DOCSLIB.ORG

An Introduction to Backyard Bugs and Ecology

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
An Introduction to Backyard Bugs and Ecology 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 Local Beetles • Family: Carabidae • 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 Local moths • Family: Saturniidae • Polyphemus Moth (Antheraea polyphemus) Local Butterflies • Family: Papilionidae • Subfamily: Papilioninae • Swallowtail butterflies (Papilio) M. McCarty Tom Murray 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 Local Wasps • Family: Braconidae • Cotesia congregata Beatriz Moisset Local Wasps • Family: Crabronidae • Eastern Cicada Killer (Sphecius speciosus) Local Wasps • Family Mutillidae • 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 .
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Oak Woodland Litter Spiders James Steffen Chicago Botanic Garden
    Oak Woodland Litter Spiders James Steffen Chicago Botanic Garden George Retseck Objectives • Learn about Spiders as Animals • Learn to recognize common spiders to family • Learn about spider ecology • Learn to Collect and Preserve Spiders Kingdom - Animalia Phylum - Arthropoda Subphyla - Mandibulata Chelicerata Class - Arachnida Orders - Acari Opiliones Pseudoscorpiones Araneae Spiders Arachnids of Illinois • Order Acari: Mites and Ticks • Order Opiliones: Harvestmen • Order Pseudoscorpiones: Pseudoscorpions • Order Araneae: Spiders! Acari - Soil Mites Characteriscs of Spiders • Usually four pairs of simple eyes although some species may have less • Six pair of appendages: one pair of fangs (instead of mandibles), one pair of pedipalps, and four pair of walking legs • Spinnerets at the end of the abdomen, which are used for spinning silk threads for a variety of purposes, such as the construction of webs, snares, and retreats in which to live or to wrap prey • 1 pair of sensory palps (often much larger in males) between the first pair of legs and the chelicerae used for sperm transfer, prey manipulation, and detection of smells and vibrations • 1 to 2 pairs of book-lungs on the underside of abdomen • Primitively, 2 body regions: Cephalothorax, Abdomen Spider Life Cycle • Eggs in batches (egg sacs) • Hatch inside the egg sac • molt to spiderlings which leave from the egg sac • grows during several more molts (instars) • at final molt, becomes adult – Some long-lived mygalomorphs (tarantulas) molt after adulthood Phenology • Most temperate
    [Show full text]
  • Lepidoptera of North America 5
    Lepidoptera of North America 5. Contributions to the Knowledge of Southern West Virginia Lepidoptera Contributions of the C.P. Gillette Museum of Arthropod Diversity Colorado State University Lepidoptera of North America 5. Contributions to the Knowledge of Southern West Virginia Lepidoptera by Valerio Albu, 1411 E. Sweetbriar Drive Fresno, CA 93720 and Eric Metzler, 1241 Kildale Square North Columbus, OH 43229 April 30, 2004 Contributions of the C.P. Gillette Museum of Arthropod Diversity Colorado State University Cover illustration: Blueberry Sphinx (Paonias astylus (Drury)], an eastern endemic. Photo by Valeriu Albu. ISBN 1084-8819 This publication and others in the series may be ordered from the C.P. Gillette Museum of Arthropod Diversity, Department of Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523 Abstract A list of 1531 species ofLepidoptera is presented, collected over 15 years (1988 to 2002), in eleven southern West Virginia counties. A variety of collecting methods was used, including netting, light attracting, light trapping and pheromone trapping. The specimens were identified by the currently available pictorial sources and determination keys. Many were also sent to specialists for confirmation or identification. The majority of the data was from Kanawha County, reflecting the area of more intensive sampling effort by the senior author. This imbalance of data between Kanawha County and other counties should even out with further sampling of the area. Key Words: Appalachian Mountains,
    [Show full text]
  • Insects of Western North America 4. Survey of Selected Insect Taxa of Fort Sill, Comanche County, Oklahoma 2
