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Immature Insects. Rick Story, Department of Entomology. Types of Insect Development Incomplete (egg nymph or larva adult) Complete (egg larva pupa adult). Insect Growth. - external skeleton -grows with successive molts -each stage is an instar
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Immature Insects Rick Story, Department of Entomology
Types of Insect Development Incomplete (egg nymph or larva adult) Complete (egg larva pupa adult)
Insect Growth -external skeleton -grows with successive molts -each stage is an instar -typically 5-7 instars for larval growth
Insect Metamorphosis -change in body form from immature to adult stage
Incomplete Metamorphosis Immatures look like adults except: Smaller Lack wings Lack genitalia
Incomplete Metamorphosis Immatures look like adults: Same mouthparts Feed on same plants Occur together with adults Have compound eyes
Complete Metamorphosis -immatures do not look like adults -have an inactive pupal stage for transformation
Complete Metamorphosis Immatures unlike adults: Different mouthparts Different host plants Do not typically occur together Lack compound eyes
Identification of Immatures Incomplete development orders – characters similar for nymphs and adults Complete development orders- characters completely different
Main orders with complete development Neuroptera : green + brown lacewings Lepidoptera : caterpillars (moths) Hymenoptera : sawfly larvae, ants, bees, wasps Diptera : maggots (flies) Coleoptera : white grubs, weevils, wireworms (beetles)
Neuroptera -Larvae are predators, with well developed legs and an elongated body -sickle shaped mandibles with blood groove diagnostic character
Lepidoptera -Larvae (caterpillars) are plant feeding and have chewing mouthparts -caterpillar body form diagnostic (cylindrical body, thoracic legs well developed, abdominal prolegs present)
Diptera -Larvae with variable feeding habits and chewing mouthparts -body with head capsule partially to completely reduced, no thoracic legs, soft bodied, white, often occur in damp habitats.
Coleoptera -Larvae with chewing mouthparts, plant feeding or predators -Have well developed head capsule, thoracic legs present (usually), and lack abdominal legs