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HOW TO KNOW

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INSECTS

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HOW TO KNOW
THE INSECTS

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An illustrated key to the more common tamilies
of insects, with suggestions for collecting, mounting
and studying them.

By

H. E. JAQUES

Professor of Biology

Iowa Wesleyan College

urBdrKev

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^^iwure^eries

Published by the Author
Mt. Pleasant, Iowa

Planographed by John S. Swift Co. .Inc. St. Louis. Chicago. New York, Cincinnati

(Printed in U.S.A. )

First printed as Biological Survey Publications No. 1
Iowa Academy of Science 1936

Copyright 1941 by
H. E. Jaques

Some one has suggested that we show the pronounci-
ation of our name. It doesn't make much difference, for
even our friends have several form^ for it, — but here
it is:

Jaques — Jd'- kwis

The Pictured-Key Nature Series

"How to Know the Insects," Jaques, 1941

"Living Things — How to Know Them," Jaques, 1940

"How to Know the Trees," Jaques, 1941

"Plant Families — How to Know Them," Jaques, 1941

"How to Know the Spring Flowers"

(To be published early in 1942)

Spiral Binding, $1.00 each
Cloth Binding, $1.80 each

Send all orders to

H. E. JAQUES

709 N. Main

Mt. Pleasant, Iowa

NTRODUCTION

1936 federal estimate found 128,429,000 people llvln
•^ er In the United States. Forty-four million four hundre

^eighteen thousand hogs, 11,163,000 horses an
'387,251,000 chickens lived within our borders. Ou
country also had a population of multiplied trillion
of Insects. Some of these Interesting creatures are highly bene
flclal, others greatly hinder our progress. To successfully com
pete with them, we need to know the Insects better.

This book Is designed to make It easy to acquire a read
knowledge of the Insects. It Is closely applicable throughou
North America and should be helpful wherever Insects are studied
Illustrated keys for Identifications of the orders and of th
principal families are given. One common representative of eac
included family Is pictured and briefly described. In all, IS
species of common Insects are thus treated. It should be born
In mind that for each species pictured, there are many other
which space does not permit us to show. When a specimen Is see
to closely resemble one that Is pictured. It will likely be foun
to belong to the same family. If It differs In some details 1
probably represents a species not herein described and will nee
to be referred to more complete literature or to a specialist

Many small families of less common Insects do not appear 1
the keys. Had these been Included the keys would have become tc
cumbersome and difficult for beginners. As the student advance
in his study he will need to turn to special literature for thes
less frequent families.

Reference has been made to many keys and descriptions by othe
authors. Many of the illustrations are original, others have bee
gathered from various sources by permission, recognition for whic
is indicated. Our students have made a large number of the drav\
ings from specimens in the Iowa Survey Collection, tested the key
and helped in other ways. Valued suggestions by teachers v\^o ar
using the book in their classes have resulted in minor changes 1
the second, fourth and fifth printings. Space forbids any attemp
to name the many scientists and others who have helped. We wis
to thank them all.

Mt. Pleasant, Iowa
March, 1939

CONTENTS

The Place of Insects,
and their study.

Their Development

Page
1

Directions for Collecting and Liounting
Insects Including More than 60 places
to look for Insects ^

Illustrated Keys for the Identification
of the more common families of insects
and how to use the keys 33

Regional Surveys 115

The Orders and Families of Insects 117

Index and Glossary 132

THE PLACE OF INSECTS

CT^j^ n^ ATURAL history deals with all living things. These
^^J fall Into two divisions, the plant kingdom and the

animal kingdom. I.'.embers of these two kingdoms, while
unlike In many ways, have much In common. Green
plants, for Instance, utilize Inorganic substances
such as carbon dioxide, water, nitrogen. Iron, sul-
phur, lime, etc. for food and build their living protoplasm
wholly from such sources. All the other plants and all anlm.als
are, either directly or indirectly, entirely dependent upon
green plants as a source of food. The functions of respiration
and reproduction while differing in details, follow the same
general plans in these two kingdoms. Thus, m.any points of simi-
larity, and also numerous differences could be cited.

V/hat many folks would call "kinds", the biologist calls
"species". All horses are one species, all dogs one species,
but there are many species of birds (robins, blue birds, ruby-
crovmed kinglets, Baltimore orioles, etc.), fish, oak trees
(ivhlte oak, black oak, shingle oak, bur oak, etc.) and many, many
species of insects. All the species (you will notice that the
word is spelled the same for both singular and plural) of plants
and anim:als that have comie to the attention of scientists have
been given a "scientific name" and a description so that the
species may be recognized when found again.

Scientific names are in Latin and are the same the world
over. They consist of two words; first a Latin noun knovm as the
genus name which arr-ays begins with a capital letter and followed
by a Latin adjective (or noun in apposition) modifying this gen-
eric word and supposedly telling something about the plant or
animal to which the name belongs. This second word is the
"species name" and begins with a small or lower case letter.
These tvro words are printed in italics. ^Ihen written, or vjhen
italic type is not- available, the scientific name is underscored.
Species are occasionally divided into varieties in which case a
third nam.e is added which is also italicized or underscored. The
scientific name is follov/ed by the name or abbreviation of the
scientist who proposed the scientific name. This word, which is
knovm as the "author" or "authority" begins with a capital and
Is not italicized or underscored. If the species nam.e has been
referred to a new genus since It was first given, the author's
name will appear in parentheses, otherwise the parentheses should
not be used.

Anybody may give any plant or animal any common name he
v/ishes but there is only one approved scientific namio for each
species. These comjnon names (or as Dr. Lutz aptly puts it "nick-
names") are not reliable and offer m^any opportunities for misun-
derstanding.

Let us illustrate all this. The earliest experience in col-
lecting insects for many country children is with the "Colorado
Potato Beetle" at so much per hundred, or quart, but they are
not always called by that comjnon name. The scientific name is
Leptinotarsa decimlineata (Say) and would appear in exactly that
form in all languages. "Leptinotarsa" is the name of the genus.
It means "slender feet". Other beetles, e. g. Leptinotarsa

HOW TO KNOW THE INSEGS

juncta (Germ.) and Leptlnotarsa pensularls Horn belong to this
same genus. The "decimllneata" is the species najne. It refers
to the ten stripes In evidence on the back of the adult beetle.
"(Say)" tells us that Thomas Say, a noted American entoFiOloglst
described this beetle In 1823 before it had become a pest of
potatoes. It was first called Doryphora decimllneata Say but
later referred to Its proper genus.

ViThen nature v/as making the Insects she was In a most prolific
mood. The total of known species Is so great that we must have
som.e carefully organized system of "filing" not to become wholly
lost in the maze of numbers. We have Just seen how very closely
related species have a common generic name. In the same way
closely related genera (relationship is judged by similarity of
Important structures) are grouped into families. Families In
turn fall into great groups known as orders; orders unite in a
class and classes form a phylum.

The whole group of the world's known animals may be divided
into eleven phyla. One of these includes all animals having seg-
mented bodies and jointed appendages. They are known as Arthro-
pods and include such animals as the crawfish, lobsters, crabs,
centipedes, millipedes, spiders, ticks, mites and Insects. The
Insects differ from these others in having just six legs.

They constitute the most
abundant form of animal life.
In fact there are more known
species of Insects than there
are of all other animals and
all the plants put together.
This class distinguished by
six legs Is knov/n as the In-
sec ta or Hexapoda.

Such matters as metamorph-
osis, mouth parts, number and
kinds of wings, and types of
legs divide the class Insecta
Into twenty-five orders. The
beetles, which belong to the
order Coleoptera, are, per-
haps, the best known of the
Insects for they have long
been favorites with Insect
collectors. They are found
everywhere; many of them are
marvelously beautiful In
their markings and coloration; they are easily mounted and kept.
Over 250,000 species of beetles have been named and described,
making this the largest known order. In our country more than
20,000 species have been recorded and about 3,000 species are
known to occur in Iowa.

Other large orders are the Hymenoptera (bees, wasps, and
ants) and the Dlptera (two-winged flies) about which entomolo-
gists know much less than they do of beetles. It is thought by
some that both of these orders will prove to be larger than the
Coleoptera. The Lepldoptera (moths and butterflies) have been
much collected because of their beauty and general Interest. The
Hemiptera (true bugs), another fairly large order, is perhaps

Figure 1. Considerably more than half of

all the living things in the world are

insects.

HOW TO KNOW THE INSECTS

somewhat better known because of the great economic Importance of
Its nimibers. A few of the orders are small and only a few
species are known but they are so different from the other groups
that they must be considered separately.

The Insects seem to be the world's most successful form of
life and many of man's most serious problems relate to his com-
petition with them. We sometimes complain of a 2% sales tax, but
farmers, gardeners and others are paying at least 10^ all the
while to the Insects, and getting nothing In return for It. Every
species Is Interesting In Its ways and many are so beautiful that
their collection and study cannot be beaten for fascinating,
wholesome recreation.

We have attempted to make this book simple enough that the
untrained nature lover, youth or adult, can handle It, and at the
same time make it sufficiently reliable to be used in serious
entomological work. It is hoped that it will serve to create a
more intelligent interest in insects in general. We recall our
attempts at collecting insects when a child, which were made
futile for want of knowing a few simple things. It is some of
these things we needed to know that have been Included here.

SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR TEACHERS

In teaching the use of keys, such plan as this has been found good. Require each
student to collect and identify specimens of as many different orders and families as
possible. Temporary name labels as here shown are
neatly lettered with ink and attached to the specimen
when it is named. (See Fig. 24 and page'30)o

"XI-2" refers to the order Coleoptera and family
Carabidae. Likewise "XXIII-39" means order Diptera,
family Syrphidae. These numbers may be foimd in the
list of Orders and Families pp. 117-131. "det. Berger

'37" shows which student made the determination and when it was made. We prefer to
make these temporary labels on colored paper as they may be later replaced with the
scientific name of the specimen if that is determined. If the family of each specimen,
when determined, is marked in the list of Orders and Families (p. 117) both teacher and
student can note at a glance how the student's work is progressing.

We have found that some contest feature stimulates interest in this work of col-
lecting and determining insects. The building of a reference collection for the school
is a vjorthy project. Needed specimens may be taken from the students' collections and
some of the more interested students put in charge as Curators.

A good microscope is very helpful for insect study. The lovj power binoculars are
best. Much can be done however without these aids. SimpJLe tripod magnifiers or hand
lenses selling for 75;^ or less are very useful in the laboratory or field. The ten
cent stores frequently have small reading glasses. Students will find them worth-while.

