CRPT1 Insect Orders

Lecture 15.
Insect Taxonomy
Aira F. Waje
Instructor
LEARNING OUTCOME
At the end of the lesson, the learners are

expected to recognize and identify the different insect
orders.
Taxonomy
Fundamental to entomology as it
involves the accurate naming and
identification of species.
Once we know which particular
species we are dealing with, we can
retrieve information about it and
consequently find ways to manage it.
Taxonomy
Organisms are sorted into nested groups based
on evolutionary relationships and physical
characteristics. Insects are generally classified into
orders (-PTERA), families (- IDAE), genera and
species.
Insects are animals and therefore fit into the
larger grouping or kingdom called Animalia. They have
segmented bodies and an exoskeleton, which makes
them part of the phylum Arthropoda along with
crustaceans. Insects are categorized under the class
Insecta.
Taxonomy
An example of the major categories

for the woolly whitefly shows the
following classification:
Phylum Arthropoda
Class Insecta
Order Homoptera
Family Aleyrodidae
Genus Aleurothrixus
Species floccosus
Scientific Name: Aleurothrixus floccosus
Taxonomy
Note: Each category consists of only one word except the

species category.
•The scientific name of a species is binomial, i.e., it is
composed of 2 names, a genus and a specific name or a
specific epithet.
•Unlike all the other categories, the specific name cannot stand
alone, thus, it must be used with the genus name.
System of binomial
nomenclature
• Swedish naturalist Carolus Linnaeus first used the system in

1758.
• Used today for classification
• Scientific names are usually Latinized. The scientific name of a
species is always printed in italics or, if handwritten, is underlined
to indicate italics.
• The names of the genera and the higher categories begin with a
capital letter, but the species and subspecies names always begin
with a lowercase letter (Fiegalan and Salinas-Labe, 2006).
The Different Insect Orders
(Based from Borror, DeLong and
Triplehorn, 1976; CSIRO, 1991)
ORDER: Protura (Proturans)

TYPE OF WINGS (FORE & HINDWINGS): Wingless
TYPE OF MOUTHPARTS: Chewing
TYPE OF METAMORPHOSIS: Ametabola
DESTRUCTIVE STAGE: -
ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE: Feed on plant debris
Prot = first, ura = tail
Protura are minute soil-inhabiting

hexapods characterized by the lack of eyes and
antennae, a 12-segmented abdomen, and development
by anamorphosis.
ORDER: Collembola (Springtails)

ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE: Live on plant debris and/or
fungi; as decomposers
Coll = glue, embola = bolt or wedge referring to the
collophore
Collembolans, or “springtails,” are the primitive
Apterygote (wingless) insects. They are called
“springtails” because many of them have a spring-like
lever, or furcula, which enables them to move many
body lengths away from predators by using it in a
springing fashion.
ORDER: Diplura (Diplurans)

ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE: Feed on plant debris
Diplo = two, ura = tail
Diplurans are commonly considered as primitive

hexapods, but their general morphology is
characterized by adaptations to living conditions in soil
crevices, that is, a prognathous head; absence of eyes
and pigmentation; and a soft, elongate, more or less
dorsoventrally flattened body.
ORDER: Thysanura (Silverfish, Firebrat)

ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE: Feed on starchy
Substances like paper, clothing, etc.
Thysan = bristle of fringe, ura = tail
Thysanura is thought to be the linking order

between wingless and winged insects, and
members of this order are some of the primitive
insects known to man.
ORDER: Ephemeroptera (Mayflies)

TYPE OF WINGS (FORE & HINDWINGS):
Both fore-and hindwings are membranous
TYPE OF MOUTHPARTS: Mouthparts of adults
are nonfunctional
TYPE OF METAMORPHOSIS: Hemimetabola
ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE: Immatures serve as
feed of freshwater fish
Ephemero = for a day or short – lived, Ptera = wings
Ephemeroptera (Mayflies) constitute an insect

lineage the origin of which goes back to the
Carboniferous, making them one of the oldest
extant insect orders.
ORDER: Odonata (Dragonflies, Damselflies)

