Cockroaches are fast running insects probably closely related to termites (Isoptera ). The oval body is dorso-ventrally flattened and most of the head is hidden from dorsal view by the large pronotum. The antennae are long and filamentous. Most taxa have wings, in at least one sex, but they are not always functional. They do not undergo metamorphosis and the young are miniature copies of the adult.
Coleoptera is a large taxon of insects with about 300,000 described species. The body of most beetles is heavily sclerotized. The forewings are sclerotized elytra, or wing covers, that do not participate in flight. Beetle larvae are known as grubs and do not resemble adults.
Collembolans are small hexapods rarely exceeding 5 mm in length. The 7,000 known species are found in a variety of habitats including leaf litter, soil, shorelines, water surfaces, intertidal zones, snow fields, and caves. They are abundant in the habitats they frequent where they can be the most abundant arthropods. As hexapods, springtails possess a body with head, thorax, and abdomen. The thorax has three segments, each with a pair of legs but no wings.
The true flies, including many familiar and economically important insects such as mosquitoes, black flies, midges, fruit flies, blow flies and house flies.
This large order of insects comprises about 80,000 species. They are the only insects correctly referred to as bugs. Members of this order have sucking mouthparts and a liquid diet, either animal or plant. Adults have two pairs of wings, of which the hindwings are membranous.
This directory is for the Order Hymenoptera, frequently referred to as "eusocial insects", which includes most ants, bees, wasps and sawflies. This category is for specific resources about the Order, sites on individual insects are in one of the subcategories; namely Ants, Bees, or Wasps.
Orthoptera includes some 20,000 species of grasshoppers, crickets, locusts, and katydids, most being herbivores. They are relatively large insects with an enlarged pronotum. The hind femora are large and adapted for jumping. Females have a large ovipositor but male genitalia are not visible externally.
Fleas are small, wingless, laterally compressed blood sucking insects. Most fleas are mammalian ectoparasites but a few parasitize birds. About 2400 species are known. Like most parasites, fleas are highly derived and specialized. The mouthparts are adapted for piercing and sucking and mandibles are lacking. The cuticle is sclerotized and hard and the entire body surface is protected by sclerites.
The silverfish and firebrats, moderate-sized to small insects with three taillike appendages at the end of the abdomen. Similar to the Microcoryphia (Archaeognatha), the jumping bristletails.
A very small order of insects, with about 30 known species. They are less than 3 mm long and are generally found under bark or in humus and leaf litter.