Insect pictures on charts or cut from bulletins, which show good details may be
used to excellent advantage in class to supplement actual specimens and offers a good
method for teaching the use of keys.

Carabiolcie

XXIll-59

DEVELOPMENT

a place,

masses,

scatter

LMOST all Insects start from eggs laid by the fe-
male. These eggs vary greatly In shape, size,
color, and place of deposit, L^any Insect eggs are
g beautifully sculptured. The number laid by one
female ranges from three or four for some species
to several hundred or even thousands by other
species. In most cases It will run Into hundreds,
which accounts for the sudden prodigious Increase
of many Insect pests. Some lay their eggs one In
more or less widely scattered. Others lay their eggs In

then the young on hatching live a gregarious life or may

out.

^ Wm

Figure 2. SoTiie Insect Egf:s,

Some Insects such as grasshoppers or chinch bugs when they
hatch, look like the adult but are much smaller and do not have
wings. The head Is usually quite large proportionately, for
feeding Is a most Important function at that age. They often
grow with amazing rapidity. Since their skeleton Is on the out-
side and restricts their enlargement. Insects "molt" or shed
their skeleton from time to time during the growing stage and
acquire a more roomy covering which permits further growth. Wing
pads appear rather early and after the last molt (often the fifth)
the Insect has fully developed wings, and Is mature sexually.

Figure 3, Nymphs are young insects that somevriiat
resemble their parents.

HOW TO KNOW THE INSEQS

This, of course, Is the adult stage. Insects which thus resemble
the adults as they grow up and change from the growing stage to
the adult stage without an Intervening resting stage are said to
have Incomplete metamorphosis. While In the growing stage they
are known as nymphs.

Butterflies, house files, bees, beetles, etc. have com.plete
metamorphosis. The eggs hatch Into creatures but little. If at
all, resembling the parents. These are knoiATi as larvae. All
their growth Is made In the larval stage. During this growing
period the larva repeatedly molts. At Its last molt It assumes
a resting stage or pupa which may last only a few days or In
which months may be spent. V/hlle Inactive outwardly, some mar-
velous remodeling goes on Inside. Old structures are torn down
and rebuilt into v;holly different ones. Thus a slow-moving,
velvety green cabbage worm, equipped with heavy jav/s for eating
tough cabbage leaves, and a digestive system to handle such
coarse food, head with practically no eyes, three pairs of very
short, Jointed legs and five pairs of strong, hook-armoured, paddy
legs, finds a secluded spot, hangs itself by one end and changes

Figure 4, The Pupae of Insects represent their resting stage,

(a, Coleoptera; b, Diptera; c, Siphonaptera;

.d, Lepidoptera; e, Hymenoptera.)

Into an attractive chrysalis or pupa. From this resting stage
some ten days later It emerges an airy creature with four broadly
expanded v/lngs, six long slim legs, keen eyes, long antennae, a
long colled sucking tube to gather sweet ;]ulces, a digestive
system attuned to the new food and reproductive organs to ferti-
lize or produce several hundred eggs.

Or taking the case of a beetle; - the flov:ers of goldenrod
form the favorite food for the locust long-horned wood-borer
(Cyllene roblnae), and these beautiful yellow and black creatures
may often be found in large numbers on these flowers. This
goldenrod banquet makes a common gatherir;g place where m.ates are
found. When egg-laying time arrives, the female beetles hunt out
the common locust trees and tuck their white eggs in crevices of
the bark. These eggs hatch In about two weeks and the tiny grub
bores Its v/ay throug- the bark to the outer sap wood before cold
weather quiets It for the winter. Temperature has much to do
with the activity of these cold-blooded creatures. With the re-
turn of warm days the grub again becomes active and bores its way
around through both the sap wood and the heart wood. The wood is
its food. When growth Is complete it pupates In its well-protected

HOW TO KNOW THE INSEaS

wood burrow and later emerges, the gaudily marked yellow and
black fellow, In time to attend the fall social function of his
species in some goldenrod patch. T^velve months have elapsed, an-
other generation has matured and the life cycle of four stages,
egg, larva, pupa, and adult Is completed. This change from one
stage to another Is called metamorphosis.

The entomologist should know his plants to find and Intelli-
gently study his Insects. It Is Interesting to note how Insects
also know their plants. The locust wood borer goes to neither
the petunias nor the oaks. On the former It would not meet Its
friends; the young grub would not thrive on oak wood. Insects
show extraordinary sense In placing their eggs on the proper food
materials for their young.

Protective coloration Is Illustrated In this Insect, too. Its
stripes, colors and shape make It look somewhat bee-like. They
are frequently mistaken for wasps by man and doubtless also by
the birds, very much to the beetles' advantage.

Some simple differences aid In separating the larvae of some
orders. The larvae of beetles are known as grubs and may usually
be distinguished from the larvae of other Insect orders by the

-'-^ [j^^^is^c^^J^ ^

Figure 5. Insect Larvae take many curious forms, (a,bj Hymenopteraj c,d,
Diptera; e,f, Lepidoptera; g,h,i,j, and k, Coleoptera; 1, Siphonaptera.)

fact that they have three pairs of jointed legs near the head
with none of the large paddy "pro-legs" found on caterpillars.
The larvae of butterflies and moths (caterpillars) have from two
to five pairs of pro-legs In addition to the true jointed legs
but always have at least two body segments that bear no legs.
Hymenopterqus (bee) larvae sometimes are wholly legless, others
have both true and pro-legs but In this case- every segment bears a
leg. Fly larvae (maggots) are usually legless.

Adult Insects may live for v/eeks, m.onths, or even years, but
frequently lay their eggs and die In a few days. It will be seen
then that nymphs and larvae are usually much more destructive
than adult Insects.

REFERENCES

f^ I' S|HE beginner cannot get very far In his study of In-
sects without access to some good reference books.
=i It Is desirable to own at least a few. If that Is
^ not possible, they may frequently be found In schools

^^ or public libraries. Some of the most helpful are

■---^^ listed.

The Field Book of Insects, F. E. Lutz. Excellent for the
beginner.

An Introduction to Entomology, J. H. Comstock. Quite com-
plete but more technical than the first.

Destructive and Useful Insects, C. L, Metcalf and W. P.
Flint. Unusually clear and readable. Particularly emphasizing
the economic species.

Coleoptera of Indiana, W. S. Blatchley. Almost Indlspenslble
to the student of beetles. Now out of print.

The Butterfly Book, V/. J. Holland. Many colored plates.

The Moth Book, W. J. Holland. Out of print.

The Insect Book, L. 0. Howard. For Insects other than
beetles, moths, and butterflies.

North American Dlptera, C. H. Curran.

Orthoptera of Northeastern America, W. S. Blatchley.

Heteroptera or True Bugs of Eastern North America, W. S.
Blatchley.

Handbook of the Odonata of North America, J. G. Needham.

Rhynchophora or Weevils of Northeastern America, Vif. S.
Blatchley and C. W. Leng. Describes the Snout Beetles.

Explanation of Terms Used In Entomology, John B. Smith.
very helpful glossary.

A

W.

Catalog of the Coleoptera of America North of Mexico, C.
Leng. Lists and gives catalog numbers for all known beetles of
its region.

7

DIRECTIONS FOR COLLECTING AND MOUNTING INSECTS

A study of Insects may have a very easy and simple start.
Keen observing eyes and an Inquisitive mind should Insure success.
Living Insects may be observed as they go about their work or may
be brought Indoors In simple home-made containers. If they are
to be kept as a permanent collection, however, they must be
killed and mounted. With only a net and killing bottle many
specimens may be collected, but a fev; other Items are desirable.
A rather complete but simple outfit should Include:

1. Several small killing bottles and one or two large ones.

2. A good number of small vials with liquid preservative.

3. Two nets, one light, of thin material for catching butter-
flies, moths, and swift flyers; the other sturdily built for
sweeping vegetation.

4. Small cardboara boxes with a few layers of cellucotton,
or glazed cotton wadding In each,

5. Folded papers or small envelopes for butterflies.

6. One or two pairs of light forceps.

7. One or more small camel's hair brushes for picking up tiny
Insects.

8. A note book.

9. Insect pins for mounting.

10. Spreading boards for butterflies, etc.

11. Paper for labels and points.

12. Boxes or cases In which to arrange and keep mounted
specimens.

If necessary, most of these Items may be made or gathered up
around the home. A number of commercial houses sell entomologi-
cal supplies where these and soine other useful helps may be
bought.

Killing Bottles

Some compound of cyanide makes the best killing agent. Cyan-
ogas, which Is sold as an Insecticide at drug stores, may be
easily secured and Is altogether satisfactory. Slim, heavy glass

8

HOW TO KNOW THE INSECTS

K"?

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Pciper Wad

j-Plaister

:;1 Cyanide

bottles \vlth wide mouths,
such as small olive bot-
tles, are best for gen-
eral purposes. If a
quantity of killing bot-
tles Is being made the
heavy cream test bottles
1 1/4 inches In diameter
and 5 Inches high are
ideal. Fill the bottle
to a depth of a half
inch v/ith cyanide and
cover this with a thin
layer of cotton and a
tightly fitting wad of
cardboard to hold it se-
curely in place; or the
poison may be covered
with cellucotton firmly
tamped down. Some like
large celluloid vials as
they do not break if
dropped. For insects
with large expanded
wings, such as butter-
flies and dragon flies,
large bottles with wide
mouths or pint or quart
fruit jars are desir-
able. The poison may be
put in the bottom or
wrapped in a sm.all pack-
age and fastened to the
side of the bottle virith
gummed paper. SomiC use a layer of sawdust on top of the poison
and a layer of plaster of Paris covering this to hold all In
place. This scheme Is good but rather mussy to make and requires
some tlm.e for the plaster to dry.

Other killing agents such as chloroform, ether, gasoline,
benzine, and carbon tetrachloride, are sometimes used by collect-
ors who fear the deadllness of cyanide. All killing bottles
should be plainly marked POISON and kept out of reach of small
children.

Many kinds of small Insects may be put directly into vials of
80% alcohol for killing and preserving. This plan works well
with small beetles, ants, and many true bugs but should not be
em.ployed with Insects covered with scales or hairs such as bees,
files, moths, etc.

