7 Orders of Insects

1. Order Coleoptera- hard exoskeleton (like armor!) i.e. beetles

2. Order Diptera- one pair of wings with halteres i.e. flies and mosquitoes

3. Order Hemiptera- triangle on back i.e. true bug like water striders

4. Order Hymenoptera- social and stinging insects i.e. bees, wasps, ants

5. Order Lepidoptera- moths (feathered antennae) and butterflies (knobs)

6. Order Odonata- long abdomen, notch on wing i.e. dragonflies and damselflies

7. Order Orthoptera- grasshoppers, roaches, mantids

Order Coleoptera-

1. hard exoskeleton (like armor!) i.e. beetles

Blister Beetles Lady Bird Beetles

Order Diptera-

• one pair of wings with halteres i.e. flies and mosquitoes

House FlyRobber Fly

Order Hemiptera-

• triangle on back i.e. true bug like water striders, stink bug

Order Hymenoptera-

• social and stinging insects i.e. bees, wasps, ants

Order Lepidoptera-

1. moths (feathered antennae) and butterflies (knobs)

Order Odonata-

• long abdomen, notch on wing i.e. dragonflies and damselflies

 

           

                                                                                                      

                     

WfHC > Odonata > Hemianax papuensis

Order Orthoptera-

• grasshoppers, roaches, mantids

Use of pesticides

• Insecticides = kill insects• Fungicides = kill fungus• Herbicides = kill plants• Most used so food can travel great

distances• Wash food in dish soap? But some go

into the food!• Health hazards? Leukemia (blood

cancer)?

Overspray?

• Blows away in wind

• Leaches into water

• Contamination of groundwater

• Contamination of wildlife areas

• DDT impacts on bald eagles, pelicans

• Rachel Carsen and Silent Spring

Pesticides are Dangerous and Threaten Public HealthThe toxic pesticides proposed for spraying are harmful to human health, wildlife, and ecosystems. Children and the elderly are most susceptible to the effects of toxic pesticides. In both laboratory studies and occupational settings, the toxic pesticides being used for WNv mosquito control in Massachusetts have been known to cause short- and long-term respiratory problems, immune and nervous system disruption, cancer, and reproductive and learning disorders.

A Report by Toxics Action Center andMaine Environmental Policy Institute Principal AuthorsWilliam C. Sugg, III, Director, Maine Environmental Policy InstituteMatthew L. Wilson, Director, Toxics Action Center

Toxics Action Center29 Temple Place Boston, MA 02111 (617) 747-4389 http://www.toxicsaction.org  Published July, 2001

BiocontrolIPM = Integrated Pest Management• Control of insects in agriculture using little

or no pesticides• Organic food is grown this way (Why is it

expensive?)• Methods

1. use predatory insects (i.e. wasps) to prey onpest2. plant weeds to attract pests away from crops3. alternate crops

4. use pheromones to trap insects5. sterilize males

Research in IPM

• Test that predator will attack pest

• What will introduction of predator do to others in environment

• Compare crops grown with pesticides, little pesticides and no pesticides

• Cost/Benefit to farmer