Lecture - 24 : ORDERS: ISOPTERA AND THYSANOPTERA

Order: Isoptera
Iso – Similar; Pteron – wings
Similar winged insects; Termites or white ants
1. These are small to medium sized social living and polymorphic insects with
well developed caste system
2. Antennae are moniliform (some times filiform also)
3. Compound eyes present in winged forms, median ocillus wanting.
4. Mouth parts typical biting type with powerful mandibles.
5. Apterous, brachypterous or winged. In winged forms, the front and hind wings
are similar in size, shape and venation, when at rest the wings are held flat
over the body and extend beyond the tip of abdomen. Wings are membranous
with some what reduced venation and are capable of being shed by means of
basal structures.
6. Legs short and stout. Tarsus usually 4 segmented
7. Frontal gland is a characteristic termite organ which attains its greatest
Developmentin soldiers.It is formed by a group of hypodermal cells in the
median line of frons. It is sac like gland which communicate to the exterior by
frontalpore, which opens in a shallow depression, on the surface of the head
where the cuticle is pale, which is known as frontanella. It appears to have
defensive functions
8. Anal cerci short or very short.
9. Metamorphosis simple or incomplete
10. Caste system : Following are the difference castes that are usually seen in a
termite colony.

A) Reproductives or Pirmary reproductives: (King& Queen)

These are the highly developed individuals sexually. They have fully
developed wings and compound eyes and are usually heavily pigmented. The males
are often small. Queens sometimes live for several years. The kings and queens are
usually produced in large numbers at certain seasons. They leave the colony in a
swarm, mate and individual pairs establish new colonies, wings are shed after
mating leaving remanents called stubs. The queen termite attains enormous size
after mating and the obesity is known as physogastry.

B) Supplementary reproductives:
They have short wings and less heavily pigmented, usually have smaller eyes.
They sometimes carry on extensive reproduction in the colony and supplement the
queen in building the colony.

C. Workers:
These are sterile wingless adults. They are pale in colour, lack compound
eyes. Mandibles relatively small. They collect food and feed queens, soldiers and
newly hatched young ones. They build up nests, passage ways, tunnels and
galleries. They form the bulk of the colony.

D. Soldiers:
These are also sterile wingless adults with greatly enlarged head and
mandibles. Slightly larger than workers, may or may not have compound eyes. They
protect the colony. Two types of soldiers may be seen. (1) Mandibulate type (2)
Nasute type (Nasuti). In nasute type, the individuals have the head prolonged
anteriorly into a narrow snout through which a sticky secretion is exuded. Mandibles
are reduced in these.
The food of termites is the cast skins and feaceses of other individuals, dead
individuals and plant materials such as wood and wood products. Termites
frequently groom each other with their mouth parts as a result of the attraction of
some secretions available on the body (trophallaxis – Mutual exchange of food i.e
secretions on the body).

Family: Termitidae

Included about 2/3rd of recent isopterns

1 Frontanella present
2. Pronotum of workers is narrow with a raised anterior lobe, saddle shaped
3. The scale or stub of the front wing is shorter than pronotum. Wing margin is
more or less hairy. RS Reduced / absent.
4. Cerci with 1 or 2 semented
5. These are all ground dwelling with wide range of food habits.
Eg: Odontotermes obesus, Microtermes obesi.

Order: Thysanoptera
Thysano: Fringed and pteron: wing
Eg. Thrips (fringed wings)

1. Small to minute slender bodied terrestrial insects

2. Antennae short moniliform, 6-10 segmented, usually with sense cones or
sensoria on 3rd or 4th segments
3. Compound eyes conspicuous with 3 ocelli in winged forms
4. Mouth parts asymenetrical, right mandible is rudimentary, lacerating and
sucking or rasping and sucking type with three stylets. Mouth cone is formed
by the labrum, labium and the maxillae which extend ventrally between the
front coxae.
5. Winged or wingless. wings when fully developed are long and narrow with
highly reduced venation (with few no veins). The wings are fringed with long
hairs on the margins.
6. Legs short, tarsi 1 or 2 segmented with 1 or 2 claws, with a bladder like
terminal protrusable vesicle (hence known as Physopods previously) which at
rest is retracted and invisible. When walking, it is exerted out by means of
blood pressure and enable the insect to walk on any kind of surface.
7. Abdomen is elongate with 10-11 segments, usually tapering posteriorly
8. Cerci absent
9. Metamorphosis is accompanied by one or two inactive pupal instars i.e
intermediary between simple and complete.
10. Parthenogenetic type of reproduction is very common and in many species
males are rarely seen.
Family: Thripidae

1. This is the largest and most important injurious family in thrips.

2. Antennae 6-9 segments not conical with sense cones. Antennae ends in 1 or
segmented apical style. 4th segment usually enlarged.
3. Winged / wingless. If winged, the wings are narrow and pointed at the tip and
fringed with long hairs on the margins.
4. Ovipositor normally well developed and down curved
5. Tarsi sometimes with claw like appendages at apex of 1st or 2nd segment.
Eg: Onion thrips -Thrips tabaci
Chilli thrips - Scirtothrips dorsalis
Lecture - 25 : ORDER: HEMIPTERA