Nets

Figure 6, liillln^ Bottles (Keduced slzo^

Nets are of three types: Aerial nets for catching Insects in
flight; sv/eeplng or beating nets for taking Insects hidden in
vegetation and water nets for securing aquatic Insects. All
three should be comparatively light but made of strong and dur-
able materials. These may be bought from the supply houses or
may readily be made at home. A net consists of a cloth bag, a
metal ring to hold the mouth of the bag open and a handle to

HOW TO KNOW THE INSEQS

which the ring is attached. The most difficult part seems to be
in fastening the net ring rigidly to the handle.

Figure 7 shows a method fre-
quently employed for a home made
;]ot),and makes a servicable handle.
The ring should be made of steel
wire which will spring back into
shape when used roughly. The metal
ferrule is slipped up over the end
of the handle to hold the ring in
place or may be pushed back to re-
lease the ring in changing bags.
If one does not have a ferrule of
proper size the handle may be
wrapped with wire or with tape.

A still better net handle can
be made at small expense by a
blacksmith or repair man. An open
ring t":elve to fifteen inches in
diameter is made of No. 10 or 12
spring steel ¥/lre. On each end of
the wire a round loop is formed to
fit a 1/4" X 1 1/2" stove bolt.
The bolt is inserted into one of
the loops and welded fast. A
light wood handle has a closed
end metal ferrule which is drilled
and threaded to receive the bolt,
firmly attached at one end. After
the bag is put on the ring the
bolt is put through the second loop and tightly twisted into the
handle. This makes a net handle that has been found to take
severe abuse yet one on which bags may be quickly changed. Either
of the handles (ring and stick) just described work well for any
form of net. Since som.e of the other details vary, suggestions
are made for each type.

Sweeping or Beating Net

This net has the most general use and gathers in more insects
than either of the others. The method of use is to beat or sweep
grass, weeds, shrubs, branches of trees, with a quick vigorous
motion, giving the net a half turn on the back stroke so that the
vegetation always passes across the face of the open bag. Many
insects feeding or hiding on the plants are thus shaken into the
bag where they will be found amid broken pieces of the plants.
When one stops swinging the net, the end of the bag containing
the mass of debris should be swung over the outside of the ring
and into its center thus effectively locking the insects in, and
preventing their escape. To remove the insects the net may be
laid on the ground or in the collector's lap and a little at a
time pulled under the ring, thus opening it to view. Many of the
insects, anxious to get out of their prison, will fly at the
first opportunity and are likely to escape. Others "play possum"
or hide among the pieces of plants and may be more readily taken.
The careful collector will be attentive not to miss the small
specimens. Chloroform or ether may be poured on the net to

Figure 7. A simple method for mak-
ing a net handle, (a, ring, 12 to 15
inches in diameter. The straight
ends of the wire are inserted in the
grooves in stick c, A metal cylinder
b, or wrapping of wire, d, holds the
ring rigidly in place.)

10

HOW TO KNOW THE INSECS

quiet the Insects. The contents of the net after a period of
sweeping may be emptied Into a separator. (See Fig. 11)

A gas tight box large enough to hold several short handled
sweeping nets Is carried on the back of the automobile used for
the Iowa Insect Survey collecting trips. About two spoonfuls of
cyanogas Is wrapped In a paper sack or envelope and placed In
the box. The nets, after being used In sweeping, are put in the
box through the door at the end. In a few minutes everything Is
quiet and the Insects may be sorted without danger of any of them
escaping. This plan has proven very helpful particularly v:lth
bees and files.

In using the sweeping net only a few strokes should be made
before emptying It as otherwise many specimens will be dam.aged.
At best the sweeping net offers too vigorous treatment for the
more delicate specimens. If one Is anxious to economize his
time a second net may be used while the insects in the first are
being killed or quieted.

Twelve inches in diameter makes a favorable sized ring for a
sweeping net. Tastes differ as to the length of handle. While
som.e prefer a long handle (a yard or more) which pennits sweep-
ing low vegetation without stooping, most collectors favor
handles 18 to 24 Inches in length. The young collector can v:ell
afford to do some experimenting to find which works best for him.
One may readily saw off part of a handle that seem.s too long.

The bag is subject to severe wear, particularly around the
ring, and needs to be of tough material. Rather heavy unbleached
muslin or light weight duck is good Light colored materials

make the Insects more easily seen
for picking out. The bag when
finished should have a depth about
twice the diameter of the ring. A
quick and altogether satisfactory
way to make the bag is to lay out
the goods double in length twice
the diameter of the ring plus 2
inches for hem; width, when
doubled, 1 2/3 the diaineter of the
ring, as shovm (Fig. 8); sew along
the dotted line and cut out. An
inch and a half or two Inch hem at
the top readily permits threading
the bag on the ring.

>f

Hem 2."

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•5?

2.0*

vXlotk

Some collectors desire a semi-
transparent net which permits
passing a killing bottle up into
the bag and catching the choice
specimens or those that sting,
while they are seen through the
fabric. It is a rather difficult
problem to find such transparent
material that Is strong enough to stand sweeping and not too
expensive. If the cost item does not Interfere, a good grade
of organdy or, better still, silk bolting cloth gives satis-
faction.

Figure 8. Pattern for making
Sweeping net.

11

HOW TO KNOW THE INSECTS

Aerial Net

This net is used for catching such delicate or broad-winged
Insects as butternies, moths, dragon files., bees and files.
Only one or two specimens should be caught at a^tlm.e and then
promptly removed before damage Is done to thelr'more fragile
parts. The open killing bottle Is slipped up Into the net and
the specimen permitted to fly or drop Into It without being
touched. The same type of handle and ring Is used for the aerial
net, but may be made of lighter weight material. Many would pre-
fer a longer ha:idle (say 40 Inches) and some would suggest a ring
15 Inches or more In diameter. Since speed Is often the most Im-
portant factor In catching a specimen on the wing, a larger size
may prove more of a hindrance than help. Mosquito bar may be
used for the bag but Is not very satisfactory. Bobblnet or
Bruxelle Is much more permanent and useful. Of course all types
of nets must be kept out of heavy thorns and barbed wire fences
If they are to last.

The bag may be cut the same way as suggested for the sweep-
ing net but may be somewhat narrower at the bottom. It should
not, however, come to a narrow point. A four Inch strip of
tough muslin or other heavy material should be used at the top
to make the hem which surrounds the ring and takes the heavy
yirear.

Water Net

Special equipment Is Just as necessary to get swiftly moving
Insects out of the water as out: of the air. There are many
large groups of aquatic Insects and the general collector will
uirant to collect them. The aerial net will catch some water in-
sects but it is very poor economy to use It that way. Its
efficiency is not high and using it in the water seriously dam-
ages it for other use. The ring in this case is used for scrap-
ing the bottom as well as passing through vegetation in the
water. Som.e find a diamond shaped ring most useful. The corners
open a way through aquatic plants and the flat sides make good
scrapers. The bag may be quite shallow (4 to 8 inches) and be
made of sturdy fine mesh netting or of fine mesh wire screen.
The screen wire, especially if copper, will last longer, but it
is somewhat easier to pick up insects from fabric nets.

Traps, Etc.

Man is ever on the lookout to find something to do his work,
^nd even his play, for him. Many types of traps, separators and
collectors have been devised. For wholesale results they accomp-
lish much, but often the insects are not left in the condition
the careful collector would wish. The appearance of specimens
in a collection rates high. If a specimen has lost the charac-
ters by which it is identified, of course, it is then worthless.

Many insects are irresistibly attracted to lights; many have
an extraordinarily keen sense of smell and locate food or other
favorite odor-producing substances from long distances. Light
traps work all night, while bait traps offer their appeal
throughout the twenty-four hours. Each will catch many species
not taken by the other. With either, one may catch species he
would not be likely to get by other collecting methods.

12

HOW TO KNOW THE INSEQS

Light Traps

Insects are being caught by the light trap method for poul-
try feed and for feeding fish. Some of these traps with slight
modification serve the entomologist. Plans for two traps are

Figure 9. Traps Tor catching insects at night. (A,

made of vrood or metal v/'ith glass front; B, made of

metal. Either trap may stand or be hung up.)

shown. Traps employing a killing .jar to kill and hold the catch
need less attention but, unfortunately, leave delicate specimens
in bad condition. Some large beetles before dying will burrow
frantically through the mass tearing delicate wings, and spread-
ing moth scales over the specimens. A trap that attracts, and
imprisons but does not kill, requires more constant attention
but yields specimens in much better condition and permits the
collector the fun of observing and catching them.

An Illuminated v/hite sheet or tent with a strong light in-
side draws many interesting night flying species. One may drive
to the v;oods or other favorite collecting ground, hang up a
sheet and train the head lights of the auto on It and reap the
harvest, which will shortly begin coming. If the lower edge of
the sheet is turned up to form a- trough the insects that fall
when they strike the sheet or when disturbed will be saved.

Bait Traps

Cans or Dottles sunk in the ground to their tops and baited
with molasses, fruit or meat attract and hold many species until
they are removed. Specimens thus caught usually need washing.
Most beetles, roaches, crickets, etc. will not be damaged by
washing if it is not too vigorously done. Sweets or decaying
meat, covered with boards, make good traps for many beetles. The
boards should fit closely enough to make, it dark underneath,
then the night feeding Insects will remain during the day and be
there when the collector makes his rounds.

Sugaring for jnoths may be as exciting as a raccoon hunt.
The bait is made of a mixture such as sugar or molasses with
spoiled fruit Juice to which may be added asafoetlda or geraniol,
An open woods makes an ideal collecting place. Armed with nets,
killing bottles and flashlights the collectors lay out their

13

HOW TO KNOW THE INSEQS

course about dusk by daubing the bait here and there on tree
trunks at convenient heights. A paint brush serves vrell for this.
A circular course which can be traversed in tv/enty minutes or
half an hour is good. By the time the last tree is painted '.7ith
the bait, early arrivals may likely be found at the first trees
and the fun begins. Many of the moths will drop into an open
killing Jar held Just below them. Others will fly and may be
caught with the net. Sugaring offers the best way to catch the
beautiful big underwlng moths (Catacola spp. ) . Beetles, ants, and
other Insects come to the bait. One may go around the course
several times in one night to advantage. The same course m:ay be
touched Up a bit with fresh bait and be even better the seconder
third night. A sultry evening v.lth a storm threatening, makes an
ideal time for sugaring.

Figure 10. A convenient
aid to collectingo The
rubber tubing should be of
sufficient length to penait
easy hcndling. a, glass
mouthpiece; b, rubber tubing;
c,d, metal or glass tubes; e,
vrire or cloth screen.

