Basic Entomology

BY KOMAL GUL
Linnaean Classification System
• A way to impart order to a complex environment

• Species is the basic unit of biological classification

• Genus represents a group of closely related species
• Family represents a group of closely related genera
• Order represents a group of closely related genera
• Etc., etc., etc.
Insect are successful in diversity
 Insects possess an amazing diversity
in size, form, and behavior.
 Protective shell or exoskeleton,
they are small, and they can fly.
 Small size and ability to fly permits
 Escape from enemies dispersal to
new environments.
 The Ant: A Most Successful Insect
 Insects are the dominant life-form on earth.
 Millions may exist in a single acre of land. About one million species
have been described, and there may be as many as ten times that many
yet to be identified.
 Of all creatures on earth, insects are the main consumers of plants.
 Play role in the breakdown of plant and animal material
 Food source for many other animals
 Insect populations also possess considerable genetic diversity
 A great potential for adaptation to different or changing environments
Arthropods, and Related Phyla

• Annelids (Segmented Worms)

– Segmented bodies
– No legs
– Appendages in the head (jaws, feelers, etc.)
• Onychophorans (Velvet Worms)
– Long, soft-bodied, carnivorous worms
– Head with eyes, rasping jaws
– Unjointed ‘lobopodia’
• Arthropods
Annelids: Segmented Worms

Annelid: Polychaete

– Segmented bodies
Annelid: Earthworm
– No legs
– Appendages in the head
(jaws, feelers, etc.)

Annelid: Leech
Onychophorans: Velvet Worms
– Long, soft-bodied, carnivorous worms
– NEMATODES ( intestinal parasites)
– Head with eyes, rasping jaws
– Unjointed ‘lobopodia’

Image Source:
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/annelida/nereid.gif

Image Source:
http://www.britannica.com/eb/art-6767/Onychophoran
The Arthropod Phylum
• A phylum is a major group of organisms.
• Insects are a Class in the Phylum of
Arthropods.
• Characteristics of Arthropods Include:
– Segmented Bodies
– Jointed Legs
– Exoskeleton
– Open Circulatory System
– No Backbone
– Bi-lateral Symmetry
Phylogeny of
Major Groups
Defined by embryology
Blastopore becomes anus

Defined by:
Exoskeleton
Time Jointed legs
Major Groups of Arthropods

• Class Xiphosura
– Common Name: Horseshoe Crabs
• Class Arachnida
– Includes Scorpions, Spiders and Mites
• Subphylum Mandibulata
– Includes Crustaceans, Millipedes, Centipedes
• Class Insecta
Major Classes of Arthropods
Class Xiphosura
(Common Name: Horshoe Crabs)
• No antennae
• Two distinct body
divisions
– Body with broadly oval
shell and long, slender tail
– Abdomen with leaf-like
gills on ventral side
• First pair of appendages
are chelicera
• All are aquatic

Image Source:
http://paleo.cortland.edu/tutorial/Arthropods/Arthropod%20Images/horseshoe.GIF
Major Classes of Arthropods

Class Arachnida
• Two distinct body divisions
• 4 pair of legs
• First pair of appendages are chelicerae
• No antennae
Chelicerae

Photo Images Courtesy of: Dept. of Entomology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Major Classes of Arthropods
Class Arachnida: Order Araneida
(Common Name: Spiders)

• Two distinct body divisions, 8 true legs

• First pair of appendages are chelicerae
• All possess venom glands and spinnerets
• Pedipalps in male are modified for sperm
delivery Chelicerae
Spinnerets
Pedipalps
(male)

Photo Images Courtesy of: Dept. of Entomology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Major Classes of Arthropods
Class Arachnida: Order: Scorpionida
Common Name: Scorpions
• Two distinct body divisions, 8 true legs
• First pair of appendages are chelicerae
• Relatively large arachnids
• Pedipalps are large and claw-like
• Abdomen distinctly segmented, and ending in a sting
• Found in arid regions in the South and West

Segmented
Cephalothorax Abdomen
Pedipalps

Sting

Photo Image Courtesy of: Dept. of Entomology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Major Classes of Arthropods
Class Arachnida: Order Acarina
Common Name: Ticks & Mites
• Two distinct body divisions, 8 true legs
• First pair of appendages are chelicerae
• No true head
• All ticks are parasites of warm-blooded animals
• Mites are abundant in the soil and debris, but may also be
parasitic
European Red Mite