Hemi: Half; Pteron: Wings

Suborder: Heteroptera includes true bugs

1. Small to large mostlty terrestrial, some are acquatic

2. Antennae fairly long, 4 or 5 segmented compound eyes well develpped. Ocelli
when present are two in number
3. Mothparts piercing and sucking type and with slender segmented beak
(modified labium) that arises from the front part of the head and usually
extends back along the ventral side, some times as far as the bases of hind
coxae. The beak and rostrum serves as a sheath for the four piercing stylets,
two outer mandibular and two inner maxillary stylets. The inner maxillary
stylets fit very close together with central ridge in the groove and form dorsal
food channel and ventral salivary channel. There are no palpi.
4. Pronotum large, the mesonotum exhibits five fold division, among which
scutellum is very prominent
5. Winged and wingless.When winged, the fore wings are basally thickened and
membranous apically and are known as Hemelytra. The hemelytron is
composed mainly of regions (corium, clavus and membrane). In some insects,
a narrow strip of corium along the costal margin is set off from the reminder of
corium by a suture and is called embolium. In a few hemiptera, a cuneus is
set off by a suture from the apical part of corium. Hind wings are entirely
membranous and are slightly shorter than forewings. At rest the wings are
held flat on the body. Alary polymorphism is seen.
6. Odoriferous glands or repugnatorial glands or scent glands or stink glands are
present which open near hind coxae on the sides by ventral pores giving out
unplesant odour
7. Ovipositor small with two pairs of valves or well developed for inserting their
eggs in plant tissues.
8. Anal cerci absent
9. Metamorphosis simple
Family: Pentatomidae (Stink bugs or shield bugs)

Medium to large insects, most common and abundant of bugs that produce
disagreeable odour.Broad shield like.

1. Head with lateral margins concealing bases of antennae

2. Antennae usually 5 – segmented. Ocelli almost always present
3. The pronotum broad and shield shaped. Scutellum large triangular some
times extends posteriorly to the extent of covering the wings entirely.
4. In hemelytron, corium large extending to anal margin. Membrane with many
longitudinal veins, arising from a vein which is nearly paralelled to the apical
margin of corium.
5. Four pairs of odoriferous glands are present on dorsum of abdomen of the
nymphs
6. The eggs are usually barrel shapped with spines on the upper end.
Eg: Green (stink) bug – Nezara viridula,
Red pumpkin bug -Aspongopus janus
Cabbage painted bug – Bagrada cruciferarum

Family: Lygaeidae Seed bugs or Chinch bugs

Small bugs, hard bodied

1. Antennae 4 segmented inserted down on the sides of the head, apical

segment is larger
2. Compound eyes and ocelli are well developed
3. 4 to 5 unbranched simple veins in the membrane of hemelytra. Cuneus is
lacking, clavus is elongate
4. Metathoracic gland openings are present.
5. In some, the front femora moderately swollen with 2 rows of teeth beneath
6. Coxa rotator, tarsi 3 segmented, pulvulli present
Eg. Dusky cotton bug – Oxycarenushyalinipennis
Groundnut pod bug –Aphanussorididus
Family: Miridae (Capscidae) Mirid bugs

1. Medium or small, usually delicate insects

2. Ocelli absent
3. Rostrum is 4 segmented
4. Cuneus is present
5. Empodium is indistinct. Tarsi almost invariably 3 segmented
6. Majority live on plant juices, some prey on small arthropods
Eg. Tea mosquito bug - Helopeltis antonii
Predator on rice BPH - Cyrtorhinos liwidipennis

Family: Pyrrhocoreidae (Pyrrhocoreids), red cotton bugs or cotton strainers

1. They exhibit red and black colourations

2. Ocelli absent
3. More branched veins and ceels present in hemelytra
4. Coxa is rotatory and tarsi 3 segmented with pulvilli
Eg.Dysdercus cingulatus – red cotton bug

Family : Coreidae Leaf footed bugs

Medium to large, long and narrow bugs

1. Antennae 4 segmented sitiuated well upon the sides of the head above a line
drawn from the eyes to the base of the beak. Ocelli present.
2. Head narrower, shorter than pronoutm, scutellum smaller.
3. In hemelytra, richly branched veins are present.
4. In most of the species, either or both the hind femora and tibiae may have
conspicuous enlargements or leaf like dilations and hence the name leaf
footedbugs.
5. Tarsi – 3 segmented pulvilli present.
6. Metathoraccic gland openings present
Eg Rice gundhi bug- Leptocorisa varicornis
Pod bugs :Clavigralla gibbosa on pulses
 ---

Lecture - 26 : ORDER:HEMIPTERA

Sub-order: Homoptera. Homo: Alike; Pteron: Wings (uniform wings)

Jassids, Aphids, mealy bugs, whiteflies etc

Differences between heteroptera and homoptera

Heteroptera Homoptera

1 Pronotum usually large Pronotum small and collar like

2 Gular region present and it is Gular region absent or very small and
sclerotized (the maxillary plates membranous
meet and fuse ventrally to form
gula)

3 Forewings hemelytra Forweings uniform in consistency

4 Wings fold flat over the body at Wings held roof like over the body
rest

5 Beak or rostrum arise from the Beak or rostrum arise from the posterior
front part of the head and base of part of the head and base of rostrum
the rostrum not touching anterior extending between anterior coxae
coxae

6 Tarsi – 3 segmented antennae 4-5 Tarsi 1-3 segmented antenna 3-10

segmented, odoriferous glands are segmented, wax glands are present.
present

Characters of the suborder: Homoptera

This suborder contains a large and diversified group of insects and is closely related
to the hemiptera.

