| 
 | are in the Class Insecta within the
Phylum Arthropoda.
|
| have three body parts - head, thorax and abdomen.
|
| do not have bones! Instead they have an exoskeleton. The primary compound in the exoskeleton which gives it stiffness and strength is chitin.
|
| have six legs.
|
| have one or two pairs of wings as an adult (with some
exceptions).
|
| have one pair of antennae (singular -
antenna) on the head.
|
| have two compound
eyes made up of many small simple eyes called ommatidia (singular -
ommatidium). In addition, most insects have one to three
simple eyes called ocelli (singular - ocellus).
|
| transform as they grow through a process called metamorphosis.
 | The most advanced types of insects go through four stages
-
egg, larva, pupa and adult.
This is called
complete metamorphosis.
The larval stage does little except eat and grow.
Larvae may be slow-moving like a worm or caterpillar or they may have be fairly
active with well-developed feelers and legs. Ordinarily a larva has a constant
appearance throughout its life. But a few species of insects (mainly certain beetles
and flies) have more than one kind of larva! These are said to undergo hypermetamorphosis.
The pupa is a resting stage where the body of the insect is transformed into the adult.
Usually a special outer covering is formed to protect the helpless creature at that
time.
- Butterflies make a chrysalis.
- Some flies make a puparium.
- Moths use silk to spin a cocoon.
What emerges after pupation is something totally
unlike the larva - the adult - with wings and a different body, legs and mouthparts.
Insects who with complete metamorphosis include: Beetles, butterflies, moths,
scorpionflies, fleas, true flies, caddisflies, thrips, lacewings, antlions, bees, wasps
and ants.
|
| Many insects have a three stage
metamorphosis -
egg, nymph and adult.
This is called
gradual metamorphosis.
What hatches from the egg is a small version of the adult, except it lacks wings.
The young live on the land (a few live in the water, but do not have gills) and molt as
they grow. The final molt reveals a creature with fully-developed wings - the adult.
Insects with gradual metamorphosis include: true bugs, roaches, cicadas, leafhoppers,
lice, termites, mantids, earwigs, crickets, grasshoppers and walking sticks.
|
| Dragonflies, damselflies, stoneflies and
mayflies have incomplete metamorphosis, which also has three stages - egg, naiad and adult.
Naiads are aquatic and possess gills. They look like an insect, but are different
from the adults. When done growing, they emerge from the water and shed their skin
to become an adult.
Mayflies also have the distinction of being the only type of insect that molts after
becoming an adult! The first adult is called a subimago, which promptly molts again - wings and all - and becomes the imago, or true adult.
|
| The most primitive types of
insects - springtails, bristletails and silverfish - have no observable difference between
young and adults. They are said to have no metamorphosis.
|
|
Insects are the most successful type of creature on Earth.
Indeed, as many as 1 out of every 4 species of life on our planet is some type of
beetle! There are ~900,000 named species of insects in the world. More than
86,000 species live in North America and an estimated 15,000+ of those may be found in
Kansas.
The following list is based on "Insects in Kansas, 3rd edition"
by Stephan White and Glenn Salsbury of the Kansas Department of Agriculture. It
is meant to be representative rather than comprehensive. For a pdf version of this
list (68K), click here  .
(On a Windows system, download the file by right clicking on the link and choose
"Save Target As" to save it to your hard drive, then open it from there.
You will need Acrobat Reader to view this file. If you don't have that software
already, you can get it for free from Adobe.)
| Order of Springtails (Collembola) |
Family Poduridae
Water Springtail – Podura aquatica
Family Sminthuridae
Alfalfa Springtail – Sminthurus medialis
| Order of Bristletails and Silverfish (Thysanura) |
Family Machilidae
Machilid – Machilis variabilis
Family Lepismatidae
Silverfish – Lepisma saccharina
| Order of Mayflies (Ephemeroptera) |
Family Ephemeridae
Giant Mayfly – Hexagenia limbata
| Order of Stoneflies (Plecoptera) |
Family Perlidae
Stoneflies
| Order of Walking Sticks (Phasmatodea) |
Family Heteronemiidae
Walking Sticks
| Order of Crickets, Grasshoppers and Katydids
(Otrhoptera) |
Family Acrididae
Lubber Grasshopper – Brachystola magna
Four-spotted Grasshopper – Philbostroma quadrimaculatum
Slant-faced Grasshopper – Mermiria bivittata
Carolina Grasshopper – Dissosteira carolina
Three-banded Grasshopper – Hadrotettix trifasciatus
Toothpick Grasshopper – Leptysma marginicollis
Differential Grasshopper – Melanoplus differentialis
Pictured Grasshopper – Dactylotum bicolor pictum
Family Tridactylidae
Large Sand Cricket – Neotridactylus apicalis
Family Tettigoniidae
Broad-winged Katydid – Microcentrum rhombifolium
Swordbearing Katydid – Neoconocephalus spp.
