simple – No

Metam. 70%

Nymph

Complete Metamorphosis Video

Types of Insect Injury

Can be sign of larvae

• Injury by internal feeders – squash vine borer

5% damage caused by laying eggs injury

Return of the Cicadas

Insects: Plant Disease Disseminators

• 200+ plant diseases spread by insects – 75% are viruses – Cucumber Mosaic - aphids

– 12% fungi – Dutch Elm Disease – small beetle

– 7% bacteria - Fireblight – pollinating insects

• By creating a wound that allows entrance of disease (not carried by them)

• Transmit causative agents/pathogen from one plant to another – by feeding/simply carrying

• Insect is part of the disease’s life cycle

Horticulture Help Desk Queries: Tips

Step 1

• GET THE SCOOP? – What does the critter look like? Get pictures or a sample

– Where was the critter found? -- On plants -- In leaf litter -- In buildings -- Near water -- On ground -- In wood -- Near soil and wood -- On birds or mammals

– When did they start showing up? (Time of Year)

– How long have they been around?

– How many?

– Are they eating anything?

– What does the damage look like? (Type of insect injury)

– (Primary or secondary pest?)

Step 2

• GOOGLE - Cross Reference

– Host Preference

– Insect Description

– Location – garden, home, basement …

• Google Images

• Site:.edu

• Open it up beyond Virginia (at first!)

Step 3

• Bring to extension agent to confirm

• Send pictures or sample to Insect/Plant Disease lab to confirm

• Why do this? Accurate identification of pest is critical to effective pest control

– Insect may not be the problem, secondary

Submitting Samples to Insect Lab

Other search suggestions

• Tomato insects

• What’s eating my apple tree leaves/fruit?

• Why are there holes in my ash trunk?

• …

Control!

• Insects are the main consumers of plants • Insects are major pests of humans and

domesticated animals because they destroy crops and vector diseases.

• Less than one percent of insect species are pests • Only a few hundred of these are consistently a

problem. • In ag, an insect is a pest if its presence or damage

results in an economically important loss. Landscapes go by visual cues.

Insect

Insect

-destruction of natural enemies -development of resistance -higher quality standards

Pest Management Guide: Home Grounds & Animals

ATTRA Biorationals Database

The more we know about the pest’s biology and behavior, including their natural enemies, the more likely we will be able to manage them effectively