Rommeleen Khryss E.
Piamonte
B-3L
LIST OF INSECT ORDERS
Protura
Etymology: Proto meaning first
Oura meaning tail
Type of mouthparts: sucking
Number and type of wings: None
Importance: Protura helps breakdown and recycle organic nutrients
Insects under the order: Telsontails
Collembola
Etymology: Coll meaning glue
Embol meaning peg
refers to the collophore, an adhesive organ
Type of mouthparts: Chewing
Number and type of wings: none
Importance: Collembola is considered as the most abundant hexapod on Earth.
Collembola is a vital part of the detritus food web, breaking down
of plant-material, nutrient cycling and in soil fertility enhancement.
Insects under the order: Neelipleona, Entomobryidae, Isotomidae
Diplura
Etymology: Diplo meaning two
Oura meaning tail
Type of mouthparts: chewing
Number and type of wings: none
Importance: Diplura acts as decomposers that helps in the breakdown of organic
nutrients.
Insects under the order: Two-pronged bristletails
Microcoryphia
Etymology: Micros meaning small
Corypha meaning head
Refers to the insects’ small head
Type of mouthparts: chewing
Number and type of wings: none
Importance: Microcoryphia may be a cause of allergies and damages libraries and
museums.
Insects under the order: Jumping bristletails and rock bristletails
Zygentoma
Etymology: Zygon meaning bridge
Refers to the notion that the group is a link to most insect orders
Type of mouthparts: Chewing
Number and type of wings: None
Importance: Zygentoma is considered pest and feed on paper.
Insects under the order: Silverfish and firebrats
Odonata
Etymology: Odon meaning tooth
Refers insects with toothed mandibles
Type of mouthparts: Chewing
Number and type of wings: 2 pairs; membranous
Importance: Odonata feeds on small insects.
Insects under the order: Dragonflies and Damselflies
Ephemeroptera
Etymology: Ephemero meaning but a day
Ptera meaning wing
refers to fact most adults live only a day or short time
Type of mouthparts: Vestigial
Number and type of wings: 2 pairs; membranous
Importance: Ephemeroptera serves as prey to many predators and is important in
nutrient cycling.
Insect/s under the order: Mayflies
Zoraptera
Etymology: Zor meaning pure
Aptera meaning unwinged
Refers to some insects under this order that doesn’t have wings
Type of mouthparts: Chewing
Number and type of wings: 0-2 pairs; Membranous
Importance: Zoraptera assists on decomposing and nutrient cycling.
Insect/s under the order: Zorapterans
Dermaptera
Etymology: Derma meaning skin
Ptera meaning wing
refers to the leathery-like forewings
Type of mouthparts: Chewing
Number and type of wings: None
Importance: Dermaptera have no economic importance, it damages the blossoms of
ornamental plants and feed on leaves and fruits.
Insects under the order: Earwigs
Plecoptera
Etymology: Pleco meaning folded
Ptera meaning wing
Refers to the folded hind wings
Type of mouthparts: Chewing
Number and type of wings: 2 pairs; Membranous
Importance: Presence of Plecoptera indicates clean water. Plecoptera serves as food
for some fish
Insects under the order: Stoneflies
Orthoptera
Etymology: Ortho meaning straight
Ptera meaning wing
refers insects with long, straight front wings
Type of mouthparts: Chewing
Number and type of wings: 2 pairs; Tegmina and Membranous
Importance: Orthoptera is the most dominant group in terrestrial habitat. It causes
economic damages especially in plants and crops.
Insects under the order: Grasshoppers and Crickets
Grylloblattodea
Etymology: Gryll meaning cricket
Blatta meaning cockroach
Type of mouthparts: Chewing
Number and type of wings: None
Importance: None
Insects under the order: ice crawlers
Embioptera
Etymology: Embios meaning lively
Pteron meaning wing
Type of mouthparts: Chewing
Number and type of wings: 0-2 pairs; Membranous
Importance: None
Insects under the order: Webspinners
Phasmatodea
Etymology: Phasm meaning phanthom
Refers to the ability of the insect to camouflage
Type of mouthparts: Chewing
Number and type of wings: 0-2 pairs; Tegmina
Importance: Phasmatodea infesting on trees results to death of tree and causes
damage to the habitat.
Insects under the order: Stick insects and Leaf insects
Mantodea
Etymology: Manto meaning prophet or soothsayer
Type of mouthparts: Chewing
Number and type of wings: 2 pairs; Tegmina and Membranous
Importance: Mantis feeds on other insects.
Insects under the order: Mantis
Blattodea
Etymology: Blatta meaning cockroach
Type of mouthparts: Chewing
Number and type of wings: 2 pairs; Membranous
Importance: Cockroach is the most cosmopolitan pest. It forages for food and water at
night.
Insects under the order: Cockroaches
Isoptera
Etymology: Iso meaning same
Ptera meaning wings
Refers to the similarity of the front and hind wings.