Gladiator Katydid – Orchelimum spp.
Family Gryllacrididae
Cave Cricket – Ceuthophilis spp.
Camel Cricket – Udeopsylla robusta
Family Gryllidae
Field Cricket – Gryllus assimilis
House Cricket – Acheta domesticus
Snowy Tree Cricket – Oecanthus fultoni
Family Gryllotalpidae
Mole Crickets
| Order of Earwigs (Dermaptera) |
Family Carcinophoridae
Earwigs
| Order of Mantises (Mantodea) |
Family Mantidae
Mantids
| Order of Cockroaches (Blattodea) |
Family Blattidae
Oriental Cockroach – Blatta orientalis
American Cockroach – Periplaneta americana
Family Blattellidae
German Cockroach – Blattella germanica
Wood Roach – Parcoblatta bolliana
| Order of Termites (Isoptera) |
Family Rhinotermitidae
Eastern Subterranean Termite – Reticulitermes flavipes
| Order of Booklice and Barklice (Psocoptera) |
Family Liposcelidae
Booklice
Family Psocidae
Barklice
| Order of Biting Lice (Mallophaga) |
Family Philopteridae
Birdlice
Family Trichodectidae
Mammal Chewing Lice
| Order of Sucking Lice (Anoplura) |
Family Pediculidae
Head Louse – Pediculus humanus capitus
Family Pentatomidae
Green Stink Bug – Acrosternum hilare
Spined Soldier Bug – Podisus maculiventris
Family Coreidae
Leaf-footed Bug – Leptoglossus phyllopus
Boxelder Bug – Boisea trivittata
Family Lygaeidae
Large Milkweed Bug – Oncopeltus fasciatus
Chinch Bug – Blissus leucopterus
Longnecked Seed Bug – Myodocha serripes
Family Tingidae
Lace bugs
Family Phymatidae
Ambush Bugs
Famly Reduviidae
Wheel Bug – Arilus cristatus
Family Gerridae
Water Strider – Gerris remigis
Family Notonectidae
Backswimmer – Notonecta undulata
Family Corixidae
Water Boatman – Sigara alternata
Family Nepidae
Water Scorpion – Ranatra fusca
Family Belostomatidae
Electric Light Bug – Lethocerus griseus
Toe Biter – Belostoma flumineum
Family Gelastocoridae
Toad Bug – Gelastocoris oculatus
| Order of Aphids, Leafhoppers and Cicadas (Homoptera) |
Family Flatidae
Citrus Planthopper – Metcalfa pruinosa
Family Cercopidae
Twolined Spittlebug – Prosapia bicincta
Family Cicadidae
Bush Cicada – Tibicen dorsata
Dog Day Cicada – Tibicen pruinosa
Periodical Cicada – Magicicada septendecim
Prairie Cicada – Melampsalta calliope
Family Cicadellidae
Saddled Leafhopper – Coladonus clitellarius
Family Membracidae
Buffalo Treehopper – Stictocephala bisonia
Family Psyllidae
Hackberry Nipplegall Maker – Pachypsylla celtidismamma
Family Aphidae
Aphids
Family Dactylopiidae
Cochineal Insect – Dactylopius coccus
Family Diaspididae
Pine Needle Scale - Chionaspis pinifoliae
| Order of Thrips (Thysanoptera) |
Family Thripidae
Grain Thrips – Limothrips cerealium
| Order of Nerve-winged Insects (Neuroptera) |
Family Sialidae
Alderflies
Family Corydalidae
Dobsonfly – Corydalus cornutus
Family Mantispidae
Mantispid – Climaciella brunnea
Family Chrysopidae
Lacewings
Family Myrmeleontidae
Antlions
Family Ascalaphidae
Owlflies
Family Cicindelidae
Tiger Beetles
Family Carabidae
Caterpillar Hunter – Calosoma scrutator
Bluemargined Ground Beetle – Pasimachus elongatus
Ground Beetle – Galerita janus
Family Dytiscidae
Predacious Diving Beetle – Cybister fimbriolatus
Family Gyrinidae
Whirligig Beetle – Dineutus assimilis
Family Silphidae
Carrion Beetle – Nicrophorus marginatus
Family Staphylinidae
Rove Beetles
Family Lucanidae
Stag Beetle – Pseudolucanus placidus
Family Scarabaeidae
Dung Beetle – Dichotomius carolinus
May Beetle – Phyllophaga spp.