Photo Image Courtesy of:

Virginia Cooperative Extension Service Two-Spotted Spider Mite
http://www.ext.vt.edu/departments/entomology/ornamentals/spidermites.html
Major Classes of Arthropods
Subphylum Mandibulata, Class Crustacea
Common Name: Crustaceans

• Two pair of antennae

• At least 5 pairs of legs
• Two distinct body regions (cephalothorax and abdomen)
– Cephalothorax is covered by a hardened hood (carapace)
• Most are detritivores, with some predaceous habits
• Most are aquatic
– Lobsters, shrimp, barnacles, isopods, sowbugs, brine shrimp (sea
monkeys)
Major Classes of Arthropods
Subphylum Mandibulata, Class Diplopod
Common Name: Millipedes

• Worm-like and cylindrical

• Two pair of legs per body segment
• Some secrete cyanide as a chemical defense
• All are detritivores
Major Classes of Arthropods
Subphylum Mandibulata, Class Chilopoda
Common Name: Centipedes

• Worm-like and enlongate

• One pair of legs per body segment
• First pair of legs is modified into poison claws (fangs)
• Predaceous on insects and other small arthropods
Major Classes of Arthropods
Subphylum Mandibulata, Class Symphyla
Common Name: Garden Centipedes

• Similar to centipedes, but with only 10-12 pair of legs

• Closely related to insects
– 5 segmented head
– Labium similar to insects
– Bead like antennae
• Can be pests of field crops

Millipede
Symphylan Centipede
Major Classes of Arthropods
Class Insecta
Common Name: Insects!!!

• Most adult insects have the following characters:

– All have body divided into three parts (head,
thorax and abdomen)
– All have three pairs of legs
– Usually one pair of antennae and a pair of
compound eyes (a few exceptions to these
characteristics are found)
– Usually two pairs of wings
• absent in many insects such as lice, fleas, ants; flies have
one pair of wings)
Characteristics of Class Insecta

• Phylum: Arthopoda
– Class: Insecta
• Order: Diptera (flies)
– Family: Asilidae
(robber flies)
Image Source:
http://pest.ca.uky.edu/EXT/Master_gardener/entbasics/introduction/introduction.shtml
Phylogeny of Major Classes
Trends History of Arthropods
• Segmented tube with parapodia (Annelids)
• Legs developed with muscles
(Onychophora)
• Segmented or jointed legs
(Arthropods)
• Tagmosis: division of body into specialized
units (Arthropods)
• Specialized leg units (Arthropods)
• Loss of leg pairs (Insecta)
Module Objectives
• Part I
– Explain the hierarchical classification system used in biology.
– Name the principle characteristics used to separate the phyla and
classes of insects and their relatives.
• Part II
– Review the general anatomy of insects
– Review the major types of insect life cycles, and the associated
stages of development.
– Review the common orders of insects.
• Part III
– Discuss insect collection techniques
– Current ecological research on pollinators in gardens
• Part IV
– How to diagnose insect problems
Insect External Anatomy
• 3 Body Regions
– Head: Sensory Center
– Thorax: Locomotory Center
– Abdomen: Reproductive
Center

Image Source:
http://www.cartage.org.lb/en/themes/Sciences/Zoology/Insects/InsectAnatomy/Introduction/insectanatomy.gif
Image Source:
http://pest.ca.uky.edu/EXT/Master_gardener/entbasics/introduction/introduction.shtml
Insect External Anatomy
Head
• Mouthparts (paired mandibles, maxillae and labium)
– Labrum/clypeus as ‘upper lip’
– Maxillary palp and labial palp are
both part of maxillae

Md = mandibles
Lr=labrum
Mx=maxillae

Chewing
Piercing/
Sucking Sucking/
Image Source:
http://www.answers.com/topic/evolution-insect-mouthparts-png Lapping
Insect External Anatomy
Head
• Antennae (1 pair)
• Compound Eyes (1 pair)
• Simple Eyes or Ocelli (3 total)
• Mouthparts (paired mandibles, maxillae and labium)
– Labrum/clypeus as ‘upper lip’
– Maxillary palp and labial palp are
both part of maxillae

Image Source:
http://www.ndsu.nodak.edu/entomology/topics/images/heads.gif
Insect External Anatomy
Thorax
• Pro-, meso- and meta-thorax
– Each segment bears a pair of legs
– Meso- and meta-thorax each bear a pair of
wings

