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Introduction to Insects Introduction to Insects

Entomology Training Entomology Training
for for
Master Gardeners Master Gardeners
The Insects The Insects
Fossil records indicate insects on land more
than 300 million years ago
Insects are from an ancient lineage that included trilobites
and other arthropods which were abundant in the oceans
over 500 million years ago.
but we are surrounded by
other arthropods.
Trilobites are extinct...
Insects are in the phylum Arthropoda Arthropoda
(jointed leg) (jointed leg)
The phylum is divided into 6 smaller groups called
classes:
4Crustacea (crabs, lobsters, shrimps)
4Chilopoda (centipedes) Chilopoda (centipedes)
4Diplopoda (millipedes)
4Symphyla (symphylans)
4Arachnida (spiders, mites)
4Insecta (insects)
All arthropods share the following
characteristics:
1) Arthropods have a segmented body
2) All arthropods have paired, jointed legs
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3) All arthropods have a chitinous exoskeleton
(which is periodically shed and renewed as the animal grows)
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Department of Entomology, Leon Higley
4) All arthropods have a digestive system
(tube that runs from head to tail)
5) All arthropods have an open circulatory system,
no veins, arteries etc. Blood is held in a dorsal tubular structure
with lateral openings in the abdomen.
6) All arthropods have a ventral nervous systemwhich consists
of a tiny brain, paired nerve cords which extend from the brain
backward, and nerve centers called ganglia.
7) All arthropods breathe by means of gills, or tracheae and spiracles.
8) Separate sexes (nearly always)
The Class Crustacea (lobster, shrimp, crab, pillbugs,
etc.) have two pairs of antennae and at least five pairs
of legs.
Yummy!
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The classes Chilopoda, Diplopoda, and Symphyla
(centipedes, millipedes, etc.) have antennae,
many legs and only two body regions.
They add segments as they molt.
The class Arachnida have 8 legs and no antennae.
They are in a group of Arthropods that diverged from
the insects in the mid-paleozoic.
The Class Insecta The Class Insecta
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
(Class: Arachnida)
At least half (50% At least half (50%- -80% [?]) of the animal species 80% [?]) of the animal species
currently occupying the earth are insects currently occupying the earth are insects
(approximately 1.5 million different animal species) (approximately 1.5 million different animal species)
More than 1 million species of More than 1 million species of
insects world insects world- -wide wide
Over 13,000 species of Over 13,000 species of
insects known from Florida insects known from Florida
New species appear almost daily due to New species appear almost daily due to
shipments of plants and other materials shipments of plants and other materials
into Florida from abroad into Florida from abroad
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Less than 1% Less than 1%
Considered Considered
to be pests to be pests
Of all insect species in the world Of all insect species in the world
Beneficial or just co-exist
(> 99%)
Relation of insects to humans: Relation of insects to humans:
1. Beneficial: Pollination, break down
raw materials, aerate soil, bio-control of
weeds and bad bugs, food for many
animals, medical uses.
2. Aesthetic Value: Butterflies
3. Injurious: Feed on plants, stored foods,
woods, fabrics, humans, and animals
The Insects The Insects
1. Three, usually distinct body regions
(head, thorax, and abdomen)
2. One pair of segmented antennae
3. Usually have one pair of compound eyes
4. Three pairs of legs
5. Two pair of wings usually (some have only
one pair (i.e., flies) or no wings at all).
The Head. Functions mainly for feeding and
sensory perception.
The Thorax. Responsible for locomotion.
Made up of 3 segments. A pair of legs arise
from each segment. Wings, if present, arise from
2nd and 3rd segment.
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The Abdomen is responsible for excretion and reproduction.
Growth and Development
Metamorphosis - The process of change from egg to adult.
Incomplete or gradual metamorphosis. Baby insects
(nymphs) look similar to adults (grasshoppers, aphids,
cockroaches). Growth occurs through molting.
Complete metamorphosis. Larvae look nothing like adults.
The larvae pass through a pupal stage to change into the
adult form (wasps, beetles, moths, butterflies, flies).
