This is a list of all the Orders of insects as recognized by Imms (1957).
Class: INSECTA(Different Group Order of insects)
Sub-class
APTERYGOTA Wingless, primitive insects.
Order
Thysanura Silverfish and other bristletails.
Diplura Minutes creatures living in soil.
Protura More Soil creatures even smaller,
Collembola Springtails .These hop by means of the spring mechanism beneath the abdomen.
Subclass
PTERYGOTA Winged insects though some have more recently evolved without wings.
Pterygota is split into two divisions:
Exopterygota and Endopterygota.
Division
Exopterygota Insects whose wings develop externally and which have an incomplete metamorphosis, the young resembling the adults.
Order
Ephemeroptera Mayflies.
Odonata Dragonflies. Water insects
Plecoptera stonesflies.
Grylloblattodea Soil insects found in America.
Orthoptera Grasshoppers and Crickets.
Phasmida Stick Insects and Leaf Insects.
Dermaptera Earwigs.
Embioptera Web-spinners (not found in N. Europe).
Dictyoptera Cockroaches and Mantids.
Isoptera Termites.
Zoraptera Minute insects, not well known.
Psocoptera Book Lice.
Mallophaga Biting Lice.
Anoplura Sucking Lice.
Hemiptera Plant-sucking Bugs.
Thysanoptera Thrips. Tiny insects with feathery wings, usually found in flowers.
Division
Endopterygota Insects whose wings develop from inside the body. They have a pupal stage and a complete metamorphosis.
Order
Neuroptera Alder Flies, Snake Flies and Lacewings.
Mecoptera Scorpion Flies.
Lepidoptera Butterflies and Moths.
Trichoptera Caddis Flies. Often moth-like, with aquatic larvae which construct for themselves a portable home.
Diptera Flies (two-winged, like the House Fly).
Siphonaptera Fleas.
Hymenoptera Ants, Bees and Wasps.
Coleoptera Beetles.
Strepsiptera Parasites of Bees.
These are some of the most important and better known insects.
ODONATA and allied water-associated insects.
Dragonflies and damselflies from the Order Odonata . Their swift and majestic flight quickly draws attention to their presence around lakes, streams and other watery places. Some are coloured with the most beautiful iridescent hues which, unfortunately, quickly fade to a dull brown on dead specimens in a collection. The more delicate demoiselle flies with bright powder-blue bodies are a common sight In many places and their rather quiet fluttering is in contrast to the dashing about of the larger dragonflies. In general the males are more brightly coloured than the females. In courtship the dragonflies have a unique flight, usually actually mating in flight, with
their long slender bodies intricately curled round each other. Sometimes the male flies in tandem with the female as she flies around and settles to lay her eggs. The eggs are laid in the stems of water plants just below the surface. The nymph lives amongst the water weeds feeding on almost any living water creature of suitable size. When larger the nymph is a vicious carnivore. It has a special adaptation of the mouthparts, a long mask which folds away below the head, and this it shoots out at its prey giving the larva a much longer reach than would be expected. The larva crawls out of the water when fully grown and hangs from a stem beside the water, in a very thin pupal case which still resembles the larva. From this the adult dragonfly emerges.
Mayflies (Ephemeroptera) have a larval form that is reminiscent of the dragonfly but most mayfly larvae eat algae and vegetation. They can live for years under water, changing their skin 20 times or more before they form the pre-adult stage (like a dragonfly) and eventually emerge as an adult, only to live for a few hours.
Caddis Flies (Trichoptera) are features of wet places and they can fly quite far afield. There are many species, all with a characteristic triangular moth-like appearance. Their larvae are especially interesting because of the tubular houses they build for themselves from whatever material happens to be handy. This forms almost undetectable camouflage.
ORTHOPTERA, the Crickets and Grasshoppers.
Crickets and grasshoppers are famous for their songs, and are only rivaled by the Cicadas for the strength of their song : summer would not be summer without them. The way in which this sound is produced has been explained in an earlier chapter. Many species have complicated courtships, carrying out special dances and curious movements. In general it is the males which are particularly active in song. Locusts are included in this family. They are much larger than the average grasshopper and they live in inconceivable swarms. They are found in tropical regions though they often migrate to other parts. Locusts are responsible for devouring anything that grows over vast areas and they are often the cause of famine in Africa. You can watch the typical life history of this family by keeping locusts at home. In captivity they eat only grass and bran flakes. If they escape they are not harmful as they cannot breed outside their normal territory in the wild. The eggs are laid in sand. After 5 weeks the young hoppers emerge and grow steadily, becoming adults 6-8 weeks later, depending on temperature.
