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Idaho Master Gardener Handbook Chapter 10

Chapter Ten of the Idaho Master Gardener Handbook provides an overview of basic entomology, including insect anatomy, development, classification, and major orders of insects. It highlights the ecological roles of insects, distinguishing between beneficial and harmful species, and emphasizes the importance of accurate insect identification for effective pest management. The chapter also details various insect orders, such as Coleoptera and Lepidoptera, along with their characteristics and significance.

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15 views12 pages

Idaho Master Gardener Handbook Chapter 10

Chapter Ten of the Idaho Master Gardener Handbook provides an overview of basic entomology, including insect anatomy, development, classification, and major orders of insects. It highlights the ecological roles of insects, distinguishing between beneficial and harmful species, and emphasizes the importance of accurate insect identification for effective pest management. The chapter also details various insect orders, such as Coleoptera and Lepidoptera, along with their characteristics and significance.

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CHAPTER TEN

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

• Learn the development stages • Learn about the other insect-


of insects like creatures in the garden

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

Insect Anatomy metamorphosis.

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

CHAPTER 10: BASIC ENTOMOLOGY IDAHO MASTER GARDENER HANDBOOK • 10-2


often hear the phrase “keying out.” This simply Although this manner of separation is somewhat help-
means identifying the insect. ful for identification, its greatest value is in determin-
• Insects are also classified by the type of ing if a certain kind of pesticide will work. For exam-
damage they cause. Some examples include ple, systemic insecticides “generally” do not work as
“root maggot,” “twig girdler,” or “crown borer.” well on chewing insects as on sucking insects.
Destructive insect activities help narrow down Proper identification is extremely important.
the multitude of possible identities and often If a beneficial insect or a nondamaging insect
make insect identification quicker and simpler. is improperly identified as a pest, a pesticide
• Some insects can be categorized as predators or application will usually disrupt a natural control
parasites. Predators and parasites account for agent. The disruption of this beneficial’s activity may
much of the reduction of pest insect populations induce the need for the chemical. Chances are you
in nature, and, for this reason, are also called may have made an application that did no more for
beneficials. you than cost you money.

Beneficials can be useful, but they usually need


some cultural encouragement. Their use requires NOTE
careful crop management and a degree of Do not make recommendations based on the
tolerance for some crop loss. verbal description of a pest by a client. Too many
misidentifications are made this way leading to
1. Predators kill and feed on their prey; they are
ineffective control measures and unnecessary
generally larger than their prey.
expense or problems. Insist on seeing the pest, or at
2. Parasites are usually smaller and often weaker least its damage, before you volunteer anything.
than their prey; they gradually kill by injecting
eggs that develop on, within, or near the insect
over a period of time. They may sting and
Major Orders of Insects
paralyze their prey in order to stock their nests Major insect groupings under the class level are
with food for the developing larvae or eggs. called orders. Some representatives that you
The immature parasites will then consume the will see are beetles—Coleoptera; moths and
paralyzed insect at their leisure. butterflies—Lepidoptera; flies—Diptera; bees,
ants, wasps, hornets—Hymenoptera; true bugs,
• Another form of categorization is by feeding
such as stink bugs—Hemiptera; aphids, scales, and
mechanism or mouthpart. The broadest grouping
leafhoppers—Homoptera; grasshoppers, crickets,
is defined by chewing or sucking mouthparts
and cockroaches—Orthoptera; termites—Isoptera;
(Figure 3).
and earwigs—Dermaptera. There are many other
insect orders, but these are representatives of
CHEWING TYPE SUCKING TYPE economic importance.
Separating groups of insects may be quite difficult
unless you have closely studied examples of the
various types. It is important to recognize the struc-
tural characteristics that distinguish one insect from
another (see “Further Reading”). Use all of the char-
acteristics listed in Table 1 to distinguish each order.

BEETLES AND WEEVILS—COLEOPTERA


Some of the typical beetles that you may see are
long-horned beetles and flatheaded borers that
bore into trees, logs, and lumber. These beetles are
MANDIBLES SUCKING TUBE variable in color. Long-horned beetles usually have
long antennae and are strong fliers. Ladybugs are
Figure 3. Insect feeding mechanisms.

