Welcome to the 4H Entomology Project! If you re interested in wildlife ---the outdoors? Have you ever thought of insects and their relatives? They are found almost everywhere in the world and occupy many niches Some are serious pests that affect our crops, livestock, pets, wild animals---and us, too, directly or indirectly, but others make life on Planet Earth work in some way You are in for a fascinating time with this project! Good luck! Enjoy!
-Learning Resources on This CD- Why Study Insects? 100 Common Insects of New Mexico by Richman, Sutherland & Oseto. 100 Common Arthropods of New Mexico for 4H Youth by Richman, Sutherland & Bundy. Page 2: Insect ID List for Reference Insects Rule the Planet! by Richman & Sutherland. Insect Collection & Curation.
100 Common Insects Manual Richman, Sutherland & Oseto. 2004. Circular 570---on NMSU Extension pubs website & on your CD -brief description of each type of insect -line drawings -keys -glossary
If a 4H member participates in a District or State Entomology Contest, a copy of Page 2 will be issued to each person. All of the answers needed in the competition are HERE. The code for each answer will be transcribed to an answer sheet read by a computer. Note: 4H Novices are responsible ONLY for the 50 arthropods marked with a *. Everyone else will learn all 100 arthropods. You can do it! Good luck! Enjoy! Famous Page 2
Series of 7 PowerPoint Programs Covering All 100 Arthropods 1) Basic Concepts Explained 2) Non-Insects 3) Orders Thysanura to Blattodea 4) Orders Hemiptera, Homoptera 5) Orders Neuroptera to Coleoptera 6) Orders Lepidoptera 7) Orders Diptera to Hymenoptera These will show at least one good photograph of each common arthropod. These programs can be used with your 100 Common Insects manual to find one or more useful distinguishing features for each arthropod. Helpful for learning, identification, preparation for competition.
Basic Entomology---Introductory Material What IS an Arthropod? The Classification Hierarchy-Overview Metamorphosis and Molting Mouthparts Photo: D.B. Richman, NMSU
What IS an Arthropod? Arthropod is derived from two Greek/Latin root words--- arthro- meaning jointed.and -pod or -poda ---meaning foot or leg Photo: D.B. Richman, NMSU Here, it refers to a member of a very large group of animals---the Phylum Arthropoda, the jointed foot animals
What IS an Arthropod? The Arthropods include well over 1 million species of animals distributed world wide; some estimates are for 30+ million species of insects alone! They are major components of our ecosystems & occupy many niches Arthropods literally are all around us---at home, at school, at work, at recreation sites---in the garden, on the farm and on the ranch Photo: D.B. Richman, NMSU
Features of the Phylum Arthropoda Paired, jointed legs Segmented bodies Bilateral symmetry (left side is a mirror image of the right side) Exoskeleton present; other body systems internal Grow by molting their exoskeletons Photo: D.B. Richman, NMSU
Kingdom Keeping Track of 1+ Million Arthropods: Classification ---The Hierarchy Phylum Class (more Inclusive) Order- Family (Family or Group Common Name) Genus (you may see these as examples Species (more specific) These are 3 elements of Arthropod Classification that you will learn for each arthropod; you ll also learn the types of mouthparts & metamorphosis that these arthropods have as adults.
Phylum Arthropoda is Divided into Classes: Common Classes* include: Insecta---insects Arachnida---mites and ticks, spiders, others Crustacea---sowbugs; (crab, shrimp, lobster, krill, others have been included in this group, FYI) Diplopoda---millipedes Chilopoda ---centipedes *These are the 5 classes you will learn---see Page 2 & also Part 2 of this Series.
After a Few More Basics We will introduce you to each of these classes and show you common examples In the Class Insecta---especially---you ll learn more taxa such as Orders and members of these Orders. You will be learning the Common Names of Families or unique members of some families For identification quizzes---you will be responsible for identifying the adult stages only Photo: D.B. Richman, NMSU
Arthropod Classification Incorporates Metamorphosis & Mouthpart Types* (as well as other criteria) You will learn the types of metamorphosis and mouthparts associated with each of the 100 arthropods We will simplify these for 4H students. Those who study arthropods in greater detail will learn additional categories of metamorphosis and mouthparts. They differ in fine details.
Metamorphosis Means change in form during development Arthropods do not grow up in the same way that humans and other vertebrates do; instead, they go through definite step-wise changes separated by molts---adding and modifying organs and tissues and often changing in appearance as they grow larger and mature. The arthropod exoskeleton is both a liability and an asset for these animals (discuss how). Molting is the complex physiological process of periodically replacing the old exoskeleton with a new one, permitting both increase in size and advanced development. Leafhopper molting from nymph to adult stage. Photos: Univ. Florida, IFAS, Ent. & Nem. Dept. Note: Insects DO NOT molt again after becoming adults. Members of other arthropod classes may continue to molt as adults.
None We Will Recognize 3 Types of Metamorphosis Simple Complete Diagrams and pictures will follow
No Metamorphosis e.g.order Thysanura,Silverfish No Metamorphosis ---other than getting larger, minimal changes in appearance occur between the hatchling and adult stage. Adults are always wingless. Immatures & adults often occur in the same habitats, eat the same foods, behave similarly (egg series of immatures adult)
Simple Metamorphosis Bugs, Termites, Cockroaches, Earwigs, Grasshoppers, Others Egg III Wing Pad I Nymphs V II IV Plant Bug Adult Simple ---immatures progressively grow larger, but resemble adults they will become. For species with winged adults, external wing pads appear in older nymphs. Nymphs & adults often occur in the same habitats, eat the same foods, behave similarly (egg series of nymphs adult)
Complete Metamorphosis Beetles, Flies, Butterflies, Moths, Wasps, Bees, Others Egg -------Series of Larvae ------- Pupa Adult Complete ---larvae radically different in appearance from adults; behavior, habitats and food sources often very different (egg series of larvae pupa adult)
Mouthparts For simplicity, we will recognize two types of mouthparts--- Chewing Sucking Diagrams and examples will follow FYI, a few, such as spiders, have a combination of chewing & sucking mouthparts Also, FYI, some have NO mouthparts as adults! (All of the food needed for development is consumed by the immature stages)
Chewing Mouthparts---e.g. Grasshopper Labrum (upper lip ) Mandible ** (paired) Maxilla (paired) Labium (lower lip ) Paired mandibles may both cut and grind food before it enters the alimentary canal. The other parts shown above contain various sense organs that help the insect find and evaluate food sources. They also act like our cheeks and lips---holding food in place as the jaws process it.
Sucking Mouthparts---e.g. Bugs (these have the same mouthpart components as those shown for chewing but they are radically modified) Mandible (paired) Maxilla (paired) Cicada nymph (muscle operates oral pump Cross-section through beak True bug feeding, Side view Note the 2 channels made by the paired maxillae---one allows uptake of liquid food while the other allows injection of salivary enzymes.
On to the Specimens!!!