    Insects of Western North America 4. Survey of Selected Insect Taxa of Fort Sill, Comanche County, Oklahoma 2. Dragonflies (Odonata), Stoneflies (Plecoptera) and selected Moths (Lepidoptera) Contributions of the C.P. Gillette Museum of Arthropod Diversity Colorado State University Survey of Selected Insect Taxa of Fort Sill, Comanche County, Oklahoma 2. Dragonflies (Odonata), Stoneflies (Plecoptera) and selected Moths (Lepidoptera) by Boris C. Kondratieff, Paul A. Opler, Matthew C. Garhart, and Jason P. Schmidt C.P. Gillette Museum of Arthropod Diversity Department of Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523 March 15, 2004 Contributions of the C.P. Gillette Museum of Arthropod Diversity Colorado State University Cover illustration (top to bottom): Widow Skimmer (Libellula luctuosa) [photo ©Robert Behrstock], Stonefly (Perlesta species) [photo © David H. Funk, White- lined Sphinx (Hyles lineata) [photo © Matthew C. Garhart] ISBN 1084-8819 This publication and others in the series may be ordered from the C.P. Gillette Museum of Arthropod Diversity, Department of Bioagricultural Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523 Copyrighted 2004 Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY……………………………………………………………………………….…1 INTRODUCTION…………………………………………..…………………………………………….…3 OBJECTIVE………………………………………………………………………………………….………5 Site Descriptions………………………………………….. METHODS AND MATERIALS…………………………………………………………………………….5 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION………………………………………………………………………..…...11 Dragonflies………………………………………………………………………………….……..11
    [Show full text]
  • English Cop18 Prop. XXX CONVENTION ON
    Original language: English CoP18 Prop. XXX CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES OF WILD FAUNA AND FLORA ____________________ Eighteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties Colombo (Sri Lanka), 23 May – 3 June 2019 CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSALS FOR AMENDMENT OF APPENDICES I AND II A. Proposal: To include the species Parides burchellanus in Appendix I, in accordance with Article II, paragraph 1 of the Convention and satisfying Criteria A i,ii, v; B i,iii, iv and C ii of Resolution Conf. 9.24 (Rev. CoP17). B. Proponent Brazil C. Supporting statement: 1. Taxonomy 1.1 Class: Insecta 1.2 Order: Lepidoptera 1.3 Family: Papilionidae 1.4 Species: Parides burchellanus (Westwood, 1872) 1.5 Synonymies: Papilio jaguarae Foetterle, 1902; Papilio numa Boisduval, 1836; Parides socama Schaus, 1902. 1.6 Common names: English: Swallowtail Portuguese:Borboleta-ribeirinha 2. Overview 1 The present proposal is based on the current knowledge about the species Parides burchellanus, well presented in Volume 7 of the Red Book of the Brazilian Fauna Threatened with Extinction1 and in present data on the supply of specimens for sale in the international market. The species has a restricted distribution2 with populations in the condition of decline as a consequence of anthropic actions in their habitat. It is categorized in Brazil as Critically Endangered (CR), according to criterion C2a(i) of the International Union for Conservation of Nature – IUCN. This criterion implies small and declining populations. In addition, these populations are also hundreds of kilometers apart from each other. The present proposal therefore seeks to reduce the pressure exerted by illegal trade on this species through its inclusion in Annex I to the Convention.
    [Show full text]
  • Lepidoptera Sphingidae:) of the Caatinga of Northeast Brazil: a Case Study in the State of Rio Grande Do Norte
    212212 JOURNAL OF THE LEPIDOPTERISTS’ SOCIETY Journal of the Lepidopterists’ Society 59(4), 2005, 212–218 THE HIGHLY SEASONAL HAWKMOTH FAUNA (LEPIDOPTERA SPHINGIDAE:) OF THE CAATINGA OF NORTHEAST BRAZIL: A CASE STUDY IN THE STATE OF RIO GRANDE DO NORTE JOSÉ ARAÚJO DUARTE JÚNIOR Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Sistemática e Ecologia, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, 58059-900, João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brasil. E-mail: [email protected] AND CLEMENS SCHLINDWEIN Departamento de Botânica, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Prof. Moraes Rego, s/n, Cidade Universitária, 50670-901, Recife, Pernambuco, Brasil. E-mail:[email protected] ABSTRACT: The caatinga, a thorn-shrub succulent savannah, is located in Northeastern Brazil and characterized by a short and irregular rainy season and a severe dry season. Insects are only abundant during the rainy months, displaying a strong seasonal pat- tern. Here we present data from a yearlong Sphingidae survey undertaken in the reserve Estação Ecológica do Seridó, located in the state of Rio Grande do Norte. Hawkmoths were collected once a month during two subsequent new moon nights, between 18.00h and 05.00h, attracted with a 160-watt mercury vapor light. A total of 593 specimens belonging to 20 species and 14 genera were col- lected. Neogene dynaeus, Callionima grisescens, and Hyles euphorbiarum were the most abundant species, together comprising up to 82.2% of the total number of specimens collected. These frequent species are residents of the caatinga of Rio Grande do Norte. The rare Sphingidae in this study, Pseudosphinx tetrio, Isognathus australis, and Cocytius antaeus, are migratory species for the caatinga.