Image Source:
http://bugs.bio.usyd.edu.au/Entomology/images/Topics/extMorphology/thoraxComponents.gif
Insect External Anatomy
Abdomen
• Cerci and external reproductive
appendages
– Ovipositor in females

Ovipositor

Cerci/Pincers
Objectives
• Part I
– Explain the hierarchical classification system used in biology.
– Name the principle characteristics used to separate the phyla and
classes of insects and their relatives.
• Part II
– Review the general anatomy of insects
– Review the major types of insect life cycles, and the associated
stages of development.
– Review the common orders of insects.
• Part III
– Discuss insect collection techniques
– Current ecological research on pollinators in gardens
• Part IV
– How to diagnose insect problems
Insect Life Cycles

• Ametabolous: no obvious
difference between juveniles and adults

• Hemimetabolous: nymphs look like

smaller version of adult, without wings

• Holometabolous: nymphs look worm like

or grub like (without wings). Very
different from adult appearance
Ametabolous Development

• Juveniles resemble adults, except that they are

smaller
• With each molt, abdominal segments are added
Hemimetabolous Development

• Juveniles (called nymphs) resemble adults,

except that they are smaller, and do not have
wings
– Development of wing buds or wing pads in later
stages
• With each molt, wing buds get larger
Holometabolous Development
• Juveniles (called larvae) look quite different from adults
– Worm like
– Grub like
– Caterpillar like
• Pupal stage, where metamorphosis occurs
• Juvenile and adult stages often feed on very different things
and/or live in very different habitats
Insect Life Cycles

• Juveniles • Adults
– Not winged / can’t fly – Winged / can fly
– Not sexually mature – Sexually mature

Monarch Butterfly Larva Monarch Butterfly

No Wings
Wings

Potato Leafhopper Nymph Potato Leafhopper Adult

Wing Pads
Wings
Image Sources:
(Lepidoptera: http://www.museum.vic.gov.au/bugs/life/butterflies.aspx)
(Hemiptera: http://www.ipm.uiuc.edu/cropsci270/syllabus/images/0207image13.jpg)
Modifications and Insect Diversity
• Waxy, Rigid Cuticle
• Increased number of sclerites
• Tracheal structures
• Dispersal by flight
• High reproductive potential
• Small size
• Lack of competition on land
• Complete metamorphosis
Insect Diversity
• Most diverse class, order, family of organisms
Objectives
• Part I
– Explain the hierarchical classification system used in biology.
– Name the principle characteristics used to separate the phyla and
classes of insects and their relatives.
• Part II
– Review the general anatomy of insects
– Review the major types of insect life cycles, and the associated
stages of development.
– Review the common orders of insects.
• Part III
– Discuss insect collection techniques
– Current ecological research on pollinators in gardens
• Part IV
– How to diagnose insect problems
Common Insect Orders

• 31 Insect Orders
– Most recent discovery in 2002! (Mantophasmatodea)
• Orders of particular interest to gardeners
include:
– Coleoptera, Dermaptera, Diptera, Hemiptera,
Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, Neuroptera, Orthoptera,
Thysanoptera
• ‘-ptera’ means ‘wing’ (think Pteradactyl)
– To ID almost all insects to order, you should look at the
wings of the adults
– Juvenile IDs are much more difficult
Classification of Insect Orders

• Gullan and Cranston. 1994. The Insects:

An Outline of Entomology. Chapman and Hall,
London.

• Borror, Triplehorn and Johnson. 1989. An

Introduction to the Study of Insects. 6th Edition.
Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Orlando.

• Borror and White. 2004. Introduction to the

Study of Insects. 7th Edition. Brooks Cole.
Insect
Phylogeny
Primitive Insects

• Ametabolous Development
• No wings (Apterygotes)
• Development of eyes occurs in this group
• Development of spiracles
Proturans and Diplurans
• Ametabolous, No Wings
• No eyes
• Some breath through
cuticle