10-3 • IDAHO MASTER GARDENER HANDBOOK CHAPTER 10: BASIC ENTOMOLOGY


Table 1. Major order of insects.
Name of order Common examples Wings/mouthparts
Coleoptera Beetles, weevils 2 pairs wings or wingless; chewing

2 pairs wings; chewing (larvae), sucking, or siphoning


Lepidoptera Moths, butterflies
(adults)

1 pair wings; chewing (larvae), piercing-sucking, or


Diptera Mosquitoes, flies, and gnats
sponging (adults)

Hymenoptera Wasps, bees, ants, and sawflies 2 pairs wings or wingless; chewing

Hemiptera Bedbugs, stink bugs, and cinch bugs 2 pairs wings; piercing-sucking

Homoptera Aphids, leafhoppers, scales, mealybugs 2 pairs wings or wingless; piercing-sucking

Orthoptera Grasshoppers, crickets, and cockroaches 2 pairs wings or wingless; chewing

Isoptera Termites 2 pairs wings or wingless; chewing

Dermaptera Earwigs 2 pairs wings or wingless; chewing

Thysanura Silverfish, firebrats Wingless; chewing

Thysanoptera Thrips 2 pairs wings or wingless; rasping-sucking

Collembola Springtails Wingless; chewing

Psocoptera Barklice, booklice 2 pairs wings or wingless; chewing

Mallophaga Chewing lice Wingless; chewing

Anoplura Sucking lice 2 pairs wings or wingless; piercing-sucking

Siphonaptera Fleas Wingless; chewing (larvae), piercing-sucking (adults)

about 1/4-inch long and are usually red or orange,


generally with spots. They are beneficial as larvae NOTE
and adults, since they feed on aphids and other soft- Weevil larvae lack legs on the thorax.
bodied insect and mite pests. Some other common
beetles are the pea weevil, an important pest of peas, 6. Both beetles and weevils go through a complete
and click beetles, whose larvae are known to some of metamorphosis as shown in Figure 4.
you as wireworms.
7. Some authorities consider beetles to be the
1. Adults have a hardened, horny outer skeleton. largest group or order of insects in nature.
2. Adults have two pairs of wings; the outer pair is
MOTHS AND BUTTERFLIES—
hardened and the inner pair membranous.
LEPIDOPTERA
The moth and butterfly group has several damaging
NOTE members. Cutworms damage many crops. For
A few beetles are practically wingless and some example, corn earworm larvae, which are greenish
have only an outer hard pair of wings. or tannish with some stripes and about 1 1/4-inch long
when fully grown, cause severe damage to corn and
3. Beetles have chewing mouthparts. attack a variety of vegetables. Alfalfa, celery, and
4. Adults usually develop noticeable antennae. cabbage loopers have injurious larvae. They are often
known as measuring worms because of their looping
5. Coleoptera larvae have a head capsule and three
action, which gives the impression that they are
pairs of legs on the abdomen.
measuring the plant on which they are feeding.

CHAPTER 10: BASIC ENTOMOLOGY IDAHO MASTER GARDENER HANDBOOK • 10-4


Figure 4. Metamorphosis of a beetle. Figure 5. Metamorphosis of a moth.

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.

10-5 • IDAHO MASTER GARDENER HANDBOOK CHAPTER 10: BASIC ENTOMOLOGY


Figure 6. Metamorphosis of a fly. Figure 7. Metamorphosis of an ant.

Yellowjackets wings. It feeds primarily on box elder and can invade


The adults have black and yellow markings. They homes in early summer or fall.
build nests in the ground or papery structures on Lygus Bug
trees or under eaves. Their stings are painful and These bugs are greenish or brownish black and
dangerous if you are allergic to them. Many species occasionally yellowish or gray; they are rather slim
are beneficial predators. plant bugs about 1/4-inch long. The head is blotched
Leaf-Cutting Bees with black. They are probably the most injurious bugs
These are small- to medium-sized bees, variable in of seed crops in the United States.
color. They are noted for their long tongues. One 1. The adults have two pairs of wings; the second
species is an excellent alfalfa pollinator. Leaf-cutters pair is membranous, the first pair is membranous
may defoliate some trees and shrubs. and thickened on the basal half. The nymphs are
Common Ants not fully formed and are called “wing pads.”
Several ants, such as carpenter ants and house ants 2. Adults and nymphs usually resemble one
(including the pavement ant and odorous house ant), another.
are in this group. Many are beneficial predators or
3. True bugs have piercing-sucking mouthparts.
decomposers.
4. Adults and nymphs both are damaging stages.
1. The adults have two pairs of membranous wings.
5. True bugs have a gradual metamorphosis (Figure
2. The adults generally have chewing mouthparts.
8). The stages are egg, nymph, and adult.
3. The adults are rather soft-bodied or have slightly
hardened bodies. APHIDS, SCALES, LEAFHOPPERS,
CICADAS—HOMOPTERA
4. The larvae have no legs (wasps, bees, ants)
Aphid
or have legs on the thorax and the abdomen
There are many types, sizes, and shapes of aphids.
(some sawflies).
The giant willow aphid is a large, black species. The
5 Hymenoptera undergo complete metamorphosis pea aphid is a rather large, green species found
as shown in Figure 7. on alfalfa, peas, clover, sweet clover, and other
herbaceous legumes. It may also be pinkish in color.
TRUE BUGS—HEMIPTERA
Several species of aphids attack vegetable and tree
Consperse Stink Bug crops, including the green peach aphid, which carries
A gray or brownish plant bug that is shield shaped.
the leaf roll virus of potatoes and sugar beets. The
The stink bug feeds on many fruits and vegetables.
rose aphid, both green and brown forms, are found on
Box-Elder Bug many ornamentals. Apple aphids and green, rosy, and
This bug is gray brown to black with red lines on the woolly aphids all cause severe damage to apples.
undersurface and on the lower portion of the outer