    [Show full text]
  • Universidade Federal De Santa Catarina Centro De Ciências Agrárias Departamento De Fitotecnia
    UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DE SANTA CATARINA CENTRO DE CIÊNCIAS AGRÁRIAS DEPARTAMENTO DE FITOTECNIA Controle biológico com Coleoptera: Coccinellidae das cochonilhas (Homoptera: Diaspididae, Dactylopiidae), pragas da “palma forrageira”. Ícaro Daniel Petter FLORIANÓPOLIS, SANTA CATARINA NOVEMBRO DE 2010 UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DE SANTA CATARINA CENTRO DE CIÊNCIAS AGRÁRIAS DEPARTAMENTO DE FITOTECNIA Controle biológico com Coleoptera: Coccinellidae das cochonilhas (Homoptera: Diaspididae, Dactylopiidae), pragas da “palma forrageira”. Relatório do Estágio de Conclusão do Curso de Agronomia Graduando: Ícaro Daniel Petter Orientador: César Assis Butignol FLORIANÓPOLIS, SANTA CATARINA NOVEMBRO DE 2010 ii Aos meus pais, por tudo, minha mais profunda gratidão e consideração. iii AGRADECIMENTOS À UFSC e à Embrapa (CPATSA) pelo apoio na realização do estágio. Ao Professor César Assis Butignol pela orientação. A todos que, de alguma forma, contribuíram positivamente na minha graduação, meus sinceros agradecimentos. iv RESUMO Neste trabalho relata-se o programa de controle biológico das cochonilhas, Diaspis echinocacti Bouché, 1833 (Homoptera: Diaspididae) e Dactylopius opuntiae Cockerell, 1896 (Homoptera: Dactylopiidae), pragas da “palma forrageira” (Opuntia ficus-indica (Linnaeus) Mill, e Nopalea cochenillifera Salm- Dyck) (Cactaceae), no semi-árido nordestino, atualmente desenvolvido pela Embrapa Semi-Árido (CPATSA) em Petrolina (PE). Os principais trabalhos foram com duas espécies de coccinelídeos predadores, a exótica Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Mulsant,
    [Show full text]
  • 1. Padil Species Factsheet Scientific Name: Common Name Image Library Partners for New Zealand Biosecurity Image Library
    1. PaDIL Species Factsheet Scientific Name: Hyles livornicoides (Esper, 1779) (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae: Macroglossinae: Macroglossini) Common Name White-lined Hawk Moth Live link: http://www.padil.gov.au/maf-border/Pest/Main/141900 Image Library New Zealand Biosecurity Live link: http://www.padil.gov.au/maf-border/ Partners for New Zealand Biosecurity image library Landcare Research — Manaaki Whenua http://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/ MPI (Ministry for Primary Industries) http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/ 2. Species Information 2.1. Details Specimen Contact: MAF Plant Health & Environment Laboratory - [email protected] Author: Justin C. Smith Citation: Justin C. Smith (2011) White-lined Hawk Moth(Hyles livornicoides)Updated on 4/9/2014 Available online: PaDIL - http://www.padil.gov.au Image Use: Free for use under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY- NC 4.0) 2.2. URL Live link: http://www.padil.gov.au/maf-border/Pest/Main/141900 2.3. Facets Commodity Overview: Horticulture Commodity Type: Grapes Distribution: 0 Unknown Status: NZ - Exotic Groups: Moths Host Family: Nyctaginaceae, Portulacaceae, Vitaceae, Zygophyllaceae Pest Status: 0 Unknown 2.4. Other Names Deilephila livornicoides Lucas, 1892 Hyles linearis Lucas, 1892 Phryxus australasiae Tutt, 1904 Yeperenye Caterpillar 2.5. Diagnostic Notes 2.6. Web Links Australian Caterpillars: http://lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com.au/sphi/livorn.html 3. Diagnostic Images Hyles livornicoides Hyles livornicoides Dorsal - Adult: Justin C. Smith MAF Head Side - Adult: Justin C. Smith MAF Hyles livornicoides Hyles livornicoides Head Top - Adult: Justin C. Smith MAF Lateral - Adult: Justin C. Smith MAF Hyles livornicoides Hyles livornicoides Ventral - Adult: Justin C. Smith MAF Wing - Adult: Justin C.