1. These are minute to small insects and are distributed widely

2. Head is deflexed and not generally constricted behind to form a neck.
3. Compound eyes well developed, ocelli absent in apterous form but 2 to 3 in
winged forms
4. Antennae well developed and usually 3 to 10 segmented
5. Mouth parts piercing and sucking type, stylets often exceedingly long,
retractile, rostrum arising from the back of the head, in some cases appearing
to arisebetween anterior coxae. In some adults like male coccids the mouth
parts are vestigial or absent
6. Thoracic segments generally fused together and not distinguishable from
abdomen in wingless forms. Pronotum small and collar like.

7. Winged or wingless when winged the four wings are uniform in consistency
and the wings are held roof like over the body at rest. Alary polymorphism is
prevalent. In male coccids only one pair i.e forewings are present.
8. Wax glands or honey tubes usually well developd in most of the members of
this order.
9. In most of the species, the life history is very complex involving sexual and
parthenogenetic generations winged and wingless individuals.
10. Usually undergo simple metamorphosis. In some species, the last nymphal
instar Is quiescent and pupalike.

Family Cicadellidae : (Jassidae) : Jassids or leaf hoppers

1. Slender, usually tapering, posteriorly, wedge shaped insects usually rest in a

position ready for jumping. When disturbed they leap often several feet.
2. Antennae minute, bristle like, 3 segmented
3. One or two rows of small spines are present on hind tibia which is most
important feature
4. Both young ones and adults have the characteristic habit of running sideward
or diagonally
5. These are very important vectors of viral diseases.
6. Ovipositor well developed and adopted for lacerating plant tissues for egg
laying.
7. Many excrete honeydew through anus.
8. Forewings are somewhat thickened and often brightly coloured
9. Anal veins 1A and 2A do not unite to form ‘Y’ shaped vein.
Eg: Cotton leafhopper - Amrasca biguttula biguttula
Paddy leafhopper - Nephotettix virescens –
Mango hoppers - Amritodes atkinsoni,Ideoscopus clypealis s

Family: Delphacide Plant hoppers

This is the largest family among the plant hoppers

1. Most of the species are small with reduced wings

2. The characteristic feature of this family is the presence of large mobile apical
spur on hind tibiae
3. Costal cell is absent in the winged forms
4. Alary polymorphism is very common winged, wingless and brachypterous
forms occur in the some species.
Eg Brown plant hopper of paddy (BPH)- Nilaparvata lugens

White backed plant hopper on rice (WBPH) -Sogatella furcifera

Family: Aphididae Aphids or plant lice

This family constitute a large group of small soft bodied, pear shaped, fragile
phytophagous insects that are frequently found in large numbers sucking the sap
from various parts of plants

1. Antennae fairly long

2. Rostrum usually long and well developed
3. The characteristic feature of aphids is the presence of a pair of cornicles on
the dorsal surface of 5th or 6th abdominal segments (It is believed that they
produce waxy substances)
4. Winged / Wingless. Alary polymorphism is prevalent. When winged, hind
wings are much smaller with fewer veins. At rest the wings are generally held
vertically above the body.
5. Tarsus – 3 segmened with a pair of claws
6. Nine pairs of lateral spiracles present
 7. Excrete honeydew through anus (honey dew consists of excess sap, excess
sugars and waste materials) to which ants are attracted,
8. Associated phenomenon in reproduction are parthenogenesis, oviparity and
viviparity
9. Occurrence of alternation of generations. The sexes are unequally developed,
males often being rare. Eg: Myzus persicae – Tobacco aphid, Aphis gossypi –
Cotton aphid, Aphis craccivora – Groundnut aphid
Family: Pseudococcidae Mealy bugs

1. Females are wingless, elongate oval with distinct segmentation. Body covered
with powdery wax or filamentous waxy secreations.
2. Legs well developed. No instar is sessile. All the insect stages are able to
move because of legs
3. Eggs are placed in a loose cottony waxy material
Eg: Brinjal mealy bug – Planococcus insolitus
Citrus mealy bug - Planococcus citri
Sugarcane mealy bug - Saccharicoccus sacchari

Family: Coccidae Scale insects (Soft scales)

1. The females in this group are flattened, elongate oval insects with obscure
segmentation and hard smooth exoskeleton or covered with wax or tough
scales. They are wingless, legs present or absent and the antennae absent or
much reduced.
2. Males are active, 1st pair of wings well developed, 2nd pair reduced to halters.
3. Tarsus if present 1 – segmented with a single claw.
4. Metamorphosis complex. 1st instar nymph has legs & antennae and active
known as crawlers after 1stmoult, become sessile a waxy or scale like covering
is secreted. In males last instar preceeding adult is queicent and called pupa.
Females have one less instar than males.
5. Oviparous, ovoviviparous
6. Excrete honey dew like aphids
Eg: Pulvinaria psidi – Guava scale, Icerya purchasi - cottony cushion scale
Family: Aleurodidae White flies

