Invertebrate Zoology/Insects

Chapter 15 ~ The Arthropods
Class Insecta

Contents ~ Introduction ~ Protozoans ~ Metazoans ~ Sponges ~ Cnidaria
Ctenophores ~ Flatworms ~ Nemerteans ~ Pseudocoelomates ~ Annelids ~ Mollusks
Arthropods ~ Chelicerates ~ Crustaceans ~ Insects ~ Echinoderms

Insect larva ~ Barnacle ~ Long-jawed spider

The insects are a diverse group. Shown: moth larva, Marsh fly, and damselfly.

Phylum Arthropoda

Subphylum:	Hexapoda
Class:	Insecta

Orders

Subclass Apterygota

Symphypleona - globular springtails

Subclass Archaeognatha (jumping bristletails)
Subclass Dicondylia

Monura - extinct
Thysanura (common bristletails)

Subclass Pterygota

Diaphanopteroidea - extinct
Palaeodictyoptera - extinct
Megasecoptera - extinct
Archodonata - extinct
Ephemeroptera (mayflies)
Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies)
Infraclass Neoptera
- Blattodea (cockroaches)
- Mantodea (mantids)
- Isoptera (termites)
- Zoraptera
- Grylloblattodea
- Dermaptera (earwigs)
- Plecoptera (stoneflies)
- Orthoptera (grasshoppers, crickets, katydids)
- Phasmatodea (walking sticks, timemas)
- Embioptera (webspinners)
- Mantophasmatodea (gladiators)
- Superorder Hemipterodea
  - Psocoptera (booklice, barklice)
  - Phthiraptera (lice)
  - Hemiptera (true bugs)
  - Thysanoptera (thrips)
- Superorder Endopterygota
  - Miomoptera - extinct
  - Megaloptera (alderflies)
  - Raphidioptera (snakeflies)
  - Neuroptera (net-veined insects)
  - Coleoptera (beetles)
  - Strepsiptera (twisted-winged parasites)
  - Mecoptera (scorpionflies, etc.)
  - Siphonaptera (fleas)
  - Protodiptera - extinct
  - Diptera (true flies)
  - Trichoptera (caddisflies)
  - Lepidoptera (butterflies, moths)
  - Hymenoptera (ants, bees, wasps, etc.)

Introduction to the Insects

In terms of number of species described, the Subphylum Hexapoda is the largest in the Phylum Arthropoda. Hexapods (meaning "six legs or feet") include the insects (Class Insecta), which dominate terrestrial environments on earth. The subphylum also includes several groups of wingless arthropods of uncertain placement; namely the orders: Diplura, Collembola, and Protura.

Read Subphylum Hexapoda
- Read Order Diplura
- Read Order Collembola
- Read Order Protura
Read Class Insecta (Follow links as necessary to understand the terminology; Also included are:)