Idaho Master Gardener Handbook Chapter 10
Idaho Master Gardener Handbook Chapter 10
BASIC ENTOMOLOGY
Vickie J. Parker-Clark Contents
Former District I Extension
INTRODUCTION......................................................................... 1
Director, Coeur d’Alene
INSECT ANATOMY................................................................... 2
INSECT DEVELOPMENT.......................................................... 2
INSECT CLASSIFICATION...................................................... 2
MAJOR ORDERS OF INSECTS................................................ 3
Beetles and Weevils—Coleoptera
Moths and Butterflies—Lepidoptera
Flies, Mosquitoes, Gnats, Midges—Diptera
Bees, Wasps, Ants, Sawflies, etc.—Hymenoptera
True Bugs—Hemiptera
Aphids, Scales, Leafhoppers, Cicadas—Homoptera
Grasshoppers, Crickets, Cockroaches, Camel Crickets—Orthoptera
Termites—Isoptera
Earwigs—Dermaptera
Thrips—Thysanoptera
Silverfish and Firebrats—Thysanura
Springtails—Collembola
Other Orders
OTHER INSECT-LIKE CREATURES........................................ 9
Spider Mites, Spiders, Ticks, and Scorpions—Arachnida
Millipedes—Diplopoda
Centipedes—Chilopoda
Sow bugs and Pill bugs—Crustacea
Garden Centipede or Symphylan— Symphyla
FURTHER READING............................................................... 10
10
BASIC
ENTOMOLOGY
Learning Objectives
• Learn the basics of entomology • Learn the classification of
• Gain an understanding of basic insects and how to identify the
insect anatomy major orders
Introduction
The animal kingdom contains many distinct groups called phyla. Each phylum is
divided into a number of classes. The insects are in the class Insecta (subphylum
Hexapoda—“six feet”) within the phylum Arthropoda (jointed foot). The insect class is
further divided into orders, families, genera and, finally, species.
Approximately 1 million species of insects have been identified. The greatest numbers
of these species belong to the beetle, fly, and wasp-bee-ant groups. We generally
associate insects with crop loss or disease transmission; however, insects fulfill a
useful function in our environment.
Only a small percentage of insects are considered pests of humans and of their
animals, crops, or fiber. However, this small number can cause serious crop losses or
transmit serious diseases to humans or animals.
Most insects appear to be beneficial or harmless. Many are predators, such as
ladybugs, which live by feeding on pestiferous aphids. Others are parasitic, such as
wasps. Still others, such as honeybees, act as pollinators of crops and also provide us
with honey. Many insects are responsible for the decomposition of plant and animal
matter. A good example is the carpenter ant. Obviously, when it attacks the timber of
our home it is a pest; however, when it is in the forest mining the wood of old, fallen
trees, it is part of nature’s recycling program.
Size is quite variable throughout the insect world. COMPLETE GRADUAL OR INCOMPLETE
The extremes include tiny wasps that are less than a METAMORPHOSIS METAMORPHOSIS
millimeter long and some of the larger long-horned
beetles that are as much as 6 inches long.
Except for a few common structural features, insects
are also variable in appearance. Some have bizarre
horns and spines, while others may resemble dead
leaves. Some insects are quite attractive like the
butterfly, but “beautiful” is hardly the word for a
cockroach.
All of this makes insects a fascinating group to
investigate, but it also makes the study of insects and Figure 2. Metamorphosis stages in insects.
their classification somewhat complex. It is important
to learn the main differences among insects so that
Insect Development
we can distinguish one group from another. Then
All insects change during growth by a process called
we can suggest adequate control procedures and
metamorphosis (Figure 2). Insect near-relatives
provide quality management suggestions.
such as spiders, mites, and centipedes also undergo
Insects are animals, however, unlike many animals, The more highly developed insects make the most
they have no backbones. They have an outer complete changes. Beetles, moths, butterflies,
skeleton (exoskeleton) instead of the inner skeleton wasps, and ants all go through four stages. These are
(endoskeleton) of most large animals. The following the egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The larva is usually
characteristics separate insects from other animals the damaging stage, although adult feeding can be
(Figure 1): destructive. Also, it is not unusual for the larval and
adult stages of a species to feed on different hosts or
• Insects have three body regions—head, thorax,
different parts of the host. The pupa is a nonfeeding
and abdomen.
stage; in most cases it is also very inactive.