Figure 11. A
Separator, (a^
wood frame support-
ing the three
coarse mesh wire
containers, b, which
are 5"x6"x2", Con-
tainers hang loosely
in frame so that they
may be removed for fill-
ing, c, muslin covering
sov:ed to frame; e, jar or
bottle for receiving in-
sects; d, loop for hanging.)
Hang the separator ^vhere its
contents vrlll dry quickly.

Separators and Collectors

i_j,

A device for more easily picking up small
Insects (Fig. 10) may be m.ade from a wide
mouthed bottle or celluloid vial, some bits of
glass or metal tubing, and small rubber hose. A piece of fine
gauze should be tied or soldered over the tube at (e) to prevent
foreign matter entering the tube as the user draws air through

Loose soil, moss, dead leaves, fungi, decaying v/ood, etc.
harbor many species of small Insects. Sifting such material
through a fine mesh sieve on white paper or cloth v/ill reveal
many specimens, A separator may be m.ade which will autom.atically
do the work more completely and much easier. Take a clean cloth

14

HOW TO KNOW THE INSEQS

flour sack and open both ends. Put a draw string In each end.
Firmly attach the lower end to the neck of a large mouthed
bottle. Suspend a sieve receptacle In the center of the sack.
Put a small quantity of water In the bottle, fill the sieve con-
tainer with material containing Insects, close the top draw
string and hang the collector In a dry place. As the debris
dries out the Insects will leave it and travel dov/n In search of
moisture. I.^any Insects prefer a dark place. If the bottle has
an opaque covering it will be more efficient for such insects.
Others seek the light to escape from confinement and a clear
bottle will work better in that case.

Beating Umbrel la

This is a strong umbrella covered with heavy cloth. (White
seems to be the best color. ) The handle is Jointed so that it
may be bent to stand parallel with the open face of the umbrella.
The open umbrella is held under bushes and low limbs of trees
while they are beaten vigorously with a club. Many insects feed-
ing or hiding on the plants are shaken into the umbrella, from
v/hich they may be readily picked. The beating cloth, made about
a yard square, with tie strings at each corner which are tied to
sticks run diagonally, with the end of one stick projecting for
a handle, serves the same purpose as the umbrella.

Some Helpful Suggestions

TT/^ matter what means a collector uses to catch Insect
specimens, every precaution should be taken to keep
them in the most perfect and life-like condition. Too
much stress cannot be given to neatness and accuracy.
A specimen in such condition that it cannot be posl-
_ tively identified Is worthless. The beginner would
s^^*^*^ do well to set a high standard for the specimens he
admits to his collection and to discard all broken,
distorted or discolored ones. If there is uncertainty as to lo-
cality or date for a specimen it should likewise be rejected. A
neatly arranged collection of Insects carefully mounted and in
good condition is a beautiful thing, of which the ovmer may v:ell
be proud. Such a collection has .good scientific value and the
maker learns m.any valuable things in working at it. Somie sugges-
tions that should aid in keeping a collection at a high standard
are given.

Killing bottles should be half or more filled v/ith loosely
folded bits of soft paper. These keep insects from damaging each
other through their movements before they are dead and help keep
the bottles dry. A quick way to m.ake these paper bits is to roll
a piece of neY/spaper into a cylinder about an inch in diameter.
Then m.ash the cylinder out flat and crease both edges. With
scissors, split a part of it midway between the two edges and be-
ginning at the split end cut off strips about 1/4 to 1/3 inch
wide at right angles to the length of the strip. The results
will be many little folded bits of paper which when shaken free
from each other make an ideal filling for the killing bottles.
When the catch is emptied out of the bottles, these folded papers,
if damp, should be destroyed and fresh ones substituted. These
used papers may contain poison. It is well to be careful what is
done with them. (See Fig. 6).

15

HOW TO KNOW THE INSECTS

Keep special bottles for moths and butterflies and do not
put other Insects Into them. The scales from, the wings of moths
and butterflies come off easily and spoil specimens of other
orders. Wipe out these bottles occasionally to remove the loose
scales.

Have one or more separate bottles for bees and flies, and do
not put anything else into them. Remove flies and bees soon
after they are dead and pack them, lightly in soft paper, in
smiall cardboard boxes. It is better to empty all killing bottles
often and to pack the speclm.ens carefully between layers of
cellucotton or cotton wadding. Butterflies and moths should be
put in papers (See Fig. 13). A penciled slip of paper showing
locality, date, and collector's name should alY:ays be included.
Insects marked with yellow often turn red or orange if left long
in cyanide bottles. Even the most sturdily built specimens
should not stay over 24 hours at the m.ost in a killing bottle.

Keep cyanide bottles tightly closed all the time when not
putting insects in or out. This is very im.portant. Do not
smell killing bottles to test their strength. If a bottle is
broken be sure to put the poison where it can do no ham.

Sm.all beetles, leaf hoppers, thrips, and many other small in-
sects miay be caught and killed in small vials of 80% alcohol.
i'lE^/ER put flies or bees in alcohol. Ants should be put in alco-
hol. Use a separate vial for each colony but try to get all
types to be found in the colony in this one vial. Be sure to
put the locality, date, and collector's name in each bottle of
insects caught in alcohol. V/rlte with lead pencil.

Effects of Ki 1 1 ing

Occasional objections are raised to the mioral effects of
children killing insects. The body and nervous system of an in-
sect are so different from those of the higher animals that it is
highly Improbable that they have a sense of pain at all compar-
able to that felt by man or the other vertebrates. They seem to
pay little attention to the loss of parts or to other mutilations
that frequently befall them. The unfavorable influence then, if
any, is a psychic one, on the part of the collector. Many ani-
mals must be killed. It would seem that the best that may be
done is to teach that they be killed quickly and as humanely as
possible.

Many song and game birds, fish, and wild plants are ever
threatened with extermination, if vigorously collected. Insects
are so abundant and so v/ell able to take care of themselves that
there is no likelihood of endangering the future of any species
by collecting. A large percentage of the species collected are
directly or indirectly injurious to man but not a moment ' s worry
need be given to depleting the supply of even the beneficial
species.

Stings and Bites

The uninitiated public has a general fear of insects v/holly
unwarranted by the facts, llany quite harmless species are pur-
ported to be very dangerous or even deadly. Such completely in-
offensive and defenseless creatures as dragon flies, walking
sticks and tomato v/orm.s are said "to kill one" if they should
sting him. The story may be akin to the one of a guinea pig's

16

HOW TO KNOW THE INSECS

eyen dropping out If it is held up by its tail; but these yarns
have given many folks an altogether unhealthy and unnecessary
dread of insects. Aside from some bees that sting, a few large
beetles and ants that m.ay pinch with their mandibles, and two or
three families of true bugs that sometimes pierce the skin with
their sucking tubes, there are none to fear or even handle with
caution.

These comparatively fev/ troublesome species can be covered
with the bottle while inside the net or picked up with forceps
which some collectors carry. Lost collectors depend almost en-
tirely on the "forceps" nature has provided and pick out their
specimens with thumb and finger « A recent tv/elve weeks spent al-
m.ost entirely in the field during v/hich time several thousand in-
sects, a large percentage bees, were caught and killed, resulted
in the v.Tlter being "bitten" once by a back swimm.er and stung or
otherv/ise hurt by his captives not at all. The insects that are
best prepared to defend themselves seem more anxious to get away
YiYien caught than to fight. Even the much maligned spiders (which
by the way, are not insects) that turn up so often in the sweep-
ing net do not attem^pt to bite. The VLTiter for many years has
been putting them, out of his net more or less gently and has
still to receive his first spider bite.

MORE THAN SIXTY PLACES TO LOOK FOR INSECTS

V/herever one turns. Insect life is abundant. This list of
collecting suggestions is not exhaustive. The ingenious student
will find still other places and -ays to add to his collection.
He will get Into new regions and try new ways if he wishes to
get the largest number of species. Som.e good detective work
will locate many insect culprits.

1. Look EVERYWHERE. Trained eyes can find some form of insect
life almost every.vhere.

2. Look under STOLES ALD BOARDS . (Turn them back to their origi-
nal position when through, so they will be ready again.) This
form of collecting is particularly good in the spring and early
summer.

3. Many beetles and other Insects may be found under loose BARK
on logs and stum.ps. Do not neglect the small insects.

4. Tear up and carefully examine SHELF FUNGI AND liUSHROQLiS for
the insects that feed or hide in them.

17

HOW TO KNOW THE INSEQS

5. Tear up ROTTE?: I'^OOD and look for the insects living In It.

6. Sift DRY LEAVES , decayed wood and other debris through a col-
lecting sieve on a ^vhlte cloth or paper. I.'any small Insects may
be found In this way.

7. Slowly heating FIMGI or debris will drive out the insects.

8. On some warm days, particularly In early spring and late fall
the AIR is fairly filled with flying insects. The wise collector
gets his share of them.

9. Have a good Insect net, keep it in good condition and use it
for butterflies, and other flying forms. It is usually best to
wait till they settle. To run them doim "tells the world" what
you are doing, but NETS fewer Insects.

10. You will find SUGARING FOR L'OTHS at night exceedingly inter-
esting as well as very fruitful"] [^e p. 13)

11. PRO^iYL AROLTJD AT NIGHT with lantern or flashlight c You will
be surprised at the numbers of Insects prowling about too.

12. STREET LIGHTS attract many Insects, particularly on sultry
nights. You can often find rare ones there. Some lights are
better than others; try a lot of them.

13c A PORCH LIGHT, especially on a white house, will attract
many species.

14. If your landlady will permit It, open the screen of your
window and bottle the insects that come to your STUDY LIGHT.

15. At night, suspend a lighted lantern over a TUB OF V/ATER con-
taining a spoonful of kerosene and harvest your crop the next
morning.

16. Cut TWIGS FRQ}J TREES, tie into bundles and hang on the sides
of trees; examine from time to time for wood borers.

17. Visit Y/OQD FILES in timber, wood lot or cellar and look for
longhorns, clerids and other Insects. This is best in spring
and early sumrier.

18. Use the BEATIT-IG m.ERELLA or beating cloth vigorously. It
often yields big results and, many rare ones can be had^this way.
(See p. 15)

19. Shut up plant GALLS and Infected pieces of wood In Insect
tight containers and examine from time to time for the insects
that emerge.

