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
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