Both fore-and hindwings are membranous
ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE: Feed on aquatic
insects
From the Greek word Odonto, referring to the tooth/teeth (in mandible)
Odonata is an order of flying insects that includes

the dragonflies and damselflies. Like most other
flying insects they evolved in the early Mesozoic
era.
ORDER: Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, Crickets,

Walking sticks, Leaf insects, Mantids, Cockroaches)
Forewings are leathery (tegmen); hindwings are
membranous
TYPE OF METAMORPHOSIS: Paurometabola
DESTRUCTIVE STAGE: Nymphs and adults
ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE: Phytophagous (some
are pests of agricultural crops); others are predatory
Ortho = straight
Orthopterans are important members of nearly all terrestrial
ecosystems, both in the role of consumers and prey. Massive
outbreaks of some species of grasshoppers (and less frequently
katydids and crickets) can cause enormous losses for the food
industry and forestry.
ORDER: Dermaptera (Earwigs)

Forewings are leathery (tegmen); hindwings are
membranous
ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE: Many are predatory
Derma = skin
Earwigs make up the insect order Dermaptera.

With about 2,000 species in 12 families, they
are one of the smaller insect orders.
ORDER: Isoptera (Termites or white ants)

Both pair of wings are membranous
ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE: Feed on wood and
related materials
Iso = equal
Termites are eusocial insects that are classified

at the taxonomic rank of infraorder Isoptera, or
alternatively as epifamily Termitoidae, within the
order Blattodea.
ORDER: Embioptera (Webspinners or Embiids)

Fore- and hindwings are membranous
ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE: Feed on dead
vegetables
Embio = lively
The order Embioptera, commonly known as

webspinners or footspinners, are a small group
of mostly tropical and subtropical insects,
classified under the subclass Pterygota. The
order has also been called Embiodea or
Embiidina
ORDER: Plecoptera (Stoneflies)

ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE: Adults feed on blue
green algae; naiads serve as food for freshwater fish
Pleco = folded or plaited
Plecoptera is an order of insects, commonly

known as stoneflies. Some 3,500 species are
described worldwide, with new species still
being discovered. Stoneflies are found
worldwide, except Antarctica.
ORDER: Zoraptera (Zorapterans)

ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE: Live gregariously
under bark, in rotten wood and in termites’
nests
Zor = pure, Aptera = wingless

The insect order Zoraptera, commonly known
as angel insects, contains small and soft bodied
insects with two forms: winged with wings
sheddable as in termites, dark and with eyes
and ocelli; or wingless, pale and without eyes or
ocelli. They have a characteristic nine-
segmented beaded antenna.
ORDER: Psocoptera (Psocids, Booklice, Barklice)

ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE: Feed on rotting
wood; museum pests
Psoco = rub
Psocoptera are a paraphyletic group of insects
that are commonly known as booklice, barklice
or barkflies. The name Psocoptera has been
replaced with Psocodea in recent literature, with
the inclusion of the former order Phthiraptera
into Psocodea.
ORDER: Phthitaptera (Lice)

SUBORDER: Mallophaga (chewing lice)
Wingless
ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE: Feed on feathers;
parasitic insects on birds
Mallo = wood, phaga = eat

The Mallophaga are a section of lice, known as
chewing lice, biting lice, or bird lice, containing
more than 3000 species. These lice are
external parasites that feed mainly on birds,
although some species also feed on mammals.
ORDER: Phthitaptera (Lice)

SUBORDER: Anoplura (sucking lice)
Wingless
TYPE OF MOUTHPARTS: Piercing-sucking
ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE: Parasitic on
mammals
Anoplos = unarmed; ura = tail

Sucking lice have around 500 species and
represent the smaller of the two traditional
superfamilies of lice. As opposed to the
paraphyletic chewing lice, which are now
divided among three suborders, the sucking lice
are monophyletic. The Anoplura are all blood-
feeding ectoparasites of mammals.
ORDER: Thysanoptera (Thrips)

