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 .