An Introduction to Backyard Bugs Joshua Huckabee
A Brief Introduction to Entomology What is entomology? Entomology is the study of insects; however, in the informal sense, the term can be used to apply to arachnids, myriapods and other terrestrial arthropods.
Why Study Entomology? The study of entomology is VERY important to humans! Entomology is useful for: Farming and Gardening Medicine Understanding Ecosystems Forensics Military Fun! Many other reasons
Ian Wright
The Basics: Taxonomy Human taxonomy: Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Mammalia Order Primate Family Hominidae Genus Homo Species sapiens
The basics: Taxonomy Kingdom Plantae Division (in plants we use division instead of phylum) Tracheophyta Class Magnoliopsida Order - Solanales Family Solanaceae Genus Datura Species wrightii
The basics: Taxonomy Kingdom Animalia Phylum Arthropoda Class Insecta Order Lepidoptera Family Nymphalidae Subfamily - Daninae Genus Danaus Species - plexippus
What Are Insects? Insects are animals belonging to the Class Insecta Insect comes from the Latin word insectum, which means cut into sections Insects have compound eyes Insects have six legs Most insects have one to two sets of wings
The Basics: Diversity Insects are found on every continent (yes, including Antarctica) and in every imaginable habitat. There are approximately 30 orders of insects and about 1,000,000 described species. There are an estimated 10 quintillion (10,000,000,000,000,000,000) roaming the Earth right now!
http://masters.agron.iastate.edu/
The Orders: Coleoptera The largest insect order (ca. 400,000 species) Characterized by hard wing coverings called elytra Exhibit complete metamorphosis Are extremely diverse
Family: Carabidae Local Beetles Fiery Searcher (Calosoma scrutator )
Local Beetles Family: Scarabaeidae Subfamily: Cetoniinae Figeater (Cotinis mutabilis)
The Orders: Lepidoptera Second largest order (ca. 180,000 species) Includes both moths and butterflies Characterized by their scaly wings Exhibit complete metamorphosis Many larvae require very specific diets
Gary Saunders robertthompsonphotography.com
Local Moths Family: Sphingidae White-lined sphinx moth (Hyles lineata) Host Plants: Four o clocks, grape, tomato C.D. Barrentine Craig Morgan
Local Moths Family: Erebidae Subfamily: Arctiinae Giant Leopard Moth (Hypercompe scribonia) Dennis Totin Jeff Trahan
Family: Saturniidae Local moths Polyphemus Moth (Antheraea polyphemus)
Local Butterflies Family: Papilionidae Subfamily: Papilioninae Swallowtail butterflies (Papilio)
Tom Murray M. McCarty
P. rumiko Victor Engle P. cresophontes M.J. Hatfield
The Orders: Hymenoptera Third largest order (ca. 150,000 species) Includes bees, wasps, ants and related families Characterized by membranous wings Exhibit complete metamorphosis
Family: Braconidae Cotesia congregata Local Wasps Beatriz Moisset
Local Wasps Family: Crabronidae Eastern Cicada Killer (Sphecius speciosus)
Family Mutillidae Local Wasps Velvet ant (Dasymutilla sp.)
The Orders: Diptera True flies (ca. 120,000 species) Includes flies, gnats, mosquitos and midges Characterized by two wings and a pair of halteres Exhibit complete metamorphosis
Wikipedia.org
Local Flies Family: Syrphidae The Hoverflies
Ann Collins
Local Flies Family: Asilidae The Robber Flies Southern Bee Killer (Mallophora orcina) Greg Lasley
Ken Rosenthal
Local Flies Family: Tabanidae The Horse and Deer Flies
Arlo Pelegrin Ted Kropiewnicki
The Orders: Hemiptera True bugs (ca. 80,000 species) Divided into three suborders: Auchenorrhyncha, Heteroptera, & Sternorrhyncha Characterized by beak-like mouth parts (rostrum) Exhibit incomplete metamorphosis
Local True Bugs Family: Reduviidae The Assasin Bugs Wheel bug (Arilus cristatus) Micki Killoran John R. Maxwell
Local True Bugs Family: Coreidae Leaf-footed bugs (Leptoglossus sp.) Kelly McGough
whatsthatbug.com whatsthatbug.com
Minor Orders: Odonata Dragonflies and Damselflies (ca. 6,000 species) Have aquatic larvae and terrestrial adults EXCELLENT fliers! Exhibit an incomplete life cycle
Minor Orders: Neuroptera Includes lacewings, antlions, mantisflies and kin (ca. 6,000 species) Have two pairs of sinewy wings All predatory
Local Neuropterans Family: Chrysopidae Green Lacewings Tom Murray
Local Neuropterans Family: Mantispidae The Mantisflies
Suggested Reading A Field Guide to Common Texas Insects (Texas Monthly Fieldguide Series), Jackman and Drees A Field Guide to Insects: America North of Mexico, Borror and White Insects of Texas: A Practical Guide, Kattes Dragonflies and Damselflies of Texas, Abbott Bugguide.net