1. These are minute insects 1 to 3 mm in length and resemble tiny moths with
opaque body
2. The adults have the wings covered by a fine whitish dust or powdery wax
giving white colour
3. Antennae well developed usually 7 segmented
4. Adults of both sexes are winged and the wing venation is highly reduced
5. Tarsi with two equal segmented with paired claws
6. The characteristic feature of this family is the presence of vasiform orifice
which opens on the basal surface of the last abdominal segment in both
nymphs and adults. The opening is provided with an operculum and beneath
it a tongue shaped organ known as linguae is present. The anus opens within
the orifice at the base of the linguae. Honey dew is excreted through this
orifice
7. Honey dew is excreted in large quantities particularly by larvae through anus
8. Compound eyes well developed and ocelli two in number
9. Metamorphosis is complex. The 1st instar young ones are active but
subsequent immature stages are sessile and look like scales. The scale like
covering is a waxy secretion of the insect. The wings develop internally during
metamorphosis and the early instars are called larvae. The next to the last
instar is quiescent and is called pupa. The wings are given out at the moult of
last larval instar.
10. The eggs are very charcaterstic being provided with a pedicel, which
sometimes exceeds the length of the egg.
Eg: Sugarcane whitefly – Aleurolobus barodensis

Cotton whitefly - Bemisia tabaci

Castor whitefly - Trialeurodes ricini

 ENDOPTERYGOTA

Lecture - 27 : ORDER: LEPIDOPTERA

(Lepido = Scales; Pteron = wing) scaly winged insects

Butterflies and Moths

One of the largest orders. Small to large insects with flat overlapping scales and
hairs on the body, wings and other appendages giving various beautiful colours to
the insects

1) Head relatively small free with small neck. Compound eyes are relatively
large, two ocelli present one on each side close to the margins of compound
eyes.
2) Mouthparts siphoning type represented by a long coiled proboscis formed by
the galeae of maxillae. Maxillary palpi small or acking.Mandibles nearly
always lacking except in one family micropterygidae. A few species have
vestigial mouth parts and do not feed in adult stage. Labial palpi usually well
developed.
3) Forewings usually large. In males of various insects, groups of more
specialized scales known as androconia occur on the upper surface of wings
serving as outlets of odoriferous glands. These are fringed distally with each
tip finely divided.
4) Larvae are called caterpillars usually eruciform. Most of the larval stages are
phytophagous and are very serious pests of crops. Caterpillars are with well
developed head and cylindrical body consisting 13 segments (3 thoracic and
10 adbominal). Head bear 2 ocelli on each side and very short bristle like
antennae. Mouth parts mandibulate with well developed mandibles. Labium
with a spinneret, a median process for spinning silk. Each of the thoracic
segments bears a pair of legs which end in a point. Abdominal segment 3 to
6 and 10th usually bear a pair of prolegs which are fleshy and broad bearing a
number of tiny hooks known as crochets at their end. Caterpillars have well
developed silk glands and are usually peripneustic.
5) Pupae are usually obtect and generally enclosed in a cocoon. Butterflies do
not Make a cocoon and their pupae are called chrysalis.
6) Adults are harmless except fruit sucking moths.
7) Natural silk is a product of this order
8) Undergo complete metamorphosis.

Differences between moths and butterflies

Character Moths Butterflies
Behaviour Nocturnal Diurnal
Antennae Pectinate, plumose Clavate
Ocelli Present Absent
Mandibles Present Absent
Frenulum Present Absent
Humeral lobe Of Undeveloped Greatly developed
hindwings
Wings at rest Held roof like over body Folded vertically upward
Cu2 vein of forewing Present Absent
Abdomen Large and stout Comparatively small and
slender
Pupa Obtect pupa within a Obtect pupa without cocoon.
cocoon It is a naked pupa brightly
coloured and supported by
silken girdles,called as
chrysalis

Family : Noctuidae

Noctuid moths, army worms, cutworms etc

1. This is the largest family in the order comprising medium size nocturnal,
moths attracted to light and sugar mixture
2. Antennae generally filiform, maxillary palpi normally vestigial and labial palpi
long and ocelli present
 3. The forewings cryptic and some are coloured similarly with the surrounding
4. In forewing M2 arises close to M3 than to M1. Cubitus appears four branched.
In hind wings Sc and R fuse for very short distance at the base of the discal
cell.
5. In the larvae, only primary setae are present and the crochets are generally in
a uniordinal series. Usually 5 pairs of abdominal legs are present but in some
1st or 1st and 2nd pairs may be aborted and the larvae are semiloopers. Most of
them are highly polyphagous and nocturnal. They are called army worms / cut
worms by their habits. Majority feed on foliage and some are stem borers
6. Pupation is in an earth cell in the soil and some pupae are characterized by
the presence of labial palpi and maxillae extending to the caudal margin of the
wings
7. Adults have a pair of well developed tympanal organs at the base of abdomen
Eg: Climbing cutworm of paddy - Mythimna separata
Redgram podborer - Helicoverpa armigera
Tobacco cutworm- Spodoptera litura
Fruit sucking moth of citrus - Othereis fullonica
Family: Lymantriidae