    [Show full text]
  • Prairie Ridge Species Checklist 2018
    Prairie Ridge Species Checklist Genus species Common Name Snails Philomycus carolinianus Carolina Mantleslug Gastrocopta contracta Bottleneck Snaggletooth Glyphalinia wheatleyi Bright Glyph Triodopsis hopetonensis Magnolia Threetooth Triodopsis juxtidens Atlantic Threetooth Triodopsis fallax Mimic Threetooth Ventridens cerinoideus Wax Dome Ventridens gularis Throaty Dome Anguispira fergusoni Tiger Snail Zonitoides arboreus Quick Gloss Deroceras reticulatum Gray Garden Slug Mesodon thyroidus White-lip Globe Slug Stenotrema stenotrema Inland Stiltmouth Melanoides tuberculatus Red-rim Melania Spiders Argiope aurantia Garden Spider Peucetia viridans Green Lynx Spider Phidippus putnami Jumping Spider Phidippus audax Jumping Spider Phidippus otiosus Jumping Spider Centipedes Hemiscolopendra marginata Scolopocryptops sexspinosus Scutigera coleoptrata Geophilomorpha Millipedes Pseudopolydesmus serratus Narceus americanus Oxidus gracilis Greenhouse Millipede Polydesmidae Crayfishes Cambarus “acuminatus complex” (= “species C”) Cambarus (Depressicambarus) latimanus Cambarus (Puncticambarus) (="species C) Damselflies Calopteryx maculata Ebony Jewelwing Lestes australis Southern Spreadwing Lestes rectangularis Slender Spreadwing Lestes vigilax Swamp Spreadwing Lestes inaequalis Elegant Spreadwing Enallagma doubledayi Atlantic Bluet Enallagma civile Familiar Bluet Enallagma aspersum Azure Bluet Enallagma exsulans Stream Bluet Enallegma signatum Orange Bluet Ischnura verticalis Eastern Forktail Ischnura posita Fragile Forktail Ischnura hastata Citrine
    [Show full text]
  • Arthropods of Elm Fork Preserve
    Arthropods of Elm Fork Preserve Arthropods are characterized by having jointed limbs and exoskeletons. They include a diverse assortment of creatures: Insects, spiders, crustaceans (crayfish, crabs, pill bugs), centipedes and millipedes among others. Column Headings Scientific Name: The phenomenal diversity of arthropods, creates numerous difficulties in the determination of species. Positive identification is often achieved only by specialists using obscure monographs to ‘key out’ a species by examining microscopic differences in anatomy. For our purposes in this survey of the fauna, classification at a lower level of resolution still yields valuable information. For instance, knowing that ant lions belong to the Family, Myrmeleontidae, allows us to quickly look them up on the Internet and be confident we are not being fooled by a common name that may also apply to some other, unrelated something. With the Family name firmly in hand, we may explore the natural history of ant lions without needing to know exactly which species we are viewing. In some instances identification is only readily available at an even higher ranking such as Class. Millipedes are in the Class Diplopoda. There are many Orders (O) of millipedes and they are not easily differentiated so this entry is best left at the rank of Class. A great deal of taxonomic reorganization has been occurring lately with advances in DNA analysis pointing out underlying connections and differences that were previously unrealized. For this reason, all other rankings aside from Family, Genus and Species have been omitted from the interior of the tables since many of these ranks are in a state of flux.