Fringed
TYPE OF MOUTHPARTS: Rasping-sucking
ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE: Phytophagous
Thysano = fringe
Thrips are minute, slender insects with fringed
wings and unique asymmetrical mouthparts.
Different thrips species feed mostly on plants by
puncturing and sucking up the contents,
although a few are predators. Entomologists
have described approximately 6,000 species.
ORDER: Hemiptera (True bugs)

Forewing – hemelytra,
Hindwings - membranous
ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE: Most are phytophagous;
some may be predatory
Hemi = half
Thrips are minute, slender insects with fringed
wings and unique asymmetrical mouthparts.
Different thrips species feed mostly on plants by
puncturing and sucking up the contents,
although a few are predators. Entomologists
have described approximately 6,000 species.
ORDER: Homoptera (Cicadas, Hoppers, Bugs, Psyllids,

Whiteflies, Aphids, Scale insects, Mealybugs)
ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE: Phytophagous
Homo = alike or uniform
Homoptera is a suborder of order Hemiptera

that is considered by some taxonomists to be
paraphyletic, and therefore deprecated
(obsolete).
ORDER: Neuroptera (Dobsonflies, Fishflies, Alderflies,

Snakeflies, Lacewings, Antlions, Owlflies)
TYPE OF METAMORPHOSIS: Holometabola
DESTRUCTIVE STAGE: Larvae and adults
ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE: Predatory
Neuro = nerve
The insect order Neuroptera, or net-winged
insects, includes the lacewings, mantidflies,
antlions, and their relatives. The order consists
of some 6,000 species. Neuropterans are soft-
bodied insects with relatively few specialized
features. They have large lateral compound
eyes, and may or may not also have ocelli.
ORDER: Coleoptera (Beetles and Weevils)

Elytron
TYPE OF METAMORPHOSIS: Complete
ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE: Phytophagous; some are
predatory
Coleo = sheath (referring to the elytra)

Beetles are insects that form the order
Coleoptera, in the superorder Endopterygota.
Their front pair of wings are hardened into wing-
cases, elytra, distinguishing them from most
other insects.
ORDER: Strepsiptera (Twisted-winged

parasites)
Only males are winged, with elytriform forewings and
expanded hindwings
ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE: Parasitic
Strepsi = twisted
The Strepsiptera are an endopterygote order of
insects with nine extant families that include
about 600 described species. They are
endoparasites in other insects, such as bees,
wasps, leafhoppers, silverfish, and
cockroaches.
ORDER: Mecoptera (Scorpionflies)

ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE: Predatory
Mecos = long
Mecoptera is an order of insects in the
superorder Endopterygota with about six
hundred species in nine families worldwide. The
Mecoptera (scorpionflies) are a curious group of
terrestrial insects that usually live in moist
sylvan habitats.
ORDER: Trichoptera (Caddisflies)

TYPE OF MOUTHPARTS: Vestigial
ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE: Aquatic larvae and pupae
serve as food for freshwater fish
Tricho = hair
The caddisflies, or order Trichoptera, are a
group of insects with aquatic larvae and
terrestrial adults. There are approximately
14,500 described species, most of which can
be divided into the suborders Integripalpia and
Annulipalpia on the basis of the adult
mouthparts.
ORDER: Lepidoptera (Moths, Butterflies and Skippers)

Membranous with scales
TYPE OF MOUTHPARTS: Larvae - chewing;
Adults - siphoning
DESTRUCTIVE STAGE: Larvae
ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE: Larvae are phytophagous;
adults as pollinators
Lepidos = scale
Lepidoptera is an order of insects that includes
butterflies and moths. About 180,000 species of
the Lepidoptera are described, in 126 families
and 46 superfamilies, 10 percent of the total
described species of living organisms. It is one
of the most widespread and widely
recognizable insect orders in the world.
ORDER: Diptera (True flies, Mosquitoes)