• Proturans: no
antennae, sucking
mouthparts, very small and
rare, found in moist
habitats
• Diplurans: antennae with
internal muscles, chewing
mouthparts, small,
uncommon, found in moist
habitats. Abdomen with 11
segments and 2 cerci.
Collembola
• Ametabolous, no wings
• Antennae with internal muscles
• Some species have eyes.
Some
species don’t
• Abdomen has scales, collophore
on 1st segment, retinaculum on 3rd
segment and furcula on 4th segment
• Extremely abundant in certain
soil habitats (moist and with
much organic debris)
• Occasional pests in potted
plants, greenhouses.
• Important food source for many
arachnids and other insects.
Thysanura (silverfish, bristletails)
• Ametabolous, no wings
• Antennae very long and without
internal muscles
• Well-developed eyes
• Breath through spiracles
• Abdomen with 11 segments, 3
bristly cerci
• Mating rituals.
• Habitats include moist, shady
locations outside and hot, dry
locations indoors.
• Feed on starchy substances.
Can be indoor pests on
wallpaper, books, cereals.
Paurometabolous Insects

• Hemimetabolous Development with a

subimago or subadult stage
• All are winged as adults.
• Naiads are aquatic. Adults are found
flying near water.
Ephemeroptera = “Short Lived Wings”
Adult Characteristics
• Mayflies
• Adults are short lived (Vestigial
mouthparts)
• Nymphs are call ‘naiads’.
Penultimate nymphs are called
‘subimagos’
• Fragile bodies. Weak legs. Body
curved upward at the head and tip
of the abdemen, when at rest.
• Three caudal filaments at the end of
the abdomen.
• Adult swarms can be a nuisance
Ephemeroptera = “Short Lived Wings”
Naiad Characteristics
• Naiads emerge as adults in large swarms, for
a short mating period.
• Naiad antennae are short, bristle-like.
• Naids live 1-2 years in the water, with
many (30+) molts.
• 7 pair of abdominal gills.
Odonata = ‘tooth wing’
Adult Characteristics
• Dragonflies and
damselflies
• Adults have 2 pair of
membraneous, elongate
wings, with many
crossveins.
• Chewing mouthparts.
• Dragonflies hold wings
horizontal, at rest. Damselfly
wings are folded over
abdomen, upright, when at
rest.
• Long, thin abdomen.
• Adults patrol over streams,
ponds, an dother aquatic
habitats.
• All are predaceous.
Odonata = ‘tooth wing’
Naiad Characteristics
• Highly modified and hinged labium
– Highly predaceous.
• Dragonflies have rectal gills.
• Damselflies have tracheal gills.
Hemimetabolous Insects

• Hemimetabolous Development
• Most are winged
– Those without wings represent a secondary loss
of wings (e.g. aphids, scales
Orthoptera = ‘Straight wing’
Grasshoppers, katydids, crickets
• Two pair of wings.
First pair is a leathery
tegmina. Second pair is
membraneous and
fanlike.
• Chewing mouthparts.
• Can be found in a
variety of habitats – old
fields, woodland,
households
• Some are extremely
destructive pests to
cultivated crops
Dermaptera = “Skin Wing”
Earwigs
• Two pairs of wings
– Forewings short, square and veinles s
• Leathery tegmina
– Hindwings fanlike
• Hemimetabolous Development Leathery
Forewing
• Biting mouthparts
– Scavenge plant and animal matter
• Distinct Characteristics
– Cerci form pincers
• Color
– Pale brown to black,
– Temporarily white and cream after moulting
Flexible
• Abdomen is uncovered and very flexible Abdomen

• Distribution
– 1,800 species
– World-wide
– Ground dwelling, in crevices
Cerci/Pincers
Isoptera = ‘Same Wing’
Termites
• Two pair of wings. Few cross
veins. Wings longer than
body.
• Eusocial.
– Reproductive division of labor.
Castes. Cooperative care of young.
• Only reproductive caste has
wings, and only near the time of
nuptial flight.
• Live in ground or in wood.
• Many are pests of buildings. Most
are beneficial, because they recycle
nutrients from dead trees and other
plant materials.
Plecoptera = ‘Folded wing’
Stoneflies
• Two pair of wings. Both
membraneous. Hind pair folds fan
like under front wings.
– Wings folded flat over
abdomen
• Chewing mouthparts (reduced in
some species)
• Long, slender antennae
• Adults and naiads have 2 cerci at
apex of abdomen
• Adults on vegetation near water.
Naiads prefer cold, well-
oxygenated, water habitats.
• Naiads are an important prey and
predator component of aquatic food
chains.
 Thysanoptera = ‘fringe wings’
• 2 pairs of tiny, feather-like wings
• Small  0.5 - 15mm long
• Mouthparts adapted for piercing and are highly
asymmetric
• Color: Y ellow, brown or black
• Very narrow body
• Prominent compound eyes Fringe Wings