• Many adult insects have wings and insects are
The lower forms or less-developed kinds of insects
the only flying invertebrates.
change only slightly during metamorphosis. True
• Adults possess three pairs of legs, all located on bugs, aphids, grasshoppers, termites, earwigs, stone
the thorax. flies, etc., go through only three stages. These stages
are the egg, nymph, and adult. Except for size, the
nymph and adult closely resemble each other. The
major difference is the lack of fully formed wings in
THORAX the nymph. The nymph and adult generally feed on
WINGS
the same host or host parts.
HEAD
Insect Classification
There are several methods of separating or
ABDOMEN
categorizing insects.
• The professional uses body parts for
identification and observes differences in these
MOUTHPARTS
ANTENNA parts through a microscope. He or she tracks
down an insect’s identity by using a written insect
LEGS “key.” The anatomy of an insect will place it into
a specific insect group called an order. If you are
Figure 1. Parts of an insect. around entomological activities much, you will
Hymenoptera Wasps, bees, ants, and sawflies 2 pairs wings or wingless; chewing
Hemiptera Bedbugs, stink bugs, and cinch bugs 2 pairs wings; piercing-sucking
Another Lepidoteran is the codling moth, which disease vectors, such as mosquitoes or deerflies.
damages apples. The peach twig borer is a severe Vectors can transmit such diseases as malaria.
pest of peaches, prunes, plums, and apricots. Mosquitoes are small, slender, long-legged, frail flies.
1. Adults are soft-bodied with four well-developed, The larvae are elongate and live in water. The adult
membranous wings covered with small scales. female is the injurious stage. She feeds by sucking
2. Adult mouthparts consist of a coiled, sucking human and livestock blood by piercing the skin with
tube; adults feed on nectar and other liquids. her long stiletto-like mouthparts.
3. The larvae are caterpillars that are worm-like and 1. Adults have only one pair of wings and are rather
variable in color; they are voracious feeders. soft-bodied and hairy.
4. The larvae have chewing mouthparts. 2. Adults have sponging (housefly) or piercing
(mosquito) mouthparts.
5. The larvae have true legs on the thorax and a
variable number of prolegs on the abdomen. 3. Diptera larvae may have mouth hooks or chewing
mouthparts.
6. Lepidopterans undergo complete metamorphosis
as shown in Figure 5. 4. Most larvae are legless.
5. The larvae of advanced forms, such as the
FLIES, MOSQUITOES, GNATS, housefly and relatives, have no head capsule,
MIDGES—DIPTERA possess mouth hooks, and are called maggots.
Flies are an important group in terms of their medical
Lower forms such as mosquito larvae and
effects on humans and animals. Some, such as bot-
relatives have a head capsule.
flies, are parasites as immatures on mammals. Some
flies, such as the face fly, disrupt or annoy livestock, 6. Diptera undergo complete metamorphosis as
causing the cows or other animals to stop feeding. shown in Figure 6.
Fly maggots or larvae are generally found in manure BEES, WASPS, ANTS, SAWFLIES, ETC.—
or other decaying matter. The flies most commonly HYMENOPTERA
encountered are the housefly, the lesser housefly, This group is a large one. Many of its members are
and the face fly. The grayish adults infest homes, important pollinators of agricultural crops, such as
poultry houses, and livestock. The housefly has been the honeybee, leafcutter bee, and alkali bee. Some
suspected of mechanically transmitting such diseas- are important predators, parasites, and scavengers;
es as polio to food surfaces. others are injurious to humans and their crops.
Commercial agricultural insect pests in this order
Pear Slug
include the cherry fruit fly, walnut husk fly, onion and
The adult is black with yellow markings. The larva is
cabbage maggot, and carrot rust fly. Others are often
small, slug-like, and feeds on leaves of pear, cherry,
and plum.
1. Adults are moderate to large and are often rather 5. They possess many forms or castes such a
hard-bodied. worker, soldier, and queen.
2. Adults usually have two pairs of wings. The 6. Termites have a gradual metamorphosis as
forewings are elongated, narrow, and leathery; shown in Figure 11.
15 or more pairs of legs with only 1 pair of legs per body segment; 1 pair
Chilopoda Centipedes of antennae; 2 body regions—head and trunk; body flattened; chewing
mouthparts; fast moving
GARDEN CENTIPEDE OR
SYMPHYLAN— SYMPHYLA
Members of this group resemble tiny centipedes.
Generally, they are a pest of vegetables and found in
damp soils rich in organic matter.
Further Reading
CDS, BOOKLETS, AND PAMPHLETS
University of Idaho Extension
PNW 550 Encouraging Beneficial Insects in Your
Garden