Introduction to Insects

Outline

• Insects and their relatives

• How insects rule the world
• Insect anatomy and biology
Basic insect body plan

Head

Thorax

Abdomen
 Basic insect body plan

Abdomen Thorax Head

Insects
• 3 body regions
• 1 pair of antennae
• 3 pair of legs
• 2 pair of wings
 Insects rule the world!

• There are more insects

than all other plants and
animals combined

• There are more than 1

million different species

• 1 out of every 5 animals

is a beetle!
 Insect metamorphosis

Complete metamorphosis: Incomplete metamorphosis:

egg, larva, pupa, adult egg, nymph, adult
e.g., beetles, butterflies, flies e.g., grasshoppers, true bugs
Images from Cornell University, Http://nides.bc.ca/Assignments/Insects/Metamorphosis3.htm
 Insects eat everything

• Carnivore, animal matter

• Herbivore, plant matter

• Omnivore, plant and animal matter

• Detrivore, organic matter

• Saprophore, decaying matter

Are these insects?

© Marlin E. Rice
 How to ID insects: wings
beetle true bug grasshopper earwig

© Marlin E. Rice © Marlin E. Rice L. Jesse

wasp butterfly fly

© Marlin E. Rice
L. Jesse
L. Jesse
 How to ID insects: mouthparts
Piercing-sucking: Sponging: Siphoning:
mosquitoes, true bugs house fly butterflies, moths

Chewing:
grasshoppers,
beetles,
praying mantis

Images on this page from R. Bessin, University of Kentucky

How to ID insects: antennae

freenaturepictures.com
 How to ID insects: legs
grasping pollen-carrying
walking

L. Jesse
L. Jesse
swimming and
grasping
digging jumping

Paul M. Choate, University of Florida

© Marlin E. Rice
 Summary
• There are many keys to help in the accurate
identification of insects
• Wings, antennae, legs, mouthparts

© Marlin E. Rice