Tussock moths and gypsy moths

1. Medium sized, dull coloured, nocturnal moths with females of most species
having only rudimentary wings (Notolophus sp) proboscis is atrophied
2. Ocelli absent. Antennae bipectinate in males and pectinate or plumose in
females – sexual dimorphism
3. Wing venation resembles the Noctuidae. Sc and R fused to some extend and
basal areole is larger in some species in hind wings
4. The caudal extremity of females is often provided with the large tuft of anal
hairs which are ddeposited as a covering on egg masses
5. Caterpillars are densly hairy, often with thick compact dorsal tufts on certain
segments
6. Osmeteria are frequently present on 6th and 7th abdominal segments. Some
are provided with urticating hairs which cause irritation
7. Pupation takes lace in a cocoon above ground and are charecterized by
specific evident setae
 Eg. Yellow hairy caterpillar on Paddy – Psalis recuris
Hairy caterpillar on fruit trees, pulses and castor – Euproctis fraternal and
E.Scintillans
Casuarina hairy caterpillar – Lymantria incerta
Family: Sphingidae
Sphinx or hawk moths or horn worms
1) Medium to large sized, heavy bodied powerfully flying moths with spindle
shaped body tapering and pointed both anteriorly and posteriorly.
2) Antennae are thickened in the middle or towards the tip and hooked at tips
3) The proboscis is very long in most of the species and attains its greatest
length in the family and usually the adults produce sound by forcing air
through proboscis.
4) The forewings are elongate (long and narrow) with oblique outer margin. Hind
wings small and usually brightly coloured. Sc and Rs in wings connected by a
cross vein near middle of discal cell.
5) Larvae of most species have a conspicuous horn on the dorsal surface of 8th
abdominal segment which is relatively longer in 1st instar and hence the
name horn worms.
6) Pupation occurs freely in a cell in the ground or in a very loose cocoon on the
surface among leaves. In some genera the proboscis projects from the body
resembling the handle of a pitcher.
Eg: Gingelly deaths head (robs honey from honey comb)- Acherontia styx
Sweet potato sphinx - Herse convolvuli
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Lecture - 28 : ORDER: LEPIDOPTERA (contd.)

Family: Pyralidae

Snout moths

1. These are small and delicate moths with well developed antennae and ocelli
present
2. Labial palpi well developed and projected forward appearing as a snout infront
of the head and hence are called snout moths.
3. Forewings elongate or triangular with cubitus appearing four branched. Hind
wings are usually broad with SC and R usually close together, fused or
closely parallel for a short distance beyond discal cell.
4. Larvae are naked, prolegs variable but always present in VI segment.
Generally internal feeders.
5. Adult females are generally provided with a tuft of anal hairs at the caudal
extremity which are deposited as a covering on the egg masses
Eg: Paddy stem borer-Scirpophaga incertulas,
Jowar stem borer-Chilo partellus –
Brinjal shoot and fruit borer-Leucinodes orbonalis

Family: Gelechiidae

Small to minute moths, usually cryptic coloured

1. Labial palpi are long and curved, the terminal segment is long and pointed
2. The venis R4 and R5 in the forewings are stalked at the base. Forewings are
trapezoidal and narrower than the hind wings
3. Hindwings usually have the outer margin, curved and RS and M1 stalked.
Eg: Angoumois grain moth -Sitotroga cerealella,
Cotton pink boll worm - Pectinophora gossypiella
Groundnut leafminer – Aproaerema modicella
Family: Lycaenidae blues, coppers and hair streaks
1. Medium sized butterflies with upper surface of wings being metallic blue or
coppery, dark brown or orange and under surface more sombre with delicate
streakings or dark centered eye spots. Hind wings are procided with delicate
tail like prolongations
2. The sexes frequently exhibit great differences in colouration, the male is pale
shining blue and the female is irridiscent brown
3. Each compound eye is surrounded by a rim of white scales and the antennae
ringed with white
4. Legs are normal except fore legs of males which may possess more or less
shortened tarsi and may be wanting in one or both claws
5. Larvae are characteristically onisciform with both ends tapering end with
broad projecting sides concealing the legs
6. Pupa is attached to the surface by its anal end and is held by a central grith of
silk, rarely it is subterranean
7. Larvae are voracious feeders, some species are carnivorous
Eg.Virachola isocrates – Pomegranate fruit borer or Anar butterfly
Lampides beoticus and catechrysops cnejus – Red gram blue butterfly

Family: Arctiidae

Tiger moths or wooly bears

1. Stout bodied, medium sized conspicuously and brightly spotted or banded

nocturnal moths.
2. Sc and Rs in hind wings are usually fused near or beyond the middle of the
discal cell.
3. Caterpillars are usually densely hairy and some are called as wooly bears
since they curl into a compact mass when disturbed.
4. Many species are capable of producing sound.
5. Pupation in a cocoon and the cocoons are made of silk and larval body hairs.
Eg: Red hairy caterpillar - Amsacta albistriga
 Black hairycaterpillar -Pericallia ricini
Sunhemp hairy caterpillar -Utetheisia pulchella

Family: Papilionidae

Swallow tail butterfly

1. Medium sized to large butterflies , most of which have tail like prolongation in
the hindwings
2. Cubitus in the forewings appears 4 branched.
3. Larva is smooth with a series of fleshly dorsal tubercles or occasionally a
raised prominence on the 4th segment
4. Pupa, characteristic in having two lateral cephalic projections
Eg: Papilio demoleus, Papilio polytes -Citrus butterflies

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Lecture - 29 : ORDER: COLEOPTERA.