Tenlined June Beetle – Polyphylla decemlineata
Green June Beetle – Cotinus nitida
Family Elmidae
Scott’s Riffle Beetle – Optioservus phaeus
Family Buprestidae
Metallic Wood Borers
Family Elateridae
Eyed Click Beetle – Alaus oculatus
Click Beetle – Neotrichophorus carolinensis
Family Lampyridae
Eastern Firefly – Photinus pyralis
Family Cantharidae
Goldenrod Soldier Beetle – Chauliognathus pennsylvanicus
Family Lycidae
Netwinged Beetle – Calopteron terminale
Family Coccinelidae
Sevenspotted Lady Beetle – Coccinella septempunctata
Pinkspotted Lady Beetle – Coleomegilla maculata
Family Tenebrionidae
Darkling Beetles
Family Meloidae
Blister Beetles
Family Cerambycidae
Locust Borer – Megacyllene robiniae
Flowerloving Longhorn – Typocerus sinuatus
Cottonwood Borer – Plectrodera
scalator
Red Milkweed Beetle – Tetraopes tetrophthalmus
Family Chrysomelidae
Threelined Potato Beetle – Lema trilineata
Dogbane Beetle – Chrysochus auratus
Sunflower Beetle – Zygogramma exclamationis
Elm Leaf Beetle – Pyrrhalta luteola
Spotted Cucumber Beetle – Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi
Tortoise Beetle – Deloyala guttata
Family Rhynchitidae
Rose Curculio – Merhynchites bicolor
Family Curculionidae
Acorn weevils – Curculio spp.
Milkweed Curculio – Rhyssomatus lineaticollis
Ironweed Curculio – Rhodobaenus tredecimpunctatus
| Order of Ants, Bees and Wasps (Hymenoptera) |
Family Siricidae
Pigeon Tremex – Tremex columba
Family Ichneumonidae
Longtailed Megarhyssa – Megarhyssa atrata
Megarhyssa Wasp – Megarhyssa macrurus
Family Pelecinidae
Pelecinid Wasp – Pelecinus polyturator
Family Chrysididae
Cuckoo Wasp – Chrysis smaragdula
Family Mutillidae
Velvet Ants
Family Scoliidae
Scoliid Wasp – Scolia bicincta
Family Formicidae
Western Harvester Ant – Pogonomyrmex occidentalis
Acrobat Ant – Crematogaster lineolata
Black Carpenter Ant – Camponotus pennsylvanicus
Family Vespidae
Potter Wasp – Eumenes spp.