CHAPTER 10: BASIC ENTOMOLOGY IDAHO MASTER GARDENER HANDBOOK • 10-6


Scales the second pair of wings are membranous with an
Scale insects are usually quite small and are usually extensive folded area.
circular or football shaped. During most of their 3. Adults and nymphs have chewing mouthparts
life cycle, they are protected by a hardened scale and are damaging.
covering. San Jose scale is a pest of many fruit
4. The hind legs of forms other than cockroaches
trees and ornamentals. Oyster shell scale is a brown
and walking sticks are enlarged for jumping.
cornucopia-shaped scale (horn of plenty) found on
ornamental trees and shrubs. Lecanium scale is a 5. Immature stages are called nymphs and, except
large, brown, hemispherical-shaped scale found on for being wingless, resemble adults.
trees and woody plants of several types. 6. Orthopterans have a simple metamorphosis as
1. These insects are generally small and soft- shown in Figure 10.
bodied, though cicadas are larger and hard-
TERMITES—ISOPTERA
bodied.
Injurious termites are generally placed in two groups:
2. Members may be winged or wingless. the dampwood and subterranean types. Both feed on
3. All stages have sucking mouthparts. wood and wood products. The dampwood types are
usually not primary feeders on sound wood in build-
4. Many members are carriers of plant pathogens.
ings, while the subterranean types are found in large
5. Homopterans have a gradual metamorphosis as numbers in sound structures where they may do con-
the aphid in Figure 9. siderable damage if not detected early and controlled
quickly. Colonies of the subterranean type must have a
GRASSHOPPERS, CRICKETS,
connection with soil to obtain moisture.
COCKROACHES, CAMEL CRICKETS—
ORTHOPTERA 1. These are so-called white ants.
Some examples of grasshoppers and their allies 2. Termites are distinguished from true ants by
are migratory and two-striped grasshoppers and their thick “waists” and their white or light brown
the red-legged grasshopper. These are damaging color.
pests of crops and rangeland. The camel cricket, the
3. Termites have thin, straight antennae; ants have
Jerusalem cricket, and the German roach are also
elbowed antennae.
commonly encountered. Crickets also can damage
crops. The German cockroach is a metropolitan pest. 4. Termites have chewing mouthparts.

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.

Figure 8. Metamorphosis of a bug. Figure 9. Metamorphosis of an aphid.

10-7 • IDAHO MASTER GARDENER HANDBOOK CHAPTER 10: BASIC ENTOMOLOGY


EARWIGS—DERMAPTERA
The European earwig is our only species of earwig. It
is occasionally a pest of gardens, ornamentals, small
trees, and houses throughout the state of Idaho, but
it may also be beneficial since it often preys upon
other insects.
1. Adults are moderately sized.
2. They have chewing mouthparts.
3. Earwigs are elongated, flattened, and have
strong, movable forceps on the rear end. Figure 11. Metamorphosis of a termites.

4. They have short, hardened outer wings and cover


folded, membranous inner wings. SPRINGTAILS—COLLEMBOLA
5. Earwigs have a gradual metamorphosis 1. Springtails are minute insects with chewing or
(Figure 12). piercing mouthparts.
2. They possess an appendage on their ventral
THRIPS—THYSANOPTERA
(under) side; it operates as a spring to aid the
1. Thrips are small with sucking mouthparts that
insect in quick escape.
are assisted by a single mandible that aids in
rasping the plant tissue. 3. These insects are abundant in moist areas,
hence the reference to “moving piles of soot” in
2. Wings may be present or absent. If present, they
backyards during the wetter seasons.
are long and narrow and fringed with long hairs.
4. They feed on decaying organic material primarily
3. Many feed on ornamentals and some on
but will on occasion attack plants, particularly in
vegetable crops such as peas and onions. Many
greenhouses.
are predators on other insects. A few species bite
humans. 5. Springtails undergo a gradual metamorphosis.