Coleo = sheath, pteron= wing

Beetles and weevils

Elytra are sheath like (fore wings)

1. This is the largest order in class insecta comprising about 1/3rd or 40% of the
known insect species.
2. Minute to large sized with leathery or horny integument.
3. Head highly sclerotized free, normal or prolonged in to a snout as in weevils.
Ocelli usually absent.
4. Antennae variable usually 11 segmented
5. Mouth parts are chewing type with well developed mandibles. The mandibles
attain their greatest length in the males of many of the stag beetles
(Lycanidae)
6. Prothorax large and freely movable, mesothorax much reduced and fused
with metathorax and the tergum of these segments is divisible in to
prescutum, scutum and scutellum.
7. Two pairs of wings present. Forewings are horny or leathery known as elytra
which atleast always meet to form a straight mid dorsal suture. Hindwings
membranous. The wings are highly reduced in few beetles.
8. Legs well developed for walking, running and tarsal segments are variable.
9. Abdomen usually 10 segmented. First tergum membranous and one or more
of the sterna from the first to third are aborted in many species, the terminal
abdominal segments are refractile and tubular, thus functioning as an
ovipositor (eg: cerambycidae).
10. The larvae are known as grubs and generally thoracic legs are present.
11. Pupa exarate, pale coloured and are invested by a thin soft cuticle.
12. Most of the adults possess stridulatory organs and these are variable.
13. Metamorphosis is complete and complex.
Family: Coccinellidae

Lady bird beetles or Coccinellid beetles.

1. Beetles of moderate size, oval, convex dorsally and horizontal ventrally,

brightly coloured or spotted.
2. Head partly concealed from above by the pronotum.
3. Antennae usually clavate, short and partly concealed.
4. The legs are short and hidden under the body. Tarsi 4 segmented but appear
to be 3 segmented since this 3rd segment is small and concealed in the
deeply bilobed second segment. Tarsal formula is 4:4:4. Tarsal claws are
teethed at the base.
5. Grubs are usually covered with minute tubercles or spines known as setose or
rugose and are usually flattened.
6. Elytra coveres the abdomen completely.
7. Both adults and grubs of most of the species are highly predacious feeding on
aphids, coccids, mites, psyllids and other soft bodied insects.
8. Genus epilachna are phytophagous

Eg.Predator on aphids – Menochilus sexomaculata

Predator on cottony cushion scale-Rodalia cardinalis
Lady bird beetle on brinjal -Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata

Family: Bruchidae

Pulse beetles or seed beetles

1. Short, stout bodied beetles with the body narrowed anteriorly

2. The head is produced anteriorly in to a short and broad snout
3. Antennae serrate or pectinate
4. Prothorax prominent, somewhat triangular wider than long and its notum is
greatly narrowed anteriorly
5. Elytra shortened, never cover the tip of abdomen, abdominal tip bluntly
rounded
6. Legs short, tarsi, 5-segmented hind femur more or less thickened and toothed
beneath. Tarsal formula is 5:5:5
7. Larvae usually undergo hypermetamorphosis. First instar with well developed
legs and possess spined or toothed thoracic plates to aid in entering smooth
and hard seeds. After first moult it becomes partially / wholly apodous.
Eg. Pulse beetles : Callsobruchus chinensis,

Callosobruchus maculatus
Lecture - 30 : ORDER: COLEOPTERA (contd.)

Family : Scarabaeidae

Chafer beetles, horn beetles, dung rollers, root grubs

1. These are heavy bodied oval or elongate usually convex beetles.

2. Head often slender, recurved, sometimes toothed or bilobed frontal horn.
3. Antennae 8-11 segmented and lamellate type.
4. Prothorax large simple or with horny structure.
5. Elytra not usually completely covering the abdomen
6. Tarsi 5 segmented, tarsal formula 5:5:5, the hind tibiae more or less dilated
with the outer edge toothed.
7. Adults usually feed on foliage. Grubs typically scraboid and feed on roots
known as root grubs which are very serious pests of most of the crops, while
some feed on organic matter living in manure pits.
8. The grubs are sluggish, stout and usually white in colour and called as white
grubs.
Eg.Oryctes rhinoceros – Rhinoceros bettle on coconut
Holotrichia serrata – Root grub on sugarcane
Anomalavarians – Chafer beetles on fruit trees.

Family: Chrysomelidae

Flea beetles, leaf beetles

1. Usually small to medium, oval or spherical beetles with the upper surface of
the body generally bare and shining, frequently with metallic colouration
2. Antennae short or of moderate length usually with 11 segments and except in
this they resemble to cerambycids
3. Legs short, hind femora enlarged for jumping in many forms. Tarsi 5
segmented, but appear to be 4 segmented since the 4th segment is small and
concealed in the notch of the bilobed 3rd segment. Tarsal formula is 5:5:5,
tibial spurs absent usually.
 4. Adults generally feed on leaves causing numerous holes and also on flowers.
Some grubs feed on foliage, some act as leaf miners and some feed on roots
and stems also
5. Abdomen short with 5 visible sternites
Eg: Sweet potato tortoise beetle - Metriona circumdata
Rice hispa - Dicladispa armigera
Pumpkin beetles - Raphidopalpa foveicollis.
Family: Cerambycidae

