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