Basics of Entomology

Clyde S. Gorsuch

Department of Entomology

Clemson University

Good or Bad??

Many are beneficial Parasites Predators Pollinators

All others cause no damage

The Good and the Bad“Good Guys”

Lady Beetles Syrphid Flies Lacewings Predatory Thrips Parasitic Wasps Predatory Mites

“Bad Guys” Japanese Beetles Aphids Thrips Whiteflies Caterpillars Spider Mites

ClassificationKingdom (Animal or Plant)

Phylum Class Order Family Genus Species

• Common name

Classification of the House FlyKingdom: Animal

Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Diptera Family: Muscidae Genus: Musca Species: domestica

• Common name: house fly

Common Names

Helicoverpa (Heliothis) zea corn earworm

tomato fruitworm

cotton bollworm

Insects: Good or Bad??

~ 100,000 species in the continental U.S.

~ 1,000 present in yard at any one time

~ 150 - 3,000 may be pests

Arthropods: I

Class: Arachnida spiders, mites, ticks two body parts four pairs of legs

Spider and Mite Body Parts

cephalothorax

abdomen

Arthropods: II

Class: Crustacea sowbugs, pillbugs, crayfish two body parts five pairs of legs

Arthropods: III

Class: Insecta bugs, beetles, flies, butterflies, etc. three body parts

• head, thorax, abdomen three pairs of legs 0, 1, or 2 pairs of wings

Insect Body Parts

HeadThorax

Abdomen

Non-Specialized Legs

Specialized Legs: Grasping

Specialized Legs: Digging

Specialized Legs: Jumping

Specialized Legs: Running

WingsStrengthened by veinsMay be bare, scaled, hairy“ptera” = Greek “with wings”

Diptera = two-winged Hemiptera = half-winged Hymenoptera = membrane winged Isoptera = equal wing

Wings

Mouthparts

Very important Chewing Piercing-Sucking

Damage symptoms reflect the type of mouthparts

Chewing

Includes the majority of the chewing insects Most Beetles Caterpillars Grasshoppers Katydids

Chewing

Physical removal of plant tissue May be external May be internal

Frass is usually present Frass is sawdust-like excrement

• (“bug poop”)

Chewing

External feeding Feeding on leaf surface Physical removal of plant tissue Old damage may resemble a spot Frass may be present

Chewing

Internal Feeding Leafminers Old damage may produce a shothole Should find frass

Piercing-Sucking

Thrips Laceration of epidermis Exuding sap is sucked up

Piercing-Sucking (Thrips)May produce flecks or specks

May produce russeting

May produce dwarfing or savoying

Piercing-Sucking

Hemipterous Subtype Chinch Bugs Stink Bugs/Plant Bugs Aphids Scale Insects

Piercing-Sucking

Mite Subtype Spider Mites, Eriophyid Mites,

Cyclamen Mites

Piercing-Sucking

Mouthparts are needle-likeEntry hole very smallSymptoms highly variable

Piercing-Sucking Hemipterous Subtype

Symptoms Yellowing Flecks & Specks

Piercing-Sucking Hemipterous Subtype Mite Subtype

Symptoms

Gall formation (tumefactions)

Piercing-Sucking Mite Subtype

Symptoms Bronzing Curl Dwarfing

Coleoptera (Beetles)

Demaptera (Earwigs)

Diptera (Flies)

Hemiptera (True Bugs)

Homoptera (scales, whiteflies, aphids)

Hymenoptera (bees, wasps, horntails)

Lepidoptera

Butterflies Moths All caterpillars feed on plant

material

Neuroptera (lacewings, etc.)

Orthoptera (grasshoppers, crickets, mantids)

Non-Insects (mites, ticks, spiders)

Questions?

The End