Howtorecognizeinsects PDF

Characteristics of Insects:
How to Recognize Several Common Insect Orders
illustrations and text by Donna Brunet
This guide discusses obvious characteristics of ten common insect orders.

Learning these will help you immediately recognize most of the insects you see
as a member of groups such as dragonflies, beetles and true bugs.
You will also learn to recognize the body type that separates insects from other
animals such as spiders, mites, ticks, and millipedes.
Characteristics of Insects
• exoskeleton
• 3 body regions: head, thorax, abdomen
• 3 pairs of segmented legs
• 1 pair of antennae
• most have 2 pairs of wings (a few insects, such as ants, don’t usually
have wings; some insects, such as flies, only have 1 pair of wings)
You can see some of my insect

photographs on my website at
http://donnabrunet.com/pages/stock.html
They are grouped by insect orders:
• dragonflies and damselflies
• butterflies, moths and skippers
• beetles
• true bugs
Argus Tortoise Beetle
• and others
Web Coupon expires June 30, 2012
Place an order at donnabrunet.com for a growth chart you can use to create a
permanent record of your child’s or grandchild’s height.
They are fabric with a removable and re-usable adhesive.
With the purchase of a growth chart, receive a FREE 5”x7” print

of any image in the “all” print gallery found at
http://donnabrunet.com/pages/prints/all/index.html
This size print normally sells for $15

Just place an order for the growth chart, then email donna@donnabrunet.com
with your requested 5”x7” print and coupon code within 24 hours.
Mention Coupon Code: FIREFLY
Your print will be shipped with your growth chart.
Most insects can fold their wings flat along their bodies.
A few insects can’t fold their wings.
Mayflies hold their wings folded together

away from their bodies.
Dragonflies hold their wings out to the sides.
Damselflies are in the same order as dragonflies. Most hold their wings folded
together over their abdomen; a few hold their wings slightly open in a “V.”
Grasshoppers have hind legs adapted for jumping. They have chewing
mouthparts.
Mantids have front legs adapted

for grabbing other insects for
food.
Bugs have front wings that
are half membranous and half
thickened.
Cicadas have clear wings that they hold roof-like over their bodies and beaks
designed for sucking up liquids. Leafhoppers and planthoppers are in the same
order as cicadas. Their wings are frequently patterned rather than clear but also
hold their wings roof-like over their bodies and suck up plant juices through a
beak.
Like cicadas, Lacewings have clear wings held roof-like over their bodies, but
they have mouths designed for chewing.
The front pair of a Beetle’s wings are thick and hard and
meet in a line down the center of the back. Their hind wings
are membranous and folded under the front wings.
Flies have 1 pair of wings Butterflies have 2 pairs of wings covered with scales
that create colorful patterns.
Butterflies have 2 pairs of wings covered

with scales that create colorful patterns.
Wasps, bees and ants have either 2
pairs of wings, or don’t have wings.
They have chewing mouthparts.
Coming soon: a glossy magazine on insect identification containing more detailed

information and featuring a selection of my images. This new publication will
help you learn how to identify insects to family rather than order or suborder like
this short brochure.
If you would like to be informed when this magazine is available, send an email
to donna@donnabrunet.com.
Termites
If you are trying to decide whether the insects you are viewing in your yard
are termites or ants with wings, take a look at my page describing the ways to
correctly identify members of the two groups.
Iillustrations and text copyrighted Donna Brunet. All rights reserved.
DONNA BRUNET
macro photography
street address:
106 Orr Street
Columbia, Missouri 65201
mailing address:
donna@donnabrunet.com P.O. Box 7482
http://donnabrunet.com Columbia, MO 65205

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Characteristics of Insects:

How to Recognize Several Common Insect Orders

illustrations and text by Donna Brunet

This guide discusses obvious characteristics of ten common insect orders.

• 3 body regions: head, thorax, abdomen

• 3 pairs of segmented legs

You can see some of my insect

They are grouped by insect orders:

• dragonflies and damselflies

• butterflies, moths and skippers

With the purchase of a growth chart, receive a FREE 5”x7” print

This size print normally sells for $15

A few insects can’t fold their wings.

Mayflies hold their wings folded together

Mantids have front legs adapted

Butterflies have 2 pairs of wings covered

Coming soon: a glossy magazine on insect identification containing more detailed

Iillustrations and text copyrighted Donna Brunet. All rights reserved.

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