How Insects Feed How Insects Feed
Insects can be separated by the type Insects can be separated by the type
of mouthparts they possess which of mouthparts they possess which of mouthparts they possess which of mouthparts they possess which
dictates the type of damage they do. dictates the type of damage they do.
Most common type Most common type
of mouthpart is of mouthpart is of mouthpart is of mouthpart is
chewing chewing..
Tear off pieces of Tear off pieces of
tissue and eat it. tissue and eat it.
Plant damage caused by Plant damage caused by
pests with chewing mouthparts pests with chewing mouthparts
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Skeletonizing: Skeletonizing:
Damage caused by immature chewing insects
Immature beetles
Another common type of mouthpart is Another common type of mouthpart is
piercing/sucking piercing/sucking
(This is a
good bug)
Plant damage caused by Plant damage caused by
pests with piercing/sucking mouthparts pests with piercing/sucking mouthparts
Crinkled, distorted
leaves
Stippling
Activity Time! Activity Time!
Divide into small groups
Choose a category (citrus, lawns, etc.)
Use the Common Pests handout and your Use the Common Pests handout and your
MG Notebooks
Identify the mouthparts (feeding damage)
of this list of pests
Some common pests Florida Some common pests Florida
Master Gardeners should Master Gardeners should
know know
and the beneficial critters and the beneficial critters
that help you manage them that help you manage them
Whiteflies Whiteflies Bad insects Bad insects
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A few good bugs that eat whiteflies A few good bugs that eat whiteflies
Big-eyed Bugs
Minute Pirate Bug
Orange Dog Caterpillar Orange Dog Caterpillar Bad insect? Bad insect?
Aphids Aphids
Some Things Some Things
That Eat That Eat
Aphids Aphids
(Good Insects) (Good Insects)
Lady Beetles- eggs Lady Beetles- eggs,
adult, pupae, and
larvae
Lacewing - eggs and adult
Lacewing larvae
Aphid Mummies Aphid Mummies
Parasitic Wasps
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Mole Crickets Mole Crickets
Mole Cricket Damage Mole Cricket Damage
Tropical Sod Webworm Tropical Sod Webworm
Chinch Bugs Chinch Bugs
Earwig
Enemies of Lawn Pests Enemies of Lawn Pests Rove Beetles
Big-eyed Bug
Stinkbugs Stinkbugs
N i h Note spines on thorax
Green Stinkbug - Bad
Predatory Stinkbug - Good
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Corn Earworm/Tomato Fruitworm Corn Earworm/Tomato Fruitworm
Predaceo s B g
Parasitic wasps
Predaceous Bug
Leafminers Leafminers Feed Feed within within the leaf the leaf
Serpentine Leaf Miner
Citrus Leaf Miner
Lacebugs Lacebugs
(Note: Black dots of excrement on
leaf undersides)
Southern Pine Beetle Tree boring Beetle
Leaf-eating Beetles
Thrips Thrips
Rasping Rasping- -sucking sucking
mouthpart mouthpart
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Mealybugs Mealybugs
UF - IFAS
Two Two- -spotted spotted
Spider Mite Spider Mite
Spider-Mite Webbing
UF - IFAS
Predatory Mite (eats bad mites) Predatory Mite (eats bad mites)
Scale Insects Scale Insects
Armored Scales: Florida Red Scale Armored Scales: Florida Red Scale
UF, IFAS
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Asian Cycad Scale Asian Cycad Scale
Soft Scale: Green Scale Soft Scale: Green Scale
UF - IFAS
Sooty Mold
Scale predators Scale predators
and parasites and parasites
Lad Beetle Species Lad Beetle Species Lady Beetle Species Lady Beetle Species
Parasitic Wasps Parasitic Wasps
Adapted by Jim Price from:
Author: Tom Weissling, University of Florida
Photos: University of Florida
University of Nebraska
University of California
Entomology And Nematology Department
Copyright University of Florida 2000
For more detailed information see the Featured
Creatures WWW site at
http://www.ifas.ufl.edu/~insect/