Type of mouthparts: Chewing
Number and type of wings: 0-2 pairs; Membranous
Importance: Termites are decomposers that help in breaking down and recycling of
dead wood.
Insects under the order: Termites
Thysanoptera
Etymology: Thysano meaning fringed or bristled
Ptera meaning wings
Refers to the fringed wings of the insects
Type of mouthparts: Rasping, Sucking
Number and type of wings: 2 pairs; Fringe
Importance: Thysanoptera are vectors of plant pathogens and causes plant
deformities, scarring
and loss of yield.
Insects under the order: Thrips
Hemiptera
Etymology: Hemi meaning half
Ptera meaning wings
Type of mouthparts: sucking
Number and type of wings: 0-2 pairs; Hemelytra
Importance: Hemiptera are valueable biological control agents.
Insects under the order: Bedbugs, cicadas, shield bugs, etc.
Psocodea
Etymology: Psocos meaning gnawed
Ptera meaning wings
Refers to its use of gnawing when eating and the presence of winga
Type of mouthparts: Chewing
Number and type of wings: 0-2 pairs; Membranous
Importance: Psocodea feeds on barks and starchy items.
Insects under the order: booklice, barklice and barkflies
Hymenoptera
Etymology: Hymen meaning membrane
Ptera meaning wings
Refers to the insects’ membranous wings
Type of mouthparts: Chewing
Number and type of wings: 0-2 pairs; Membranous
Importance: Hymenoptera serves as pollinators. It plays a huge role in food.
Insects under the order: Bees, Wasps and Ants
Raphidioptera
Etymology: Raphio meaning needle
Ptera meaning wings
Refers to the long ovipositor present in females
Type of mouthparts: Chewing
Number and type of wings: 2 pairs; Membranous
Importance: Raphidioptera is known as a pest control agent that doesn’t have a
predator.
Insects under the order: snakeflies
Megaloptera
Etymology: Megalo meaning large
Ptera meaning wings
Refers to the insects’ large wings
Type of mouthparts: Chewing
Number and type of wings: 2 pairs; Membranous
Importance: Megaloptera is a predator in aquatic ecosystems.
Insects under the order: Dobsonflies and alderflies.
Neuroptera
Etymology: Neuro meaning nerve
Ptera meaning wings
Refers to the nerve-like veins extending across the wings
Type of mouthparts: Piercing-sucking
Number and type of wings: 2 pairs; Hemelytra and Membranous
Importance: Neuroptera is both a prey to aquatic vertebrates and a predator to
agricultural pests.
Insects under the order: Lacewings, antlions, owlflies and mantidlfies
Strepsiptera
Etymology: Strepsos meaning twisted
Ptera meaning wings
Refers to the large, fan-like hind wing structure in males
Type of mouthparts: 0-2 pairs; Halteres
Number and type of wings:
Importance: Strepsiptera is a vector of disease. Strepsiptera is responsible for the
castration to insects
harboring it.
Insects under the order: Twisted-winged parasites
Coleoptera
Etymology: Koleos meaning sheath
Ptera meaning wings
Refers to the hardened for wing or elytra
Type of mouthparts: Chewing
Number and type of wings: 2 pairs; Elytra and Membranous
Importance: Coleoptera are useful decomposers and nutrient recyclers.
Insects under the order: Beetles, ladybugs, fireflies, etc.
Trichoptera
Etymology: Trichos meaning hair
Ptera meaning wings
Refers to the hair covered wings on insects
Type of mouthparts: Chewing
Number and type of wings: 2 pairs; Hairy
Importance: Trichoptera serves as food to fish and other aquatic vertebrae.
Insects under the order: Caddisflies
Lepidoptera
Etymology: Lepido meaning scale
Ptera meaning wings
Refers to the tiny scales present on the wing on insects
Type of mouthparts: Siphoning, Vestigial
Number and type of wings: 2 pairs; Scaly
Importance: Larvae of Lepidoptera are destructive crop pests. Adult Lepidoptera is
valued for their beauty.
Insects under the order: Butterflies and moths
Siphonaptera
Etymology: Siphon meaning tube
Aptera meaning without wings
Refers to non-winged insects with tube-like mouthparts.
Type of mouthparts: Piercing-sucking
Number and type of wings: None
Importance: Siphonaptera are vectors of diseases.
Insects under the order: fleas
Mecoptera
Etymology: Meco meaning long
Ptera meaning wings
Refers to insects with long wings
Type of mouthparts: Chewing
Number and type of wings: 2 pairs; Membranous
Importance: None
Insects under the order: Scorpionflies and hangingflies
Diptera
Etymology: Di meaning two
Ptera meaning wings
Refers to two-winged insects
Type of mouthparts: Piercing, sucking, lapping
Number and type of wings: 1 pair; Membranous
Importance: Diptera transmits diseases to human and domestic animals.
Insects under the order: House flies, mosquitoes, horseflies, etc.
