Transcript No Slide Title - Clemson University

Clemson University
Cooperative Extension Service
Clemson University
Cooperative Extension Service
What is it?
Introduction
Clemson University
Cooperative Extension Service
• 100,000 or more insects in North America
• 1,000 at any given time in your back yard
• Vast majority of insects are beneficial
• Less than 3% of insects are considered pests
• Insects destroy millions of dollars in plants
• Transmit diseases
• Attack humans and animals causing discomfort
Classification
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Cooperative Extension Service
• Insects belong to the phylum “Arthopoda”
meaning jointed foot.
• Insects contain a segmented body and a skelton
called an exoskeleton
Clemson University
Cooperative Extension Service
Phylum: Arthopoda
Class: Insecta - insects
Class: Arachnida - spiders, scorpions, ticks
Class: Crustacea - crayfish, sow bugs, shrimp
Class: Diplopoda - millipedes
Class: Chilopoda - centipedes
Morphology
Clemson University
Cooperative Extension Service
All members of the class Insecta possess the
following characteristics:
• three body regions - head, thorax, abdomen
• three pairs of legs - borne on the thorax
• one pair of antennae
• zero to two pairs of wings - attached to thorax
• compound and simple eyes
• respiration by means of an air tube
• reproductive organs at the end of the abomen
Clemson University
Cooperative Extension Service
Head
Clemson University
Cooperative Extension Service
Antennae:
• Several forms
Mouth Parts:
• Piercing - sucking
• Chewing
• Sponging
Antennae
Chewing
Piercing Sucking
Sponging
Legs
Metamorphosis
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Cooperative Extension Service
No
Metamorphosis
Gradual
Metamorphosis
Incomplete
Metamorphosis
Complete
Metamorphosis
Insect Damage
Chewing
insects:
Bite of
and chew
plant
parts
Clemson University
Cooperative Extension Service
Insect Damage
Clemson University
Cooperative Extension Service
Piercing-Sucking insects:
feed on plant sap by
piercing the outer layers of
plant parts and sucking
sap from cells.
Insect Damage
Clemson University
Cooperative Extension Service
Boring
insects:
feed inside
the plant
leaves or
stems
Insect Damage
Clemson University
Cooperative Extension Service
Scale insects:
feed on plant sap by piercing the
outer layers of plant parts and
sucking sap from cells.
Insect Damage
Clemson University
Cooperative Extension Service
Mites:
feed on plant
sap by piercing
the outer layers
of plant parts
and sucking sap
from cells.
Insect Damage
Clemson University
Cooperative Extension Service
Mealybugs:
feed on plant
sap by piercing
the outer layers
of plant parts
and sucking sap
from cells.
Insect Damage
Clemson University
Cooperative Extension Service
Gall forming insects:
Produce abnormal growth on plant parts
due to hormonal interactions
Insect Damage
Clemson University
Cooperative Extension Service
Root feeding
insects:
Reduce the
effectiveness of
roots causing wilts
Insects as Vectors
Clemson University
Cooperative Extension Service
Transmitting
insects:
Move disease
causing
pathogens from
plant to plant
such as the elm
bark beetle
Beneficial Insects
Clemson University
Cooperative Extension Service
• Insects are pollinators
• Parasitic predatory insects destroy
harmful insects
• Insects destroy various weeds as they
injure wanted plants
• Insects improve the physical
condition of soils
Beneficial Insects
Know your
insect
before you
condemn it
to death!!
Clemson University
Cooperative Extension Service