Insect Order

Example(s)

Number of Species

Characteristics

Neuroptera

Lacewings,antlions

4000

Characterized by long antennae, chewing mouthparts, and two pairs of large, intricately veined wings.

Coleoptera

Beetles, weevils,

fireflies

330,000

Largest order of insects, characterized by hard bodies and chewing mouthparts. Adults are plant feeders and typically have two pairs of wings.

Strepsiptera

Stylopids

370

Minute, beetle-like insects that parasitize other, larger insects. Females live sedentary lives and are visited by

males, which fly rapidly with wings that produce a tiny humming noise.

Mecoptera

Scorpionflies

400

Oldest group of fully metamorphosing insects. They have slender bodies and heads with beaklike extensions.

Siphonaptera

Fleas

1400

Wingless parasites that suck the blood of mammals or birds. Powerful hind legs enable them to jump from one host to another. Members of this group were

responsible for spread of plague in medieval Europe.

Diptera

Mosquitoes,fruit

flies,black flies

85,000

Known as the true flies, considered the most accomplished fliers of all insects, with an ability to fly backward, forward, and sideways. With few exceptions, they all have a single pair of wings, as well as structures called halters that help them achieve balance in flight.

Lepidoptera

Butterflies,moths

160,000

Two pairs of wings, covered with thousands of overlapping scales of varying colors. They have large compound eyes and mouthparts modified for sucking plant nectar. Caterpillars, the larval form, mostly feed on plant leaves.

Trichoptera

Caddisflies

5000

Adults resemble dull moths, but their wings are covered with fine hairs rather than scales. They have soft bodies and poorly developed mouthparts, and they

usually live near water.

Hymenoptera

Bees, wasps,ants

145,000

Some are known for their highly evolved social organization, but most species are nonsocial. All have mouthparts designed for chewing and undergo complete metamorphosis.