Eastern Yellowjacket – Vespula maculifrons
Common Paper Nest Wasp – Polistes exclamans
Family Pompilidae
Tarantula Hawk – Pepsis formosa
Family Sphecidae
Steelblue Cricket Hunter – Chlorion aerarium
Black & Yellow Mud Dauber – Sceliphron caementarium
Great Golden Digger Wasp – Sphex ichneumoneus
Great Black Wasp – Sphex pennsylvanicus
Pipe Organ Wasp – Trypoxylon politum
Cicada Killer – Sphecius speciosus
Family Halictidae
Sweat Bees
Family Megachilidae
Leafcutter Bee – Megachile parallela
Family Anthophoridae
Carpenter Bee – Xylocopa virginica
Family Apidae
Bumble Bee – Bombus pennsylvanicus
Honey Bee – Apis mellifera
| Order of Caddisflies (Trichoptera) |
Family Hydropsychidae
Seinemaking Caddisflies
Family Phryganeidae
Giant Casemaker Caddisfly – Phryganea cinerea
Family Leptoceridae
Longhorned Casemaker – Nectopsyche candida
| Order of Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera)
Top of page |
Family Incurvariidae
Yucca Moth – Tegeticula yuccasella
Family Psychidae
Bagworm – Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis
Family Gelechiidae
Redbud Leaffolder – Fascista cercerisella
Family Yponomeutidae
Ailanthus Webworm – Atteva punctella
Family Sesiidae
Glorious Squashvine Borer – Melittia gloriosa
Family Cossidae
Carpenterworm Moth – Prionoxystus robiniae
Family Tortricidae
Codling Moth – Cydia pomonella
Family Limacodidae
Spiny Oakslug Caterpillar – Euclea delphinii
Family Crambidae
Grape Leaffolder – Desmia funeralis
Family Pterophoridae
Geranium Plume Moth – Amblyptilia pica
Family Geometridae
Buttercup Moth – Xanthotype urticaria
Chickweed Geometer – Haematopsis grataria
Family Lasiocampidae
Eastern Tent Caterpillar – Malacosoma americanum
Family Saturniidae
Imperial Moth – Eacles imperialis
Io Moth – Automeris io
Polyphemus Moth – Antheraea polyphemus
Luna Moth – Actias luna
Cecropia Moth – Hyalophora cecropia
Family Sphingidae
Tomato Hornworm – Manduca quinquemaculata
Elm Sphinx – Ceratomia amyntor
Osage Orange Sphinx – Ceratomia hageni
Small Eyed Sphinx – Paonias myops
Big Poplar Sphinx – Pachysphinx modesta
Snowberry Clearwing – Hemaris diffinis
Pandorus Sphinx – Eumorpha pandorus
Abbott’s Sphinx – Sphecodina abbottii
Whitelined Sphinx – Hyles lineata
Family Notodontidae
Yellownecked Caterpillar – Datana ministra
White Furcula – Furcula borealis
Family Arctiidae
Bella Moth – Utetheisa bella
Saltmarsh Caterpillar – Estigmene acrea
Fall Webworm – Hyphantria cunea
Giant Leopard Moth – Ecpantheria scribonia
Figured Tiger Moth – Grammia figurata
Yellow Collared Scape Moth – Cisseps fulvicollis
Family Noctuiidae
Shortlined Chocolate – Agyrostrotis anilis
Sweetheart Underwing – Catocala amatrix
Widow Underwing – Catocala vidua
Beautiful Wood Nymph – Eudryas grata
Army Cutworm – Euxoa auxiliaris
Painted Schinia – Schinia volupia
| Order of Scorpionflies (Mecoptera) |
Family Bittacidae
Hangingflies
Family Panorpidae
Scorpionflies
| Order of True Flies |
Family Tipulidae
Crane Flies
Family Culicidae
Mosquitoes
Family Tabanidae
Deer Fly – Chrysops vittatus
Black Horse Fly – Tabanus atratus
Family Asilidae
Robber Flies
Family Nemestrinidae
Tangleveined Fly – Neorhynchocephalus volaticus
Family Bombyliidae
Bee Flies
Family Dolichopodidae
Longlegged Fly – Condylostylus sipho
Family Syrphidae
Hover Flies
Family Otitidae
Picturewinged Fly – Delphinia picta
Family Tephritidae
Round Goldenrod Gall Maker – Eurosta solidaginis
Family Muscidae
House Fly – Musca domestica
Family Calliphoridae
Greenbottle Fly – Phaenicia sericata
Family Sarcophagidae
Flesh Flies
Family Tachinidae
Tachinid Flies
| Order of Fleas (Siphonaptera) |
Family Pulicidae
Fleas
Insect Links:
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- This page was spun by Jim Mason -
Questions or comments? Send Email to Jim Mason 
Or write us at:
Great Plains Nature Center
6232 E. 29th Street North
Wichita, KS 67220-2200
Call: 316-683-5499
Fax: 316-688-9555
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