Longicorn beetles

1. These are elongate and cylindrical beetles with very long filiform / serrate
antennae atleast two thirds as long as the body, capable of being flexed
backwards and usually inserted on prominent tubercles.
2. Prothorax is narrow or as wide as mesothorax usually spined or tuberculate
3. Elytra usually cover the body but sometimes may leave the posterior one or
two segments exposed in few cases.
4. Legs well developed tarsi 5 segmented but appear to be 4 segmented since
the 4th segment is small and concealed in the notch of the bilobed 3rd segment.
All tibiae with two well developed spurs. Tarsal formula is 5:5:5
5. Most of the grubs are tree borers. Few are confined to roots with powerful
mandibles boring into deep and hardwood also and are highly destructive.
6. Most of the adults feed on flowers and some of them produce squeaking
sound when picked up.
Eg.Mango stem borer - Batocera rufomaculata
Grapevine stem gridler - Sthenias grisator
Longicorn beetles on cucurbits - Apomycyna pertigera
Family: Apionidae

1. Antennae clavate, rarely geniculate

2. Trochanter elongated.
3. Ventral surface of mentum without projecting setae
4. In the larvae, the abdominal segments have only two dorsal folds and the
frontal sulci extended to the mandibular articulation.
Eg. Sweet potato weevil – Cylas formicarius
Family: Curculionidae

Weevils, snout beetles.

1. Minute to large species characterized by the head prolonged to form a

pronounced snout or rostrum of variable length and shape. In many species, it
exhibits sexual dimorphism being better developed in females acting as a
boring instrument for placing the eggs.
2. Antennae geniculate and clubbed arising about the middle of the snout
3. Palpi reduced and rigid, mouth parts small and arranged at the end of the
snout
4. Legs are short or very long, tarsi 5-segmented 4th one ofter small.
5. Wings well developed rudimentary or absent
6. Abdomen with 5 visible sternites
7. Adults and larvae are phytophagous and stored grain pests.
8. Larvae usually apodous, curved with developed head.
Eg: Red palm weevil - Rhynchophorus ferrugenius

Sweet potato weevil-Cylas formicarius

Rice weevil - Sitophilus oryzae

Lecture - 31 : ORDER: HYMENOPTERA

Hymen = Membranous; pteron = wing (Naked membranous wings)

Wasps, bees, ants, sawflies etc

1) This is the most beneficial order in the class insecta comprising of parasites,
predators and bees involved in poliination and honey production. Most of
them are social living.
2) Varied in size and shape. Head prominent remarkably free with small neck.
3) Compound eyes well developed and ocelli usually 3 or absent.
4) Antennae variable usually exhibit sexual dimorphism being longer in males
5) Mouth parts primarily adopted for biting and often for lapping and sucking
also. mandibles always present
6) Usually two pairs of naked membranous wings are present with reduced
venation. Hind wings are smaller and have a row of tiny hooks on their
anterior
margin by which they attach to the front wings. Usually stigma is present in
the
forewings along the costal margin near the apex.
7) Legs slender, trochanter 1 or 2 segmented
8) Abdomen usually basally constricted to form pedicel or petiole. The 1st
abdominal segment fused with metathorax and known as propodaeum.
Second segment forms pedicel. The remaining region of the abdomen is
bulged one known as gaster.
9) Ovipositor very well developed and modified for sawing, boring, piercing,
stingingetc.
10) Larvae are known as grubs with well developed head and usually apodous
11) Pupa exarate and a cocoon is generally present
12) Metamorphosis complete and complex also
Family : Tenthredinidae

Sawflies

1. Stout wasp like insects without abdominal pedicel. Adults feed on flowers,
foliage or while some feed on small insects (carnivorous). Medium sized and
brightlycoloured insects.
2. Antennae 3 to 6 or 8 to 11 segmeted, filiform or setaceous
3. Trochanter 2 –segmented, front tibia posses 2 apical spurs.
4. ovipositor well developed with 2 pairs of flattended plates
5. In many species, the two sexes are different coloured. Parthenogenesis is
very common
6. Larvae are eruciform, exclusively phytophagous. The body segments are
usually subdivided by transverse folds in to annulets. Resemble to those of
lepidopteran larvae but are provided with 6 to 8 pairs of abdominal legs which
are devoid of crochets. Many larvae are provided with glands resembling
osmoteria which open on the sternum of each of the first seven abdominal
segments.
7. Pupation takes place in an elongated oval silken cocoon or in an earthern cell
Eg: Mustard sawfly - Athalia lugens proxima
Family: Ichneumonidae

1. One of the largest families in the entire class – insecta. They are slender
wasp like insects.
2. Antennae longer with more than 16 segmentes and filiform
3. Trochanter 2 segmented. Legs are provided with conspicuous tibial spurs and
strong claws, tarsus 4 segmented
4. In forewings, the costal cell is wanting and have two recurrent veins while
braconids have one or none
5. Abdomen long and slender, petiolate, petiole usually curved and expanded
apically.
6. Ovipositor very long often longer than the body arising anterior to the tip of
abdomen
 7. Most of the members are endoparasites and undergo complete
metramorphosis i.e. hypermetamophosis. Caudal prolongation of tail is
present, in 1st instar larvae
Eg: Larval parasite on jowar stem borer - Xanthopimpla stemmator –
Larval parasite on stem borers of paddy and
sugarcane top borer - Isotima javensis