4. Thrips have a gradual metamorphosis. OTHER ORDERS


Many other insect orders are of no real concern
SILVERFISH AND FIREBRATS—
in the home garden. Some of the more common
THYSANURA
ones are stone flies—Plecoptera; caddis flies—
1. Group members have chewing mouthparts.
Trichoptera; dragonflies and damselflies—Odonata;
2. Thysanura is one of the few insect orders whose and mayflies— Ephemeroptera. These orders are all
members do not possess wings. associated with aquatic habitats.
3. These insects have bristles on the tip of the Some others you should be aware of include the
abdomen. nerve-winged insects—Neuroptera, many of
4. They are household pests and feed on such items which are beneficial predators; book- or barklice—
as paste, paper, and crumbs. Psocoptera, basically scavengers, but with some

5. They have a gradual metamorphosis.

Figure 10. Metamorphosis of a grasshopper. Figure 12. Metamorphosis of an earwig.

CHAPTER 10: BASIC ENTOMOLOGY IDAHO MASTER GARDENER HANDBOOK • 10-8


species that are stored-products pests; animal lice underside of the abdomen. Males and immature
and sucking lice—Anaplura; and chewing lice— females can have stripes of red, yellow, and black on
Mallophaga. the abdomen.
The hobo spider, sometimes called the aggressive
Other Insect-Like Creatures house spider. A common light brown spider that is
Several noninsect pests may be found in the field often found in basements. This spider has a painless
and home and include those listed in Table 2. bite, but sometimes the skin sloughs off in the bite
area.
SPIDER MITES, SPIDERS, TICKS, AND
SCORPIONS—ARACHNIDA The brown recluse spider. A poisonous spider which,
Spider Mites fortunately, does not occur in the Pacific Northwest,
These tiny, soft-bodied animals have two body yet is a potential threat. It is often confused with
regions, thick waists, four pairs of legs, and lack harmless wolf spiders and other hunting spiders.
antennae. Common species include the following: The brown recluse spider can be recognized easily
by a distinct, brown “fiddle case” on a light brown or
The two-spotted spider mite and its near relatives,
grayish background.
the Pacific, Atlantic, and McDaniel spider mites.
These mites have two spots on the back and have Ticks
tail-end spots in some species. They may be clear, Ticks resemble large mites and are important in
green, orange, or red. They are usually hard to agriculture and medicine. They are parasites of
observe without a hand lens. humans and animals.
European red mite. This mite is carmine red with MILLIPEDES—DIPLOPODA
white spines. Millipedes are generally inoffensive creatures that
Brown mite and the clover mite. These mites are feed on fungi and decaying plant material. At times,
brownish or grayish, flat, and have very long front they can be fairly destructive to vegetables or other
legs. plants in greenhouses. They are elongate inverte-
brates with two visible body regions: a head and a
Spiders
body. They generally are rounded in cross section.
Spiders resemble mites except that most are larger
With the exception of the first four or five segments,
and the two body regions are more clearly distinct
all of the body segments possess two pairs of legs.
from one another (thin waist). Most spiders are
They are relatively slow moving.
beneficial predators. Common pest species include
Black widow spider. Shy and likes dank, dark places. CENTIPEDES—CHILOPODA
This spider spins a characteristically messy web. It Centipedes strongly resemble millipedes. They are
is normally a shiny black, moderately sized spider different in that they have longer antennae, are
with a reddish or orange hourglass marking on the flattened in cross section, have only one pair of legs

Table 2. Noninsect pests.


Class Example Description
4 pairs legs; 2 body regions—cephalothorax and abdomen; no antennae;
Arachnida Spiders, ticks, mites, scorpions
chewing or sucking mouthparts

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

2 pairs of legs per apparent body segment; 1 pair of antennae; 2 body


Diplopoda Milipedes
regions—head, trunk; body rounded; chewing mouthparts; slow moving

1 pair of legs per body segment; 1 pair of antennae; 2 body regions—head


Crustacea Sow bugs, pill bugs
and trunk; chewing mouthparts; roll into ball when disturbed

Symphyla Symphylan, garden centipedes 11 or 12 pairs of short legs; centipede-like animals

10-9 • IDAHO MASTER GARDENER HANDBOOK CHAPTER 10: BASIC ENTOMOLOGY


on each body segment, and move rapidly. They are
beneficial because they prey on other arthropods.

SOW BUGS AND PILL BUGS—


CRUSTACEA
Sow bugs are highly dependent on moisture,
which accounts for their common association with
damp habitats. Generally, they feed on decaying
plant material, but they will attack young plants in
greenhouses and gardens. They are oval with a hard
convex outer shell made up of a number of plates.

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

Chapter 10 published 1993.

CHAPTER 10: BASIC ENTOMOLOGY IDAHO MASTER GARDENER HANDBOOK • 10-10

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