20. Collect PUPAE from as wide a range as possible. Confine in
roomy containers and watch for the adults to emerge. Winter is
a particularly good time to collect m.any pupae »

21. Use the SV;eePING NET vigorously on a wide variety of vegeta- ■
tlon both day and night. Don't pass up the little Insects you
catch this v/ay,

22. Examine FLOWERS of every species for insects feeding or
hiding In them. Be careful not to break the plants, then they
may be profitably visited again and again,

18

HOW TO KNOW THE INSECTS

Figure 12. Insects leave traces of their
whereabouts in many vro.ys.

J-io. Wherever you see LEAVES
of plants with parts eaten
away, look for the Insect
do Ins Ito

24. Look In and under the
EXC[^,KffiNT of domestic ani-
mals In pasture fields for
dung beetles and other In-
sects.

25. DIG still deeper IT the
GROUND for more, and other
species.

26. Look under DEAD CHICKJ]i:3
and other animals for carrion
beetles and other insects.

27. Make traps by COVERIHG DEAD BIRDS, fish or other animals
with boards. The boards serve as a hiding place and uhen turned
back reveal many carrion beetles, etc.

28. l;:ake traps with I/<QLASSES smeared on the under side of boards
laid on the ground.

29. BURY JARS or tin cans so that the top will be level with the
ground and suspend a dead mouse or bird over each receptacle or
partly fill with a molasses bait.

30. Look through DECAYING FRUIT or other garbage.

31. With a fine WATER NET catch the insects you can see swimming
in water.

32. With rake or special net draw DEBRIS and ALGAE from bottom
of water courses and catch the Insects as they scramble back.

33. Pour v/ater on the ALONG-SHORE land. This brings out the
shore bugs and beetles.

34. Almost every species of BIRD /lND A-^iAAl!/U^.L has its own species
of lice. When such animals are killed wrap the body at once in
tough paper. When the lice leave their host they may be easily
caught on the paper.

35. V/herever you see PLAI'lTS harboring aphlds or scale Insects,
that is a good place to look for lady beetles, syrphid flies, etc

36. DOL.'^ESTIC AI'IIMLS in pastures attract several species of
flies.

37. LARVAE of many Insects, especially m.oths and butterflies, car
be raised until the adults mature from. them. This is the best
way to get perfect specimens.

38. Examine the WINDOWS of buildings. Nany insects may be found
trying to get out, particularly in early spring. Stables and
poultry houses are especially good.

39. Look through FLOUR BINS, granaries, and wherever cereals or
meal Is kept, for grain feeding Insects.

40. Follow the PLOW when plowing is being done and cheat the
blackbirds out of part of their dinner.

41. CLOSETS or boxes where clothing and old papers are stored
yield paper and woolen insect pests,

42. READ SUGGESTIONS for collecting, in any good book on InsbCts

19

HOW TO KNOW THE INSECTS

43. Lay chips, stones or boards on top of STLl'IPS where trees
ha.ve been freshly cut. The sap attracts many Interesting species
and the chips keep them until the entom.ologist com.es.

44. V^Tierever trees are shedding their SAP look for bees, flies,
and other insects.

45. When the WILLOWS bloomi, their catkins are fairly alive v/ith
bees and flies.

46. Split the STEM.S of dry or green ^'/eeds and other plants for
stem borers, as ^vell as other insects hiding there.

47. Different species of plants are attacked by different Insects.
Kjiow your plants and visit or sweep as many different species as
possible. A record of the plant on which an Insect was feeding
is valuable.

48. Examine the DEBRIS cast up by RISITG STREAIvIg during a flood
or shortly thereafter. You can't beat it for quantity or number
of species If you catch It right.

49. Look for insects floating in along the WATER LIIvE on the
windward side of a water course after a warm night.

50. l..:any good ones may be found on the outside of brilliantly
lighted snow WINDOWS, Look inside by day.

51. L'OSSES :\ND LICHENS harbor many insects. They can be gotten
out by the sieve, heat, by tearing up the plants or by using the
separator,

5.?. After a rain look for insects v/here LEA'/ES unite with the
twigs in clusters. They seek shelter in the whorl about the node.

53. To catch small insects in the WATER use a test tube or small
bottle, hold it as nearly submerged as possible without letting
the water enter; on nearlng the insect lower the edge next to It
and it will be waslied into your bottle.

54. A v.^arm and dry sandy BAITv is an ideal place to find Tiger
beetles.

55. V/hen driving in an open CAR insects collide with the various
parts of the interior and drop In the seats. They are often
quiet for a tim.e and may be bottled easily.

56. V/hen dining out of doors leave an open SAl'DWICH on a stump or
loj':; and return an hour or two later and harvest your crop.

57. LLlvlBER PILES afford hiding places for many Insects.

5G. Watch for insects that are visiting mud puddles or the edges
of bodies of water to drink.

59. Spread a large cloth under trees or shrubs and beat the
trunks with a padded h.eavy club. Many specim.ens \''ill drop on the
cloth and may be easily taken.

60. Dig under trees or plants for pupae of moths and other in-
sects. Perfect specimens will em.erge from these if th.ey are
carefully cared for.

61. Separators (See Fig. 11) for extracting small Insects from moss,
soil debris, etc. get some valuable specim.ens and save much time.

Q'2. A white sheet suspended in a strong light at night attracts
m.any species. If the bottom of the sheet is i.irred up it will
serve as a troi;.gh to catch those that fall.

20

HOW TO KNOW THE INSEQS

63. In fast flowing streams hold a water net tightly ap-ainst the
bottom of the stream while stones Just up stream are moved or the
bed dug up so that hiding Insects may swim or be washed Into the
net.

64. Low sheltered places will often yield some rood specimens In
early spring before Insects are out elsewhere.

65. An Insect net attached to an automobile sometimes gets an
am^azlng number of specimens. 25-50 m.p.h. seems to be right for
speed. The net should be emptied every tv/o or three m.lles.

PAPERING BUTTERFLIES

" Oj'/E reference has been made to "papering" moths and
^""^ butterflies, A well mounted collection of these
y- scaly winged Insects makes a most colorful and In-
"'■ terestlng display. Moths and butterflies are more
difficult to handle, however, than most of the other
Insects and must receive the best of care. Papers
are for use in keeping moths, butterflies, and dra-
in good condition until they can be mounted. They are
made by cutting rectangular strips of smooth paper and folding
them Into triangles as shoirm. As many of these papers as the col-
lector expects to need may be folded in advance of a trip and be
ready for use. Several sizes should be made to accommodate dif-
ferent sized specimens. Since these papers will become moist
whe"n the specim.ens are relaxed later, colored papers and glue or
paste should be avoided or the specimens may. be ruined. If trans-

gon file:

Fo/c/ ,otx c/otf'&c/ //'/2<g \

»•

/

/ ,..-C-j-/.

/ y ■■-^ ^-

-''

/ /,-~'

\

/ C/Q5e.i^jr2d5'

■■•*

/

..,-

/if^-

>

'/ "^^

/ i /S/^ c/oyyn <

'-errjerj

Th^ ^/r7/^/:iecy a£/^er

Figure 13, I.'iOtliOLl of inaki} g yianers for buttorriics, moths
o.3id dragon flies.

oi

HOW TO KNOW THE INSEQS

parent paper Is used time may be saved in sorting the specimens.
Some collectors use small transparent envelopes. Each speclmien
has its own paper triangle and the locality and date of capture
should be recorded on the triangle. After the specimens are
papered they should be stored loosely in a small, tightly covered
box and disturbed as little as possible. For other Insects take
a stiff -v/alled small box with tight fitting cover. Cut a sheet
of glazed cotton wadding or cellucotton the length of the box and
twice its width. Cover the bottom of the box \'^'ith one thickness
of this material. Arrange a layer of Insects thinly on it. Write
the locality, date of collection and collector's nam.e on a small
piece of paper and put it am.ong the specimens. Fold the rem.ain-
der of the cellucotton over the specimens to cover themi. Con-
tinue with successive layers of insects between folds of the
packing material until the box is lightly filled. Do not pack
dovm or use a box more than two inches high. Cover tightly and
do not disturb until ready to mount. If the specimens are not to
be mounted while still fresh each box should have a liberal
sprinkling of paradichlorobenzene or naphthaline to keep out in-
sect pests. The boxes must also be kept away from. mice. Soxes
so flexible as to bend under outside pressure should not be used.
Specimens packed in this w^ay may be safely sent through the malls
or kept indefinitely if frequently fumigated to keep out Insect
pests.

Large Insects should be partly dried before being packed and
should then have sufficient paclcing to absorb the remaining
moisture or they will decay or mold,

RELAXING

If the insects are not m.ounted rather promptly after catch-
ing they will need to be relaxed when one is ready to mount them.
Relaxing makes them pliable again so that legs and other parts
may be moved without breaking. For this, one needs a relaxing
jar or box, with a cover which is oractically air tight. It is
filled about an inch deep with sand. Enough T.'ater is added from
time to time to keep the sand filled with ^-rater. A few drops of
carbolic acid should be added to prevent molds from growing. The
sand is covered v/ith a piece of cardboard or wood. Take one or
more of the doubled sheets of cellucotton containing dried in-
sects or a number of the butterfly papers, handling them very
carefully, and put in the relaxer and cover tightly. In twelve
to twenty-four hours the moist air of the relaxer should have so
softened the insects that they may be handled without breaking.
The rate at which a relaxer v/orks depends upon the temperature of
the room, the size and nature of the specimens and other factors.
If it is found that they are still likely to break, return them
to the relaxer for another twelve hours. The specimens must be
viatched closely, however, for it ruins many Insects if they get
wet or too soft. Do not put more insects into the relaxer than
can be mounted at one time.

NOTES

The young collector should get the notebook habit early in
his entomological career. He will observe many things, if he
uses his eyes, which even mature scientists do not know. Writing
them down keeps such facts for future use and makes them more
reliable. It is v/ell to record weather and temperature at time

22

HOW TO KNOW THE INSECS

Of trips. A serlGG of crirel'uliy kei.t notebookr^ becomes increas-
ingly valuable.

MOUNTING

Most adult insects are mounted on pins. Beccinners some times
use coirmon pins. This is not a good practice as the pins are too
short and so thick that they needlessly mutilate the spec irons.
Ke:-ular insect pins, ^vhich are ip.ade of fine stiff steel v/ire, and
which are about one and a half inches long, may be bought from
the supply houses and should be used. The sizes are numbered 00
and 0 and from. 1 to 8; 00 's and O's are very fine and 8 are the
heaviest. Number 2's are recommended for practically all Io\-7a
insects. The p:eneral collector may get along very nicely even
if he has no other size.