Forewings – membranous, hindwings - halteres (knob-
like structure)
TYPE OF MOUTHPARTS: Sponging (housefly);
piercing-sucking (mosquitoes, gnats)
DESTRUCTIVE STAGE: Larvae (maggots) and adults
ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE: Larvae are phytophagous
Di = two
Dipteran, (order Diptera), any member of an order

of insects containing the two-winged or so-called true flies.
Although many winged insects are commonly called flies, the
name is strictly applicable only to members of Diptera. One of the
largest insect orders, it numbers more than 125,000 species that
are relatively small, with soft bodies.
ORDER: Siphonaptera (Fleas)

Wingless
(adult); Chewing (larvae)
DESTRUCTIVE STAGE: Adults
ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE: Ectoparasitic on
mammals
Siphon = tube
Flea, the common name for the order

Siphonaptera, includes 2,500 species of small
flightless insects that survive as external parasites
of mammals and birds. Fleas live by consuming
blood, or hematophagy, from their hosts.
ORDER: Hymenoptera (ants, bees, wasps)

Membranous wings
TYPE OF MOUTHPARTS: Chewing-lapping
DESTRUCTIVE STAGE: Larvae (sawflies);
adults (ants)
ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE: Many are
Beneficial as parasites/parasitoids for biological
control of insect pests (wasps); predatory (ants);
pollinators
Hymeno = god of marriage, referring to the union of fore and hindwings by
means of hamuli)
Hymenoptera is a large order of insects, comprising

the sawflies, wasps, bees, and ants. Over 150,000
living species of Hymenoptera have been
described, in addition to over 2,000 extinct ones.
Many of the species are parasitic.

CRPT1 Insect Orders

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Lecture 15.

At the end of the lesson, the learners are

An example of the major categories

Note: Each category consists of only one word except the

• Swedish naturalist Carolus Linnaeus first used the system in

ORDER: Protura (Proturans)

Prot = first, ura = tail

Protura are minute soil-inhabiting

ORDER: Collembola (Springtails)

ORDER: Diplura (Diplurans)

Diplo = two, ura = tail

Diplurans are commonly considered as primitive

ORDER: Thysanura (Silverfish, Firebrat)

Thysan = bristle of fringe, ura = tail

Thysanura is thought to be the linking order

ORDER: Ephemeroptera (Mayflies)

Ephemero = for a day or short – lived, Ptera = wings

Ephemeroptera (Mayflies) constitute an insect

ORDER: Odonata (Dragonflies, Damselflies)

Odonata is an order of flying insects that includes

ORDER: Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, Crickets,

ORDER: Dermaptera (Earwigs)

Earwigs make up the insect order Dermaptera.

ORDER: Isoptera (Termites or white ants)

Termites are eusocial insects that are classified

ORDER: Embioptera (Webspinners or Embiids)

The order Embioptera, commonly known as

ORDER: Plecoptera (Stoneflies)

Pleco = folded or plaited

Plecoptera is an order of insects, commonly

ORDER: Zoraptera (Zorapterans)

Zor = pure, Aptera = wingless

ORDER: Psocoptera (Psocids, Booklice, Barklice)

ORDER: Phthitaptera (Lice)

Mallo = wood, phaga = eat

ORDER: Phthitaptera (Lice)

Anoplos = unarmed; ura = tail

ORDER: Thysanoptera (Thrips)

ORDER: Hemiptera (True bugs)

ORDER: Homoptera (Cicadas, Hoppers, Bugs, Psyllids,

Homo = alike or uniform

Homoptera is a suborder of order Hemiptera

ORDER: Neuroptera (Dobsonflies, Fishflies, Alderflies,

ORDER: Coleoptera (Beetles and Weevils)

Coleo = sheath (referring to the elytra)

ORDER: Strepsiptera (Twisted-winged

ORDER: Mecoptera (Scorpionflies)

ORDER: Trichoptera (Caddisflies)

ORDER: Lepidoptera (Moths, Butterflies and Skippers)

ORDER: Diptera (True flies, Mosquitoes)

Dipteran, (order Diptera), any member of an order

ORDER: Siphonaptera (Fleas)

Flea, the common name for the order

ORDER: Hymenoptera (ants, bees, wasps)

Hymenoptera is a large order of insects, comprising

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