insectC insights

Getting Started with Identification by Danae Wolfe

HAVEN’T ALWAYS appreciated the class Insecta—known as —are clas- scientific names can help gardeners and importance of insect identification. sified as having three main body segments: scientists alike communicate unambigu- I When I began photographing in- the head, the thorax, and the abdomen. All ously about a species. sects over 10 years ago, I routinely shared insects have three pairs of legs. Most insects my photos on social media with nary a also have one pair of antennae and one pair INSECT LIFE CYCLES species name in sight. I spent more time of compound eyes, though there are excep- We can also group insects by shared life editing (and oversaturating) my photos tions in some species. Most adult insects cycle characteristics. In insects, there than I did learning about and identifying are winged, but some species are wingless. are two prominent types of life cycles— the I photographed. Insecta can be further classified into hemimetabolous and holometabolous. Thankfully, as my entomological en- orders and within each order, divided Hemimetabolous insects, like grass- thusiasm has grown over the years, so too has my interest in insect identifica- tion. Today, I understand that properly identifying insects can equip gardeners with the knowledge to make informed landscape decisions. Landscape manage- ment, after all, should not begin with an automatic assumption that all bugs are bad. In fact, most insects (and spiders) are incredibly beneficial for the garden. So how do we know which insects are good, which might need a bit of man- agement to control, and which should be reported to the local Extension office or Department of Agriculture? The first step is identification. Properly identifying the insects we meet in our gardens can help ensure we aren’t unnecessarily using harmful chem- icals, help prevent the spread of invasive species before they cause significant eco- All insects have three pairs of legs and three-part segmented bodies: the head, thorax, and logical or economic damage, and alert abdomen. Most, like this lace bug, have two antennae and two compound eyes. us to when we might need to take extra protective measures to preserve a threat- into family, genus, and finally species. hoppers, , dragonflies, and ened species. In this article, I’ll share some Species is the finest unit of classification damselflies, are those that undergo in- of the basics of insect and re- we use to categorize an organism. complete metamorphosis. These insects sources to help get you started with grow- This classification of organisms is have three life stages—egg, nymph, and ing your identification skills. called taxonomy. Scientists use taxono- adult. Throughout the nymph stage, my to classify groups of organisms based hemimetabolous insects resemble adults WHAT MAKES AN INSECT AN INSECT? on shared characteristics. In addition to but lack developed wings and functional With over one million described species of showing where species fall within the reproductive organs. Nymphs develop insects in the world, learning to identify our world’s evolutionary family tree, taxon- through several growth stages called in- six-legged friends can seem daunting. So, omy also helps ensure every identified stars, in which the insect grows and sheds let’s begin broadly. Insects are classified in species has a scientific name and descrip- its exoskeleton through a process called the kingdom Animalia, phylum Arthopo- tion. As with plants, common names molting. Molting happens several times

da, and class Insecta. All organisms in the of insects vary greatly across regions so before the insect emerges as an adult. DANAE WOLFE

48 the American Gardener Planting the Piet Oudolf Way Taught by Piet Oudolf & Noel Kingsbury

True bugs, like these keeled treehoppers ( carinata), are hemimetabolous and undergo incomplete metamorphosis. Here, we see a nymph (far right), a newly emerged adult (center) whose wings are still unfurling after molt, and a mature adult (left).

Holometabolous insects, like but- Some of the orders of hemimetabolous Upgrade your terflies, beetles, flies, and bees, undergo insects you’re likely to find in your gar- complete metamorphosis. These insects den include: gardening skills have four life stages—egg, larva, pupa, : True bugs, cicadas, aphids and adult. Larval forms of holometab- (82,000 species identified) Choose from over 30 online olous insects vary greatly from their Orthoptera: Grasshoppers, crickets, ka- courses and learn under the adult forms, spending their time eating tydids (20,500 species) watchful eye of some of the and preparing for pupation. During Odonata: Dragonflies and damselflies world's biggest names in the non-feeding pupal stage, the insect (5,500 species) gardening. transforms into an adult. Mantodea: Mantids (1,800 species) Dermaptera: Earwigs (1,800) Taught in our friendly online classroom, where you get to enjoy Some of the orders of holometabolous inspirational lessons and easy to follow assignments you will learn insects you’re likely to find in your gar- the full range of skills needed to den include: become the complete gardener. Coleoptera: Beetles (400,000 species) Lepidoptera: Butterflies and moths Learning with Experts is the only (150,000 species) online course provider to offer you Hymenoptera: Bees, wasps, parasitoids, personalised feedback from the ants (130,000 species) very best experts all from the Diptera: Flies, midges, mosquitoes comfort of your own home. (120,000 species) Neuroptera: lacewings, owlflies, mantid- Buy today and start anytime: flies, (5,000) learningwithexperts.com

Keep in mind that taxonomy is an ever-evolving science. As more insects are discovered and described, our understanding of how species are It is amazing to be able to Lady beetles (family Coccinellidae) are related and where they belong in the learn and receive feedback holometabolous and undergo complete evolutionary tree is refined. As such, directly from the experts. metamorphosis. Lady beetle larvae, like this educational resources that are even just one, are beneficial predatory insects that a few years old might offer differing - Julia

DANAE WOLFE DANAE WOLFE (2) feed on other small insects in the garden. information.

March / April 2021 49 DEEPER DIVE who can help with identification. These If you’re feeling unsure about your insect tools, powered by citizen scientists, identification skills, there are lots of great contribute to ever-growing data sets resources to help you grow your knowledge that can help scientists track changes and confidence. Because I’m a photogra- in wildlife populations. These data sets pher, my favorite books are those loaded are invaluable to helping us understand with color photos and easy-to-digest descrip- which insect species might need our help. tions. I’m partial to the National Wild- Next time you visit your garden, consider life Federation Field Guide to Insects snapping a few photos of the insects you and Spiders of North America (2007) meet and uploading your pictures to by Arthur V. Evans, and Garden Insects iNaturalist or BugGuide. It could be you of North America: The Ultimate Guide who discovers the next new species! to Backyard Bugs, 2nd edition (2018) by In the next few articles, we’ll take Whitney Cranshaw and David Shetlar. an even deeper dive into specific insect More localized field guides are great orders where I’ll highlight identifying for narrowing the focus down to species characteristics, species you’re likely to that are likely to appear in your region find in your garden, and what you can (though our changing climate is push- The author uses a variety of resources to help do to help protect and preserve our lit- ing species outside historical ranges). I her identify the insects she photographs. tlest neighbors. m own a number of Ohio-specific insect and spider field guides that are small I also recommend getting acquainted Danae Wolfe is a macro photographer and enough to toss in my purse or camera with online entomology and naturalist conservation educator based in Wooster, bag for quick reference. I encourage you communities like iNaturalist and Ohio. She manages Chasing Bugs (www. to check with your state’s Department BugGuide. These platforms allow you chasingbugs.com), a platform that of Natural Resources to see what field to share observations and photos of promotes the appreciation, stewardship, guides they might offer. insects with online community members and conservation of insects and spiders.

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50 the American Gardener