Classification of insects
- The seven most commonly used categories are:
Kingdom- Animal
Phylum – Arthropoda
Class – Insecta
Order – Lepidoptera (Butterflies and moths)
Family – Noctuidae
Genus – Helicoverpa
Species – armigera
- Generally insects can be classified in two categories viz. Apterygota and Pterygota.
- There are four orders in Apterygota, viz:
Insect Order |
Examples |
Number of Species |
Characteristics |
Diplura |
Japygids |
600 |
Minute insects that are mainly active at night. Found worldwide, usually in soil, they typically have whitebodies, long antennae, and no eyes or wings. |
Protura |
Telson tails |
200 |
Tiny, flightless insects that feed on decayed organic matter. They have cone-shaped heads that lack antennae. |
Collembola |
Snow-fleas |
2000 |
Oldest known group of insects. They have drab colors, are able to leap, and usually live in soil, where they feed on decomposing plant matter. |
Thysanura |
Silverfish |
550 |
Characterized by long antennae and tapering bodies covered in tiny scales. |
The subclass PTERYGOTA is further divided into two groups as:
a) EXOPTERYGOTA
b) ENDOPTERYGOTA