Chapter 2

Wingless, flattened, fish shaped, usually no more 1/2 inch long, long antennae, 2 or 3 threadlike appendages at the end of the abdomen, chewing mouth parts, no metamorphosis. Ex. Bristletails, silverfish, firebrats

Wingless, very small up tp 1/5 inch, adults have short antenna, chewing mouthparts, usually have springlike projection on the underside of abdomen, no metamorphosis. Ex. Springtails

Medium to large sized, chewing mouthparts, usually 4 wings, when present front wings are thickened and leathery, back wings are membranous and folds beneath the front wings like a fan when at rest. Hind legs are large and adapted for jumping, gradual metamorphosis. Ex. Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids

Closely related to crickets and grasshoppers, hind legs are sleek and adapted for running and walking, gradual metamorphosis. Ex. Cockroaches, Walkingsticks, Mantids

Small to medium sized, social, highly developed caste system, workers and soldiers are wingless and dirty white, swarmers are dark bodied and have 4 long whitish wings of the same length. Abdomen is broadly joined to the thorax with no definite, visible waist, chewing mouth parts, gradual metamorphosis. Ex. Termites

Tiny, soft-bodied, either have 4 wings or none, chewing mouthparts, gradual metamorphosis. Ex. Psocids, Booklice

Small, usually flattened, wingless, external parasites on birds and mammals, chewing mouthparts, gradual metamorphosis. Ex. Chewing lice, Bird lice

Small, wingless, flat bodied, head is distinctly narrower than thorax, piercing mouthparts, external parasites on mammals, gradual metamorphosis. Ex. Sucking lice, True lice

Usually have 4 wings, front pair is thickened and leathery at the base and thin membranous at the tips. Hind pair is membranous and folded under front pair when at rest. In some forms there are no wings, mouthparts form a noticeable beak for piercing and sucking, some transmit diseases, gradual metamorphosis. Ex. True bugs, Bed bugs

Small to large, may or may not have wings, when present wings are same thickness throughout, when at rest they are held over head like a roof, piercing and sucking mouthparts, gradual metamorphosis. Ex. Cicadas, Aphids, Scale insects, Leafhoppers

Small to medium, may have 4 wings, front wings are leathery and very short, when at rest they meet in a straight line down the back. Hind wings fold under front wings, chewing mouthparts, back end of abdomen has protruding - forcep like organs, gradual metamorphosis. Ex. Earwigs

Hard, shell like front wings that meet when at rest in a straight line down the back. Hind wings fold under front wings, chewing mouthparts, complete metamorphosis. Ex. Beetles

Usually have 4 membranous wings that are covered with overlapping scales, long coiled tongue like organ for sucking liquids such as nectar, complete metamorphosis. Ex. Butterflies, Moths

Winged members have 2 wings, instead of a second pair there are a pair of knobbed, threadlike organs (halters/balancers), piercing and sucking mouthparts or sponging mouthparts, complete metamorphosis. Ex. Flies, Mosquitoes, Gnats, Midges

Small, wingless, external parasites of warm blooded animals, body is compressed laterally (thin from side to side), adults have piercing-sucking mouthparts, complete metamorphosis. Ex. Fleas

Most have 4 wings, some are wingless (worker ants), wings are membranous, hind pair is usually smaller than front pair, chewing or chewing and lapping mouthparts, in most species have a pinched abdomen - thin pedicel or waist where it joins the thorax, complete metamorphosis. Ex. Bees, Wasps, Ants, Sawflies