The Creator, if He exists, must have "an inordinate fondness for beetles".

J. B. S. Haldane

Entomology LabWeek 3

ORTHOPTEROID ORDERS&

DERMAPTERA

Blattodea

Isoptera

Mantodea

Phasmatodea

Orthoptera

Dermaptera

Order CharacteristicsBlattodea Antennae slender, filiform

Pronotum oval, shield-like, covering much of head and thorax Legs adapted for running; tarsi 5-segmented Front wings thickened; hind wings membranous, pleated Cerci short, multi-segmented

Isoptera Body pale in color, somewhat ant-like in appearance but with a broader junction between thorax and abdomen / Compound eyes small or absent / Head large and cylindrical or small and round Antennae beaded / Mouthparts chewing; sometimes with large mandibles

Phasmatodea Antennae long, slender / Mouthparts mandibulate, prognathous / Body long, cylindrical Prothorax shorter than meso- or metathorax / Leg segments long and slender Tarsi 5-segmented / Wings often reduced or absent / Cerci short, unsegmented

Mantodea Filiform antennae / Head triangular with well-developed compound eyes / Mouthparts mandibulate, hypognathous / Prothorax elongate with large, spiny front legs adapted for catching prey Front wings thickened, more slender than hind wings / Tarsi 5-segmented / Cerci short, multi-segmented

Orthoptera Antennae filiform / Mouthparts mandibulate, hypognathous / Pronotum shield like, covering much of thorax / Front wings narrow, leathery (tegmina); hind wings fan-like / Hind legs usually adapted for jumping (hind femur enlarged) / Tarsi 3- or 4-segmented / Cerci short, unsegmented

Dermaptera Antennae slender, beaded / Mouthparts mandibulate, prognathous / Tarsi 3-segmented Front wings short and leathery / Hind wings semicircular and pleated / Cerci enlarged to form pincers (forceps)

TodayKey all 13 ortopteroid specimens to

order and key all orthoptera specimens to family

Next Week

Hemipterans, Neuropterans, Mecopterans