    [Show full text]
  • Butterflies (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea) in a Coastal Plain Area in the State of Paraná, Brazil
    62 TROP. LEPID. RES., 26(2): 62-67, 2016 LEVISKI ET AL.: Butterflies in Paraná Butterflies (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea) in a coastal plain area in the state of Paraná, Brazil Gabriela Lourenço Leviski¹*, Luziany Queiroz-Santos¹, Ricardo Russo Siewert¹, Lucy Mila Garcia Salik¹, Mirna Martins Casagrande¹ and Olaf Hermann Hendrik Mielke¹ ¹ Laboratório de Estudos de Lepidoptera Neotropical, Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Caixa Postal 19.020, 81.531-980, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil Corresponding author: E-mail: [email protected]٭ Abstract: The coastal plain environments of southern Brazil are neglected and poorly represented in Conservation Units. In view of the importance of sampling these areas, the present study conducted the first butterfly inventory of a coastal area in the state of Paraná. Samples were taken in the Floresta Estadual do Palmito, from February 2014 through January 2015, using insect nets and traps for fruit-feeding butterfly species. A total of 200 species were recorded, in the families Hesperiidae (77), Nymphalidae (73), Riodinidae (20), Lycaenidae (19), Pieridae (7) and Papilionidae (4). Particularly notable records included the rare and vulnerable Pseudotinea hemis (Schaus, 1927), representing the lowest elevation record for this species, and Temenis huebneri korallion Fruhstorfer, 1912, a new record for Paraná. These results reinforce the need to direct sampling efforts to poorly inventoried areas, to increase knowledge of the distribution and occurrence patterns of butterflies in Brazil. Key words: Atlantic Forest, Biodiversity, conservation, inventory, species richness. INTRODUCTION the importance of inventories to knowledge of the fauna and its conservation, the present study inventoried the species of Faunal inventories are important for providing knowledge butterflies of the Floresta Estadual do Palmito.
    [Show full text]
  • Native Plants for Pollinators
    Native Plants for Pollinators Grow these favourite pollinator plants to attract butterflies, moths and bees Planting pollinator-friendly plants is a great way to help the Native Pollinators Love Native Plants environment and add some vibrant colour to your landscape. Native pollinators in the Credit River watershed co-evolved with the native plants in the region. They are best suited to successfully pollinate native flowering plants and get pollen or nectar from them. These are some common native pollinators that you can attract to your property: • Eastern Tiger • Red Admiral Butterfly • Frigid Leaf Cutter Bee Swallowtail Butterfly • Little Wood-satyr Butterfly • Bicolored Sweat Bee Nardone • Clouded Sulphur Butterfly • Common Eastern • Hummingbird Clearwing Moth Erika • Northern Azure Butterfly Bumble Bee • Virginia Ctenucha Moth • Monarch Butterfly • Tricolored Bumble Bee Photo: Sweat Bee on Black-eyed Susan Pollination Pollination is an essential process of plant life. Pollen from the stamen (male part of the flower) is transferred to the pistol (female part of the flower) allowing a plant to produce seeds that become the next generation. The transfer of pollen almost always requires an outside influence, such as wind or animals. Animals that help pollinate flowers are known as pollinators. All flowering plant species produce pollen, a source of protein for many insects. Many flowers also produce nectar, a sugar-based high energy food. Both pollen and nectar attract pollinators Morber Nardone Nardone to flowers. They move from flower-to-flower, feeding and collecting food, unintentionally Brian Erika Erika transferring pollen from one plant to another. This is called cross-pollination and it ensures Photo: genetic diversity and resilience.
    [Show full text]
  • Phylogeny and Evolution of Lepidoptera
    EN62CH15-Mitter ARI 5 November 2016 12:1 I Review in Advance first posted online V E W E on November 16, 2016. (Changes may R S still occur before final publication online and in print.) I E N C N A D V A Phylogeny and Evolution of Lepidoptera Charles Mitter,1,∗ Donald R. Davis,2 and Michael P. Cummings3 1Department of Entomology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742; email: [email protected] 2Department of Entomology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20560 3Laboratory of Molecular Evolution, Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742 Annu. Rev. Entomol. 2017. 62:265–83 Keywords Annu. Rev. Entomol. 2017.62. Downloaded from www.annualreviews.org The Annual Review of Entomology is online at Hexapoda, insect, systematics, classification, butterfly, moth, molecular ento.annualreviews.org systematics This article’s doi: Access provided by University of Maryland - College Park on 11/20/16. For personal use only. 10.1146/annurev-ento-031616-035125 Abstract Copyright c 2017 by Annual Reviews. Until recently, deep-level phylogeny in Lepidoptera, the largest single ra- All rights reserved diation of plant-feeding insects, was very poorly understood. Over the past ∗ Corresponding author two decades, building on a preceding era of morphological cladistic stud- ies, molecular data have yielded robust initial estimates of relationships both within and among the ∼43 superfamilies, with unsolved problems now yield- ing to much larger data sets from high-throughput sequencing. Here we summarize progress on lepidopteran phylogeny since 1975, emphasizing the superfamily level, and discuss some resulting advances in our understanding of lepidopteran evolution.
    [Show full text]