Too much emphasis cannot be placed on neatness of mounting.
A cp.relessly m:Ounted collection is an eyesore. In this, as with
other things, the last five or ten per cent of knowledge and
effort put into it pays big dividends in satisfaction and results.
The beginner v;ill do "ell to set a high standard for himself from
the start and throw away all poorly mounted specimens. If char-
acters essential for determining the species of an insect are
lost or obscured the specimen is v/orthless. Through the years
some standards of procedure in pinning Insects have been estab-
lished by entom.ologists. They should be followed closelyo

BEETLES

Pin through the right
wing-cover close to its
front end and near the
middle line which sepa-
rates the two v/lng covers.
(Fig. 14).

Figure 14. Llethod of pinning large beei-les,
(from TJ.S.D.A.")

figure 15. I.'ethod of pinning
(from r.S.D.A.)

GRASSHOPPERS , CRI CIvETS,
TREEHOPPERS, LEAFHOPPERS,
etc .
Pin through the
back part of the pro-
thorax Just to the right
of the middle line (Figo
15). It is often desir-
able to spread the left
wings of grasshoppers.

grasshoppers,

23

HOW TO KNOW THE INSEQS

Figure IG. I.^et'iod of .iiounting bees and flies
(from U.S.DoAo)

BEES, WASPS, FLIES,
etc .

Pin through thorax
betv'een base of front
wings but slightly to
the right of the mid-
dle (Fig. 16).

Some slim., long-
legged specimens
such as the larger
Ichneumon wasps
may be pinned
through their right
side. Tnls ruts
the delicate anten-
nae and wings to
the left where the
chances for break-
age are less (Fig.
17).

Figure 17, It Is often better to pin
long-legged bees and flies through,
the side.

BUTTERFLIES, l.IOTHS, DRAGON FLIES,
DA]:iSEL FLIES

Pin through the center of the
thorax between the front wings (Fig.
18). All these should have their v/lngs
neatly spread (See Fig, 26). Dragon
flies and damisel flies may be pinned
through the right side with
their wings folded.

Figure 13, Butterflies, moths,

dragon flies, etc, are pinned

through the center of the

thorax.

TRUE BUGS

Pin through the scutellum to the
right of center. This is the tri-
angle betv/een the base of the wings
so much In evidence in the Hem.lp-
tera. Before the pin is pushed on
through an insect be sure that the
specimen stands at right angles to
the pin both from side to side and
front to back. (Fig. 19).

24

/ — ^

Lgure 10. Pin true bu;

tnrough the scutellun,

to ri_-ht of KiiJdle,

(fro- r.SoD.A.'l

Z7

HOW TO KNOW THE INSEQS

Figure 20. A pinning block.

About one fourth the length of the pin should be exposed
above the Insect for handllnp^. It will greatly Improve the
appearance of a collection If all Insects are mounted at the same
height and all labels placed at uniform height. This may be
easily done If a pinning block Is used. A good type pinning

block may be made from
strips of some fairly
soft fine grained wood,
5/16 of an Inch thick
and an Inch or more
wide. These pieces are
nailed together with
brads as shovm and a
very small vertical
hole drilled or made
with a fine finishing
nail in each step. The
holes go entirely
tnrough the block. The
lower step is used for
placing name labels.
It is also used to get
the insects at unlfonn
height on the pins. To
do this the specimens
are first pushed well
up to the head of the
pin. The head of the
pin Is then inserted in the hole of step one and pushed dovm as
far as it will go, thus leaving the top of the specimen at the
proper height. The third step is used for rightly spacing points
aad cards and the second step for locality labels.

When insects are to be pinned they m.ay be spread out on a
cloth folded to several thicknesses or on a thin soft pad. They
are thus much more easily held in place for accurate pinning than
on a smooth
table. A pinning
stand made of
thin balsa vjood
nailed on strips
to give a total
height of one
inch has been
found very con-
venient. Two or
three holes that
will just admit
an Insect pin
are made in the
balsa wood at a

convenient place near the front and encircled with ink or pencil
so as to be easily located. The balsa wood is soft and rough
enough to hold the specimens without slipping as they are being
pinned-. After the pin is started through a specimen and found
to be straight (£5ee Figures 22 and 23) the point is inserted in
one of the holes just mentioned and the insect pushed well up
on the pin.

The beginner should then use the first step on the pinning
block to put the specimen back to the proper height on the pin.

25

Figure 21, Planing stand.

HOW TO KNOW THE INSEOS

Figure C2. Straight pirjiing greatly

ixiuroves the appearance of a

collectiorL,

If one is doing much pinning
he Tvlll soon learn to gaupre
this distance very accurately
with his eye and vjill need to
use the pinning block with
only an occasional specimen
to hold his standard uniform.
The pinned specimens m.ay very
conveniently be stuck tempo-
rarily at the back of the pin-
ning stand until the locality
labels are ready to be put on
them.

Butterflies and moths
should not be touched with the
fingers as that removes many
of the scales. Handle them
with forceps.

Figure 23, 3e sure the pir
is started straight; then
go ahead.

Some longer soft-bodied Insects
have a tendency to droop when pinned.
A small card or folded piece of paper
may be run up on the pin to support
the specimen in a m.ore natural posi-
tion until it dries. After the speci-
men is thoroughly dry the support
should be removed, Never use more
than one pin in a specimen. Beginners
sometimes put two pins in walking
sticks or other long bodied Insects.
They cannot be moved v/ithout breaking.
Bulky Insects such as large grass-
hoppers are sometimes slit open on the
ventral side of the abdomen with sharp
pointed scissors and the contents re-
moved. The cavity is then filled with
cotton. This prevents discoloring of
spec Im.ens .

Cardboard points (See Fig. 24)
used for mounting tiny specimens may
be spread out on the pinning stand

and pinned rapidly. The soft balsa wood permits starting the
pin through the wide end of the point without bending it. The
pin is then transferred to one of the encircled holes and pushed
through the balsa board until the pin point touches the table
top. This leaves the paper point at just the right height on the
pin. These pinned points may be placed in rov;s along the back of
the pinning stand in readiness for mounting sm.all specimens.

One may somewhat Improve the looks of a collection by spread-
ing the legs and antennae of large beetles and other Insects be-
fore they have becomie rigid. The experienced collector, however,
usually tries to fold legs and antennae close enough to the body
of the specimen to diminish the chance of their being broken. To
do a really intelligent Job of mounting, the collector needs to
know the characters used for identification of a specimen and to
leave these uncovered If possible.

Insects so small or fragile as likely to be broken or dis-
figured by pinning should be mounted on cards or points. Points
should be cut v.ath a point punch from heavy white paper or they

26

HOW TO KNOW THE INSEQS

9

¥^

LooCT I i 1"vT

I

datT Wa.rr<LJf3.

La be

J

may be cut with scissors. Some collectors like points made of
celluloid or heavy cellophane. Insects thus mounted on points
are fastened to the extreme tip of the point with glue. Lay the
Insect to be pointed on Its back or edge on the pinning stand.
Pin the point through Its larger end to the proper height. Bend the
tip of the point down as Illustrated, and touch It to a drop of

fresh glue letting
only a very little
glue remain on
the point. Bring
the point In
gentle contact
with the specimen
so as to atto.ch
the end of the
point to the
right side of the
Insect. This
leaves the left
side, and dorsal
and ventral sides
wholly exposed
for study.
Straighten the
Insect on the
point. Points
must extend to
the left of the
pin with the in-
sect heading away
from you. Be
very neat and do
not get unneces-
sary glue on the
insect or point.
With some prac-
tice one can become so skilled that the insect is touched with
the glued point at just the right place and it adheres at once
and needs little or no straightening.

Several other
schemes are sometimes
employed to mount
small insects. "Min-
uten nadeln" are
short and very fine
steel pins. This tiny
needle is pushed
through the specimen
and into a card or
small cube of cork
which in turn is
pinned on a regular
insect pin. (See a, c,
and d of Fig. 25). An
elbow pin is also
shown.

Figure 24, If ventral characters are not used for identi-
fication, small insects may be mounted as at a. Usually
it is better to bend the tip of the point as in b or c,
d, cellulose acetate mount.

i

h

/ <?

d

Some larger but
rather fragile long-
legged insects such at
crane flies may be

Figure 25, a, c, d. Different ways of using minuten
nadeln; b, elbov/ pin,

27

HOW TO KNOW THE INSECTS

put When freshly killed into sniall envelopes and v/ell dried. A
specimen may then be glued on its side on double card points,
with less chance of breakage. Turn wings to left.

Two to four specimens of the same species of small insects
may be mounted on a white card. Hake the cards very small and
perfect rectangles. Arrange a small drop of glue on the card for
each insect then carefully place the insects on these drops. Put
at least one of the specim.ens on its back. Head all of them away
from. you. When finally arranged, pin the card through the middle
or right end, using the top step of the pinning block or the pin-
ning stand to get the correct height. Ants are usually mounted
on cards.

Butterflies and moths should have the wings spread. Use for-
ceps to handle the specimens. If the wings are folded together
over the back they may be opened for pinning by squeezing the
sides of the thorax with the forceps just bel'ow the wing bases.
Pin the specimen through the pro thorax to the proper height on
the pin. Then with this pin fasten the specimen to the spreading
board bringing the "shoulders" of the specimen just even with the
top of the board. With a fine pin or needle placed just back of
a heavy vein, pull both front wings forward until their back mar-
gins make a straight line with each other at right angles to the
body. In a similar way pull up and fasten the back wings. Fin-
ally pin a strip of paper across the wings to hold them in place.
Use common pins or better still, glass headed "mourning pins" for
this. Put the pins just outside the wind's but never through
them. If body or antennae are out of natural position they may
be braced Y/ith pins until dry.

Other Insects having large broad wings such as dragon flies,
Dobson flies, stone flies, cicadas, etc. may be mounted on the
spreading board. The long slim bodies of dragon flies and dajn-
sel flies are so fragile when dry that they are frequently rein-
forced. With a long slim needle, soft darning cotton may be
pulled from the front of the thorax through to the tip of the ab-
domen. When the thread comes out clean, cut off at both ends,
and leave for reinforcement. If colors of darning cotton match-
ing those of the specimens are selected so much the better.
Grasshoppers should have only the left wings spread. The local-
ity and date of collection should be carefully kept for each in-
sect, on the spreading board and locality labels put on the pin
as soon as the insect is removed.