Family: Branconidae Braconids

1. Closely related to Ichneumonids

2. Minute to small parasitic insects
3. Abdomen sessile or sub sessile or petiolate
4. Costal cell is wanting in forewings with one recurrent vein
5. Ovipositor well developed
6. Unlike Ichneumonids, many of these pupate in silken cocoons on the outside
of the body of the host
7. Poly embryony occurs in a few species of this family
Eg: Larval parasite on jower stem borer - Apanteles flavipes
Larval parasite on black headed caterpillar of coconut, Bracon hebator

Family: Trichogrammatidae

1. Minute insects with three tarsal segments

2. Microscopic hairs on wings arranged in rows
3. Egg parasitoids on lepidopterans
Eg: Trichogramma minutum, T. Chilonis, T. Japonicum
Lecture - 32 : ORDER: DIPTERA

Dis = Twice, pteron = wings

Flies and mosquitoes (two winged insects or true flies)

1. These are small and soft bodied insects with prominent head and small neck
2. Eyes large : usually larger in males, holoptic / dichoptic
3. Ptilinum or frontal sac is characteristic feature of cyclorrhapha indicated by the
frontal or ptilinal suture. It is a retractile bladder like organ employed to break
open the puparium
4. Antennae mostly 3 segmented (except in Nematocera ) and aristate
5. Mouth parts sucking type usually forming a proboscis. In many they are
piercing and sucking and in others they are sponging (lapping) with labium
distally expanded in to a pair of fleshy lobes.
6. Mesothorax large supporting the functional wings, pro and metathoracic
segments small and fused with mesothorax
7. Only front pair of wings present. Hind pair modified into halters which act as
balancers
8. Legs well developed, tarsus usually 5 segmented pulvilli and an empodium
Usuallypresent
9. Metamorphosis is complete
10. Larvae eruciform and apodous known as maggots mostly amphipneustic
11. Pupa either free or enclosed in the hardened larval cuticle known as puparium
(coarctate pupa)

Family: Cecidomyiidae

Gall midges; gall flies

1. Minute to small delicate flies, somewhat hairy with small head.

2. Antennae long, moniliform with whorls of hairs. Legs long resembling
mosquitoes, tibiae without spurs.
3. Wings broad with few longitudinal veins (3 to 5) for the most part unbranched
with no obvious cross veins
 4. Larvae live in plants forming galls, some occur under bark, in decaying
vegetation and a few are predacious or parasitic on aphids / scales etc., The
head is greatly reduced without mandibles. In the last larval instar most of the
species possess a sternal spatula or breast bone on the ventral side of the
prothorax.
5. Paedogenesis is seen in some members of this family
Eg: Rice gall midge -Orseolia oryzae
Hessian fly on wheat -Phytophaga destructor

Family: Tephritidae (Trypetidae)

1. Small to medium flies, slightly hairy / bristly

2. Head large broad with small neck
3. Wings large mostly pictured. Sub Costa bends apically formed at almost a
right angle and then fade out without reaching the margin
4. Middle legs tarsi with spurs
5. Ovipositor very well developed horny and flattened and usually 3 segmented
6. Adults are visitors of flowers, fruits and foliage
7. Larvae phytophagous, Amphipneustic (1st’s last pair of spiracle functional)
Eg: Fruit fly on cucurbit- Dacus cucurbitae
Fruit fly on guava- Chaetodacus incisus

Family: Agromyzidae

Leaf miner flies

1. These are small blackish or yellowish flies

2. Femora of the legs bristled
3. Wings by hyaline or pictured
4. Vibriosae are generally present (a pair of stout bristles on each side of the
face just above the oral margin longer than other bristles on the vibrissal
ridge)
5. Most of the larvae are phytophagous, mine in the leaves producing
characteristic blotches
 Eg: Redgram podfly- Melanagromyza obtusa
Pea leaf miner -Phytomyza atricornis

Family: Tachinidae

Tachinid flies (Parasitic flies)

1. Small to medium, conspicuously bristly or hairy, active flies

2. Head is large and free. Arista on antennae often bare
3. Pteropleural bristles are present. Post scutellum is prominent
4. Wings are large , rarely mottled, Rs cell narrowed or closed apically
5. Abdominal sternite usually overlapped by the tergites on the sides. Abdomen
clothed with long, conspicuous marginal, dorsal and apical bristles
6. Larvae mostly parasitoids. Few are saprophagous. Metapneustic in first instar
and amphipneustic subsequently. Distinctly segmented
Eg.Sturmiabimaculata – parasitoid on Spodopteera and other caterpillars
Stomatomiabezziana- parasitoid on black heade caterpillar on coconut
Exorista civiloides – parasitoid on many caterpillars

Family: Muscidae

Flower flies, root maggots, shoot flies, house flies

1. Small to medium dark coloured flies

2. Fine erect hairs are present on the under surface of scutellum (mesothorax
portion) and have more than one stero pleural bristles.
3. Abdomen bristly with somewhat constricted base usually 4-5 segmented
4. Vein Cu2 + 2A is short and do not reach the wing margin
5. Larvae cylindrical and truncate posteriorly some are phytophagous, some are
saprophagous while a few are parasitic.
Eg: Jowar shootfly-Atherigona soccata .

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