Major Orders of Major Orders of InsectsInsects

ColeopteraColeoptera

• “Sheath – winged”• 2 pairs of wings (front

pair covers transparent back pair)

• Heavy armored exoskeleton

• Biting and chewing mouth parts

Diptera: “Two-winged”Diptera: “Two-winged”

Diptera: “Two-winged”Diptera: “Two-winged”• Flies & mosquitoes• Transparent front wings,

hind wings reduced and help with balance

• Heavy armored exoskeleton

• Sucking, piercing, and lapping mouth parts

Hymenoptera Hymenoptera “Membrane winged”“Membrane winged”

Hymenoptera – Hymenoptera – “Membrane winged”“Membrane winged”

• Ants, bees, wasps• 2 pairs of transparent

wings • Mobile head and well

developed eyes • Chewing and sucking

mouth parts

LepidopteraLepidoptera“Scale winged”“Scale winged”

LepidopteraLepidoptera“Scale winged”“Scale winged”

• Butterflies & moths• 2 pairs of broad, scaly

wings• Hairy bodies• Tubelike, sucking

mouthparts

HemipteraHemiptera “Half-winged” “Half-winged”

Hemiptera Hemiptera “Half-winged”“Half-winged”

• Giant water bugs, bed bugs

• 2 pairs of wings or wingless

• Piercing, sucking mouthparts

• Scutellum• True bugs

OrthopteraOrthoptera“Straight Winged“Straight Winged””

OrthopteraOrthoptera“Straight Winged“Straight Winged””• Grasshoppers, crickets

• 2 pairs of wings or wingless

• Biting and chewing mouthparts in adults

OdonataOdonata“Toothed”“Toothed”

OdonataOdonata“Toothed”“Toothed”

• Dragonflies & Damselfies• 2 pairs of transparent

wings• Chewing mouthparts

IsopteraIsoptera“Equal winged”“Equal winged”

IsopteraIsoptera“Equal winged”“Equal winged”

• Termites • 2 pairs of wings; some

stages are wingless• Chewing mouthparts• Social insects w/division

of labor

SiphonapteraSiphonaptera“Tube-wingless”“Tube-wingless”

• Fleas• Small & wingless• Flattened body• Piercing and sucking mouthparts• Jumping legs

EphemeropteraEphemeroptera

• Mayflies• Primitive insects; less numerous today

due to outcompeting• Nymphs are aquatic and adults are

aerial• Serve as water quality indicators

HomopeteraHomopetera““Same winged”Same winged”

• Cicadas, aphids, scales, plant-leaf & treehoppers (or hoppers), spittlebugs

• Plant eaters with piercing and sucking mouthparts

Have 2 pairs of membraneous uniform wings or may lack wings entirely

DermapteraDermaptera““skin winged”skin winged”

• Earwigs• Chewing mouthparts• Minor pest in homes

and flowers• Narrow toughened

body • Cerci in back

hardened like forceps

ThysanuraThysanura“thysanos=fringe ura=tail “• Bristletails and silverfish• Chewing mouthparts; no wings• Commonly found in dorms, apartments and basements of buildings, especially near heatingsystems (firebrats) or areas of higher humiditylike bathrooms (silverfish). Others outdoors