Spreading boards must be kept where mice and roaches cannot
have access to them. This is true of specimens in any form. Mice
can completely ruin a fine collection in one night. Insects
should stay on the spreading board until thoroughly dry, usually
a week or two depending on the weather and size of Insect. When
dry they should be removed promptly and after receiving the lo-
cality labels be put in boxes.

Pinning boards should be solidly made but need not be ex-
pensive. A springy, loosely constructed board is almost certain
to seriously damage the specimen. Plans for a good board are
shown. The top pieces should be of soft wood that takes pins
readily. The other parts may be of either soft or hard wood.
Corrugated paper or balsa wood may be substituted for the cork
strips. These strips must be securely tacked or glued into

28

HOW TO KNOW THE INSECTS

place. The collector sliould have
several boards with different sized
openlnfXo between the Rtrlps to
accominodate different sizes
of moths and butterflies.
A screw eye In one end
or other device for
hanging the board
Is desirable.

Figure 26. Plan for spreading board.

Every Insect specimen should have a locality label showing
where and v'hen caught and the collector's name. Labels may be
printed with pen and Ink but should not be larger than 1/4 by
1/2 Inch In size. Printed labels are much neater. They m.ay be
bought from supply houses or may be made by photographing a type-
written sheet. (Fig. 27). Collectors worthy of the name are
very careful to keep their locality labels accurate. Labels are
pinned through their center and arranged to read from back to

at Hoftu.int li
3«-t JZ. 1954

Wt Fleaani.t lu
Sfpt ,2_ 1934.

Ut Plenront
Oct ^1 19

la

Mt Plefon.n
No* 19

Coxaly 6^2. County #3

County

*

loWK

Co. fiS

1*1 0 0 ro

IQWA IOWA

I 0

t; a

Ji^ne

16 1M4

yt Heiannt
Oct 2.( 19

3**

Vt Pleaaant
Ho. 19

June fj 1934 July iff :934- Au,»

193

H. E

Jaqucs

MaroJ-f

^1ooir«/

County * 42. County #3

Cou:-ty

f

towa
Jane

Co. 65

16 19:14

y. Ple:.s.ir.t In

ut Pl».-i8.mt

Is

yt Pleannnt

IOWA IOWA

I 0

W A

Sept,, 1^31^

narol-P

Oct 2.( 10

Jl^NoT 19

June 2-1 193^ July |5 133*f-

193

H. E

jKqu«S

Wt ne-ia:int In

Ut Pleaanot

IB

yt rleaannt

Iowa

Co. fiS

Sept 19

Oct 19

Dec 19

County * A-Z. County #3

County

«

Jonc

16 1934

IOWA IOWA

I 0

W A

H. K.

J»Oll»S

Kt Pleooant lo

yt Pleaeant

Is

yt Plcaasnt

Juna JL11934;. July j5 193-4-

Aw.

133

Sept 19

Oc t 19

Dec 19

Iowa

Co. 6^

lit Pli-F.osflt la

lit Pleaaant

la

Mt Plenasnt

County *^Z, County *3

County

♦

Jore
H. E.

16 IS.U
Jaques

Sept 19

Oct 19

Deo 19

IOWA IOWA

I 0

W A

Kt Plaaasnt la

Mt Pleaaant

la

Kt Plassut

Ju;:e J»,"t 1934f July iS 1934-

Am«

193

Towa
Jane

Co. 65
16 ISM

8ept 19

Oct 19

Dec 19

Co'oaty # County #

County ♦

H. E.

Jnoues

IOWA IOWA

I 0

W A

lit PlfBsjni ;»
ae?t 19

yt Plenaaul
Oct 19

Is

«t FltaasDt
D«s 19

Juno 193 July 193

' 193

Iowa
Joi.e

Co. cr.

It; 19^4

H. E

Jnques

Fir^ure 27. Locality Labels, (A and li,
printed from cut made from type'.vritton
copy; c, completely filled in labels,
made with label printer.)

or"!

HOW TO KNOW THE INSECTS

front. V/here insects are mounted on points or cards the label
Is pinned through the right end, stands under the point or card
and extends parallel with It. Always use the pinning block
(second step) to get the proper height for the locality label.
Locality labels should always be put on specimens promptly before
there Is a chance for mistakes.

To know the food of a species or Its habitat are facts of
high scientific value. These may be put In a word or two on the
bottom of the locality label or may go on a separate label. Some
collectors assign the specimen a number and make a more detailed
record of habitat, food, peculiar habits, etc. In a notebook.
The collector should not undertake such records In any form un-
less he plans to be very accurate with them. In fact one should
not engage In any kind of scientific work If he cannot be reli-
able and trustworthy.

At some later time, when the knowledge is available, a label
bearing the scientific name of the specimen may be pinned (first
step of pinning block) below the locality label and in the same
relative position. Name labels often have black border lines.
The genus and species names together with the authority should
be neatly printed. With many speclm.ens it is desirable to mark
the sex. The label may also contain the catalog number and a
name and date shov/lng by whom and when determined. By use of the
catalog number, specimens may be easily arranged in their logical
order.

Cigar boxes with tight fitting bottoms of corrugated paper
are useful for housing collections. Arrange Insects to face the
lid of the box when open. Use a grade of corrugated paper which
takes Insect pins easily. It is better to make it double. The
supply houses make and sell several styles of Insect boxes and
cases. If one buys Insect boxes he should see that they are pest
tight. Even then, fumigation about twice a year is necessary to
Insure against loss from Insect pests. Cigar boxes require to be
even more closely ¥/atched. Paradichlorobenzene makes a good
fumlgant and is not poisonous to man or particularly objection-
able. Put a small spoonfull of the white crystals into each box
and let them evaporate. Carbon disulphlde is sometimes used. It
stains, has a bad odor, and is highly explosive when mixed with
air.

Duplicates are frequently papered instead of being pinned.
They are put between two squares of cotton wadding or cellu-
cotton and folded in a paper. No cotton is used for Lepidoptera,
bees, flies, or other Insects with large wings. The paper should
be plainly labeled on the outside to show the scientific name and
catalog number of the species, the number of specimens in the
paper, the locality and date of collection, and the collector's
name. Such papered specimens must be kept In tightly closed
containers with some insecticide to keep out skin beetles and
other pests and should not be opened without relaxing.

After Insects have been pinned, the specimien itself must
never be touched without being previously relaxed. In handling
pinned Insects be careful not to let the fingers slide down on
the pin and touch the Insect. Pinning forceps are frequently
used for transferring pinned specimens.

The larvae of insects such as caterpillars, grubs, etc., are
too soft to be pinned. They may be killed by dropping in water
at the boiling point for five to ten minutes, then preserved in

30

HOW TO KNOW THE INSEQS

alcohol or they may be put at once Into the alcohol, which latter
method does not leave the specimen In as good condition. A little
glycerine, say 5 to 8%, prevents shrinkage and keeps the specimen
more lifelike.

Some orders of water living Insects such as the May files and
stone files are so soft that pinning them Is not at all satis-
factory. They should be put up In vials of 80% alcohol or 4%
formaldehyde. The preservative should be changed after a day or
two for best results.

Plant lice, thrlps, bird lice, sucking lice, and similar
small soft bodied Insects are mounted on microscope slides. Bal-
sam or Gum Dammar may be used. Berlese's Fluid* Is also good. The
locality data Is attached to one end of the slide and the name
label to i:he other. Some prefer to mount such Insects on small
bits of fairly thick cellulose acetate. (See Fig. 24) A small
cover glass and the Berlese Fluid are used the same as for the
microscope slides. These mounts are pinned at point height on an
Insect pin and labeled and otherwise treated like any other In-
sect mount.

Caterpillars and other larvae are frequently Inflated. First
put them on a piece of blotting paper and press out the body con-
tents by rolling with a lead pencil or other cylindrical object,
starting from the thorax just back of the head and continuing to
the end of the abdomen, exerting just enough pressure to force
out most of the body contents and not enough to rupture the skin

or break off the fine spines or
hairs. A piece of glass tubing
which has been drawn to a rather
long point Is then Inserted In the
anal opening of the caterpillar
and the caterpillar fastened to It
by a hooked wire clip on the tube.
Some collectors attach the skin by •
heating the point of the glass tube
before Inserting it. The wet skin
then adheres by its own juices to
the tube. The caterpillar skin Is
Inflated by forcing air by a hand
or "foot bellows Into the tube, care
being taken not to use too much
force and thus distort the cater-
pillar. While m this condition it
Is dried In an oven hot enough to
bake thoroughly without scorching
the Insect. Various types of appa-
ratus for inflating caterpillars
are to be had from entomological supply houses. The ingenious
collector, can easily make one for himself at little expense. All
that Is required is a lamp of some kind for heat, a tin can to
serve as an oven, a stand to support the can, glass tubing, a
bit of spring wire and a hand bulb or bellows. A rectangular

*bistilled v/nter 20 cc

Concentrated Glycerine 6 cc

Gum Arabic .12 gms

Chloral Hydrate 20 g:us

Living insects may be mounted directly in this mer'ium. It is well to put them
first in water to prevent air bubbles. Alcohol specimens should be washed thorouphly
before mounting,

31

Figure 28, Method of mounting
inflated larvae.

HOW TO KNOW THE INSECTS

cm on an inverted electric iron r.akes an excellent oven. When
the larva is thoroirhly dry it is carei'ully removed from the
glass rod and mounted as shovm in the illustration. A bit of
glue is used to hold the caterpillar in place on the v/ire. The
advantage of this m.ethod of preservation is that the larva can be
pinned In the collection in association \7lth the specim.ens of the
adult of the same species. When the Inflation has been ca.refully
done, the caterpillars present a lifelike appearance, retaining
most of their spines, markings, and colors.

Larvae too sm.all to be handled in this fashion may som.etlm.es
be successfully inflated and dried by burying in dry sand ^Yhich
is then heated. If the right temperature can be maintained the
gases generated by drying the inner contents ivill distend the
body Yjall until it is dried in an expanded condltlo-n. Consider-
able skill and experience is required to do this successfully.
Insect galls on leaves or soft fruit can be dried In sand in this
same v.^ay.