Adult Thrips Adult Thrips

Hemiptera = ‘Half Wing’
• 2 pairs of wings (some species wingless)
– Forewings generally hardened to some extent
• 1mm - 100mm long
• Mouthparts suctorial and developed for piercing
– Cibarial pump
– Most vegetarian or omnivorous.
– Some strictly carnivorous species
• Most are terrestrial, plant feeders (or omnivores).
A few families are aquatic. A
few families are predaceous.
Hemiptera = ‘Half Wing’
Suborder Heteroptera
• Two sets of wings: Wings folded flat over the body at rest
– Forewings divided into two regions of different textures
– Hindwings membraneous and held under forewings, at rest
• Scutellum (triangle) on thorax
• Head projects horizontally and is visible from above
– Piercing/Sucking Mouthparts
Leathery part of forewing Membraneous part of forewing
Leathery part of forewing
Scutellum
Scutellum
Hemiptera = ‘Half Wing’
Suborder Homoptera
• Two sets of wings
– Forewings are of uniform texture (all membraneous or leathery)
– Hindwings are membraneous
– Wings are held like a roof over the back
• Head deflected backwards
– Piercing/Sucking Mouthparts
Psocoptera
Book and Bark Lice
• Wings present or absent.
• If, present, 2 pair of
membraneous wings, with
reduced veination.
• Forewing larger than hindwing,
and held roof like over body at
rest.
• Small (<5mm in length)
• Enlarged face.
• Some species are pests that
damage books (feed on starchy
bindings).
Mallophaga / Anoplura
Chewing and Sucking Lice
• Mallophaga = chewing
mouthparts
– Head wider than thorax
– Many are important pests of
livestock
• Anoplura = sucking
mouthparts
– Head is usually narrower than
thorax
– Includes species that are
parasitic
to humans

• Minute (<4mm in length)

Holometabolous Insects

• Holometabolous Development
• Most are winged
– Those without wings represent a secondary loss
of wings (e.g. velvet ants, ants)
Coleoptera = “sheath wing”
• Two pairs of wings
– Forewings (elytra) are veinless, toughened and horny, covering the entire
abdomen and meeting at the midline
– Hindwings are membranous
• Prothorax is large, and covered by the pronotum
• Chewing mouthparts
• Distribution
– More than 300,000 species
– World-wide
– Habitats: from deserts to tropical regions, mainly ground dwelling and in
vegetation, some aquatic
– Feed on most solids, including crops, timber, pepper and dry bone
Neuroptera = ‘Nerve Wing’
Antlions, Owlflies, Lacewings
• Two pairs of membranous wings
– Dense network of cross veins on wings
– Prominent vein forks at wing margins
• Holometabolous Development Chewing Mouthparts

• Chewing mouthparts
Cross Veins on Forewings
– Predators of smaller insects and pollen-eaters
• Distribution
– 6,000 species
– World-wide, although families are more restricted
– Vegetation, ground debris, in woodlands, sandy soils

Antlion Larval Pits Antlion Larva Antlion Adult

Megaloptera = ‘Big Wing’
Alderflies and Dobson flies
• Two pairs of membranous wings
– Many veins and cross veins (forming a
nerve network)
– Numerous cross veins between costa and
subcosta veins
– Hindwing a bit wider at base than
forewing
– Anal area of hindwing folded fanlike
at
rest
• Chewing mouthparts
• Prognathous head with large
mandibles (sexually dimorphic)
• Larvae (i.e. hellgrammites) with
abdominal tracheal gills and anal
prolegs
• Larvae of Dobsonflies are often
used as fish bait.
Raphidioptera
Snakeflies
• Two pairs of membranous wings
– Many veins and cross veins (forming a nerve network)
– Numerous cross veins between costa and subcosta veins
– Forewing contains a sitgma
• Chewing mouthparts
• Prothorax elongate
• Front legs rise from the posterior end of the prothorax, and are
similar to other legs (not raptorial)
Lepidoptera = ‘Scale Wing’
• Two pairs of membranous wings
– Both pairs covered in minute scales of various colours
• Mouthparts mainly suctorial, with proboscis
– Feed on liquids, usually nectar.
– Mud-puddling behavior
– Some drink tears, urine, and even blood
• Holometabolous
• Distribution
– 20,000 species
– Associated with higher plants, especially angiosperms
Nectaring

