Insect Orders 3

Coleoptera to
Hymenoptera

Order Coleoptera

Beetles
Typically 2 pair wings
Forewings are elytra

What is elytra?

Hindwings totally
membranous
Chewing mouthparts
Complete metamorphosis
Super diverse order
More beetles than anything

Families of Coleoptera

Carabidae
Ground beetles
Eyes often large and
bulbous
Elytra typically with
ridges and punctations
Body shape variable
Found running around
on ground everywhere

Families of Coleoptera

Silphidae
Carrion beetles
Elytra short so expose
the tip of the abdomen
Elytra tend to widen
posteriorly
Capitate antennae
Found on carrion

Families of Coleoptera

Scarabaeidae
Scarab beetles
Vary in size
Lamellate antennae
Robust and heavybodied
Have 5 tarsi on each
leg
Can be found all over
the place

Families of Coleoptera

Coccinallidae
Lady bugs
Body oval or roundish
Usually colored with
red, black and/or yellow
Capitate antennae
Head partially covered
with pronotum
Found all over, often in
areas with aphid
populations

Order Neuroptera

Lacewings, antlions, etc.

2 pair of large
membranous wings
Antennae long and
variable
Cerci absent
Chewing mouthparts
Complete
metamorphosis

Families of Neuroptera

Myrmeleontidae
Antlions
Adult

Capitate antennae
Membranous wings
Medium to large

Larvae

Live in sand
Have burrow to trap crawling
insects
Large mandibles to grasp prey

Families of Neuroptera

Chrysopidae
Green lacewings
Small to medium
Filiform antennae
Body and wings usually
greenish in color
Eyes usually gold or
copper in color
Typically have
tympanum at base of
forewing

Order Hymenoptera

Bees, Wasps and Ants

4 membranous wings
Forewings larger than
hind wings
Antennae with 10 or
more segments
Females with well
developed ovipositor
(known as a stinger if
used for defense)

Order Hymenoptera

Tarsi usually with 5

segments
Chewing or
chewing/lapping
mouthparts
Complete
metamorphosis
Can be found all over
the place

Families of Hymenoptera

Apidae
Honey bees, bumble
bees and carpenter
bees
Medium to large
Hind legs may have
hairs that form a pollen
basket
Tongue wide at the
base

Families of Hymenoptera

Vespidae
Social wasps
Pronotum triangular or
squarish in shape
Wings folded
longitudinally
Inner margin of eye
strongly notched

Families of Hymenoptera

Formicidae
Ants
Wings present or
absent
One or two dorsal
humps
Antennae geniculate
Should be point
mounted or stored in
vials

Order Trichoptera

Caddisflies
Small to Medium
4 membranous wings
Wings with only a few
cross veins
Wings all about the
same size and held roof
like over the body
Body and wings hairy

Order Trichoptera

Antennae filiform and long

Tarsi with 5 segments
Resemble moths
Larvae are aquatic and
build protective cases
Sponging mouthparts
Complete metamorphosis
Found at lights at night
and should be stored in
alcohol or pinned

Order Lepidoptera

Butterflies and Moths

Size variable
Two pair of
membranous wings
with scales
Antennae usually
clavate, filiform or
plumose
Mouthparts siphoning
Complete
metamorphosis

Families of Lepidoptera

Papilionidae
Swallowtails
Most hindwings
extended into tail-like
extension
Large
Variable color
Find on flowers
anywhere

Families of Lepidoptera

Pieridae
Sulfurs, whites and
orangetips
Medium
Usually yellow, orange
or white with some dark
markings
Tarsal claws forked
Found around flowers

Families of Lepidoptera

Danaidae
Milkweed butterflies
Large
Front legs greatly
reduced
Wings usually orange
or brownish with black
and white markings
Find near milkweed

Families of Lepidoptera

Saturniidae
Giant Silkworm Moths
Medium to large
Wings typically with eye
spot or clear area
Antennae plumose
Body usually hairy
Found at bright lights
near woods at night

Order Siphonaptera

Fleas
Small
Apterous
Compressed laterally
Antennae short
Compound eyes
present or absent
No ocelli

Order Siphonaptera

Coxae large and long

Tarsi with 5 segments
Piercing/sucking mouthparts
Complete metamorphosis
Find on dogs, cats and
other mammals.
Store in alcohol or mount on
a slide
Be careful, they jump fast

Order Mecoptera

Scorpionflies
Head extended downward
giving a long, horse-like
appearance
Tip of abdomen may be
bulbous resembling a scorpion
sting
4 wings typically present
Antennae thread-like
Chewing mouth at tip of face
COMPLETE metamorphosis

Order Strepsiptera

Twisted wing parasite

Parasite on wasps
Small
Extreme sexual
dimorphism
Males with wings
Females without wings
Complete
metamorphosis

Order Diptera

Flies
One pair of wings
Antennae variable
Sucking, sponging or
piercing/sucking
mouthparts
Complete
metamorphosis
Can be caught
anywhere

Families of Diptera

Culicidae
Mosquitoes
Scales on veins of
wings
Wings long and narrow
Piercing/sucking
mouthparts
Females can be found
feeding on mammals

Families of Diptera

Tabanidae
Horse flies or deer flies
Medium to large
When alive eyes
appear striped
Bladelike mouth
3rd antennal segment
ringed
Found near horses or
other large livestock

Families of Diptera

Calliphoridea
Blow flies or bottle flies
Antennae plumose
Body often metallic
Frontal suture present
Found near dead
creatures or poop

Families of Diptera

Muscidae
House flies
Thorax often striped
Frontal suture present
These are the flies you
often find in homes