Mud Puddling
Siphonaptera = ‘No Wing’
Fleas
• Wingless
• Piercing, sucking mouthparts
– (obligate blood feeders)
• Laterally flattened
• Hindlegs adapted for jumping
• Pro-notal comb
• Larvae worm-like
Hymenoptera = ‘Membraneous Wing’
• Two pairs of membranous wings
– Hind wings much smaller than forewings
• Biting mouthparts (except bees)
– Predators, herbivores and nectar feeders
• Distribution
– Over 100,000 species
– Habitats: from woodland to desert
• Social Systems in Hymenoptera
– Create own nests
– Young are provisioned to varying degrees by parents / other
adults
Hymenoptera = ‘Membraneous Wing’
• Suborder Symphyta
– No typical wasp-waist
– Hold wings flat over the body
Hymenoptera = ‘Membraneous Wing’
• Suborder Apocrita
– Wasp waist
– Have wingless castes
– Divided into two groups, the Parasitica and
Aculeata (Social wasps)
Diptera = ‘two wings’
• One pair of wings
– Membranous forewings used for flight
– Hindwings form small stick-like halteres
• Suctorial mouthparts
• No cerci on the abdomen
• Distribution
– Mainly associated with flowers and decaying organic matter
– Feed on vegetation and organic matter, some blood feeders and ectoparasites, some
species do not feed at all as adults
– Over 100,000 species,
Diptera = ‘two wings’
• Suborder Nematocera
• Small, delicate insects
• Slender, many segmented antennae, with no
arista
• No distal cell in the wing, open anal cell
widens towards the wing margin
• Larvae have prominent, biting jaws
Diptera = ‘two wings’
• Suborder brachycera
• Stout flies
• Antennae 3-segmented, shorter than the
thorax, may have terminal arista
• Discal cell not always present
• Larvae have reduced jaws which can be
retracted into the head
Diptera = ‘two wings’

• Suborder Cyclorrapha
• Stout flies
• Antennae non-prominent, 3 segmented and
pendulous, bristle from dorsal surface
• Circular seam on head
• Larvae are maggot-like, with no visible
jaws
Module Objectives
• Part I
– Explain the hierarchical classification system used in biology.
– Name the principle characteristics used to separate the phyla and
classes of insects and their relatives.
• Part II
– Review the general anatomy of insects
– Review the common orders of insects.
– Review the major types of insect life cycles, and the associated
stages of development.
• Part III
– Discuss insect collection techniques
– Current ecological research on pollinators in gardens
• Part IV
– How to diagnose insect problems
Collecting Insects in Gardens

Baby Food Jars

Water Pan Traps
Impact of Polylectic Pollinators on
Ornamental Invasives
• Exotic plants are often less subject to
damage from insect herbivores
• Exotic plants are not discriminated
against by insect pollinators
Collecting Insects in Gardens

Pitfall Traps
Collecting Insects in Gardens

Light Traps
Collecting Insects in Gardens

Nets and Vacuums

Pinning and Labelling
Where to Pin, by Order

Date / Locality

Collecting Method or
Plant from which Insect was Collected

Determination Label
(Including who ID’d the specimen)
Module Objectives
• Part I
– Explain the hierarchical classification system used in biology.
– Name the principle characteristics used to separate the phyla and
classes of insects and their relatives.
• Part II
– Review the general anatomy of insects
– Review the common orders of insects.
– Review the major types of insect life cycles, and the associated
stages of development.
• Part III
– Discuss insect collection techniques
– Current ecological research on pollinators in gardens
• Part IV
– How to diagnose insect problems
Diagnosing Insect Problems
• Do not, if at all possible, diagnose a pest problem from a
photo
• Get a sample of the ‘insect’
• Get a sample of the damage
• Make sure that the organism is indeed an insect
• Is it an adult or a juvenile?
• Identify the insect to order (easier to do for adults than for
juveniles)
• What do the wings look like? Are they membraneous? Are there 2
pair? What about cross veins? Are the wings held flat over the body,
or tent like over the body?
• Do the mouthparts of the insect match up with the type of
damage being reported?
Internal Feeders: Gallers
 Internal Feeders

Miners
Borers
 External Feeding Guilds

Chewers Mesophyll Feeder

Closing Remarks

• Insects are cool! Most are innocuous to

humans. Many are beneficial. Relatively
few are pests (but these pests make their
presence known!).

• Work your way through a standard set of

questions, when ID’ing insects to order.