After an insect specimen is
pinned it should never be touched
with anything unless it has been
previously relaxed. Speclm.ens are
handled by the top of the pin and
great care must be taken not to let
the fingers come in contact ^::ithany
part of the specimen. After the
specim.en has dried the antennae and
legs are especially fragile. Tiie
elbow block (Fig. 28-2-) makes an ex-
cellent device for holding specimens
as they are studied under the macro-
scope. It is m.ade of tv/o- pieces of
thin v^ood. A bit of modelling clay
receives the pin. The block may be
set on any one of its sides or the
head of the pin m.ay be stuck into
the clay.

Figure 28^. T'le Elbov.- Blocl-

32

HOW TO USE THE KEYS

Keys are used for the ready identification of insects and
other living things. They are based on an orderly elimination of
the characters that do not fit the case in hand. I'ost insect
keys are dichotomous, i.e., they consider only two possibilities
at one time. To use the keys in this book, take the insect to be
Identified and turn to the "Key to the Orders of Insects"
p. 37. Compare the insect with la and lb of the key. Supposing
it has "no wings" we then turn to #17 p. 45 and compare 17a with
17b. If our sDecimen has a "narrov/ waist" we would suspect it to
belong to Order XXV, Hymenoptera and we vjould then turn to p. 106
to the "Key to the Llore Coiiiirion Families of the F.ymienoptera," and
again starting with la and lb would find it to belong to lb which
would refer us to #5. Now if we can find no "erect scale on the
petiole" we are referred to #6. Supposing our specimen is "cov-
ered on thorax or abdomen with red hairs, xie would believe it to
be a fem.ale Velvet Ant belonging to Family 50, I/'utillidae. If
our specim.en closely resemibled Fig. 230 we could feel quite sure
of our Identification. If it seemed to agree wholly with the
picture and the description it would be believed to be the
species Dasymutilla interrupta Banl^.s.

Of course, almost every family has numerous species of Insects
belonging to it, so one should not be too hasty in deciding that
his specimen is the one described and pictured here to illustrate
the fajnily.

It should be borne in m.lnd that keys are neither infallible
nor final. The ones given here are designed to aid in deter-
mining the family to which an insect belongs. To make these keys
more usable miany of the less common families have been om.itted.
If one should attem.pt to name a specimen belonging to one of
these omitted families, he v^ould surely end at the wrong place,
if he could get anywhere at all with it.

The beginner needs to know som.ething about the external
structure of insects to use the keys intelligently.

All of the hundreds of thousands of different kinds of in-
sects are alike In having bodies of three parts; head, thorax,
and abdomen, and in having three pairs of legs. The head bears
two compound eyes and often two, or more frequently three simple
eyes (ocelli). A pair of antennae or feelers are always found on

oo

HOW TO KNOW THE INSEQS

the head of an Insect. The feeding apparatus falls Into two classes;
chewing mouthparts, and sucking moutnparts. Beetles, grass-
hoppers, crickets, and dragon flies are outstanding examples of
insects that tear up their food with chewing mouthparts. In con-
trast to these, butterflies, moths, flies, true bugs, leaf hop-
pers, etc. have their mouthparts specialized so as to form a hol-
low tube through which liquid foods may be dravm. Many bees have
a combination of chewing and sucking mouthparts.

Chewing mouthparts vary widely in relative size of parts but
consist rather uniformly of an upper lip (labrum), covering the
other parts; a pair of horny jaws (mandibles) which work from
side to side; a pair of maxilla each bearing a galea, lacinla and

3ETACE0U^ CBnatie-like) PLUMOSE. CAPITATE CwltKakead)

prLlFORM (Tbread-like.)

CLAVATE CClub-5b.apecn

ARTsTAtT'' pectinate (Comb^l.ke;

4^>ad ,cel C^-d jo.n.f) // /VOCr LAMELLATE (win, ^m

future

5ERRATE CS^^w-lik-e)

BIPECTINATE

'Ge:niculate

^> (Elbowed) MONILlFORn (Bead-liKe) RiNGrEO

7i'r-ure 29. Types of Antermae.

a ;3olnted palp or sense organ resembling a short antenna. Under
all these parts is the lower lip (labium) with its center parts
and its pair of labial palps, ;jointed and resembling the maxil-
lary palps.

The elongated tube and accessory parts of insects having suc-
torial mouthparts Include some or all of these same structures var-
iously modified. The mouthparts of insects are highly character-
istic of their groups and are often used for identification.

The antennae are always Jointed and take many different forms,
some of which are shown (Fig. 29).

The thorax is divided into three segments. The first, or
part nearest the head, (prothorax) bears the first pair of legs.
The second part (mesothorax) bears the second pair of legs and
the first pair of wings. The meta thorax is the third segment. It
bears the third pair of legs and the second pair of wings.

34

HOW TO KNOW THE INSEaS

f ©mxAr*

All Insect legs
have the same parts:
A coxa that rotates
In a cavity In the
thorax, a trochan-
ter (some Insects
have two trochan-
ters on each leg) ,
the femur, which Is
the largest :?-egment
of the leg, a usu-
ally long and slim
tibia, and the tar-
sus or foot m.ade up
of two to five tarsal segments. The last tarsal segment usually
bears a pair of claws. In counting tarsal segments, these claws
should not be counted. The segments of all appendages are num-
bered from the attached end to the apical end.

Figure 30, A typical insect leg showing the parts,

nnc^,

■'i /la

labi'Al palp

h'lrid W

c/'7 Wf^

Figure 31. Dorsal vie'.v of a Beetle, liarpalus caliginosus (Fab.) showing parts <

35

HOW TO KNOW THE INSEQS

The abdomen of Insects Is made of a number of horny rings
which more or less telescope each other. These rings, as well as
those of the thorax, are in part punctured along each side by a
row of openings (spiracles) through which the insect breathes.
The end of the abdomen often bears parts having to do vrlth mating
and egg laying. The latter are known as ovipositors and take
various form.s.

The upper part of an insect is its dorsal side; that below
is the ventral side. The horny skeleton is arranged in plates
(sclerites) all of which have names. Both a dorsal and a ventral
view of a beetle are here shoirm.from which names and relation-
ship of parts may be seen.

___Px.osT&y>-'^' Gfite-r-i-ij.-^

A^pfA•.t»v,-,,^' p^p<■^ery-^J'

-/^e.ta^fei-i^al e.f>'i r-^trai

Fifpare Z2, Ventral parts of an insect. (llarpalus caliginosus (rab.)

36

KEY TO THE ORDERS OF INSECTS

1a Insects with wings

1b Insects having no wings or only rudimentary wings

2

17

2a Insects with only one pair of thin, usually transparent
wings, second pair replaced with short, pin-like structures.
(Flies, mosquitoes etc.) Figs. 33 and 200 to 225.

Order XXI I I, DIPTERA p. 97

Fig. o3. A Fly Musca domestlca L.

The Conur^on House-fly. Dull blackish
gray. Incidental carrier of several
diseases and a general pest. Length
6-8 mm., (from U.S.D.A. )

The Dlptera are the True Files. They
never have more than one pair of wings.
Instead of a second pair they have
knobbed structures known as balancers or
halteres. Their young are usually leg-
less and are called "wrigglers," "mag-
gots" or "bots." The order Is not well
known. It would seem that It may prove
as large as the Coleoptera when thor-
Figure 33. oughly worked.

2b

Insects with two pairs of wings* 3

3a The two pairs of wings unlike in structure *{not equal in
thickness or transparency) as in the beetles, true bugs, grass-
hoppers. Figs. 34, 90, 156, etc 4

Figure ?-i.

*NOTE — The front wings of beetles (Coleoptera)
are thick and hard and meet in a straight line
down the back. The front v.-ings of the true
bugs (Hemiptera) are thick and hard at the
base and membraneous at the tips. These tips
overlap. In considering specimens of either
of these orders a second pair of membraneous
wings may be taken for granted, since parts
of dried specimens should not be touched or
moved.

Fig. 34. A Cockroach. Blatella germ:inlca L.

The Croton Bug. Yellowish brown with
dark brown markings. Length 10-15 mm.

3b Both pairs of wings of similar structure (having about the
same degree of thickness and transparency as in the bees,
butterflies, dragon flies, etc.) Figs. 35, 67, 165, 179 etc.

37

HOW TO KNOW THE INSEQS

Fig. 35. A VfasD. Chlorlon atrat^jm
(Lepc)

Dull velvety black. Wings dusky
with violet iridescent sheen. Length
16-24 mm. (from U.S. D. A. )

Wings of this type look like they
might be made of thin cellophane with
delicate stiffening veins. They are
often colored in whole or in part and
thus lose their transparency. Scales
in definite patterns usually cover
the wings of moths and butterflies.

4a First pair of wings horny and meeting in a straight line
down the back (as in the beetles and earwigs) Figs. 36 and
87 to 146 5

Fig. 36. A Beetle. Calosoma calidum Fab.
The Fiery Hunter.

A beautiful and useful ground beetle. Dull
black with rows of bright copper colored
punctures on wing covers. Destroys cater-
pillars. Leng':h 21-25 mrn.

The front wings of beetles are made of
chitin the same as the outer covering of the
body. They are held up in flight but likely
hinder more than they help. The second pair
of wings are thin and often much folded.

Figure 36,

4b

Wings not as in 4a 6

5a With a prominent pair of pinchers (a) at tip of abdomen.

(Earwigs) Fig. 37

Order X. DERMA PTERA

Figure 37.

Fig. 37. An Earwig. Labia minor L. The
Little Earwig.

Reddish brown, clothed with fine yellowish
pubescence. Length 4-5 mm.

This is likely the only species of earwig
native in Iowa. Other species are occasion-
ally introduced temporarily. Earwigs are much
more abundant in the south and on the Pacific
coast. They do some damage to plants. Ear-
wigs are likely to be mistaken for Rove
beetles but if one looks sharply for the post-
erior pinchers he need make no mistake.

38

HOW TO KNOW THE INSEQS

5b Without pinchers at the end of the abdomen. (Beetles)
Figs. 38 and 87 to 146. Order XI, COLEOPTERA p. 55

Fig. 38. A Beetle. Dlabrotlca duodeclmpunctata (Fab. )
The Spotted Cucumber Beetle.

Pale yellowish green, marked with black. Length
5-7 mm. (from U.S.D.A.)

The Beetles belong to our largest and best known
order of Insects. Their structure, size and beauty
make them particularly attractive to the amateur
collector. In 1909 Professor H. F. Wlckham *listed
2065 Iowa species. Many others have been added
since then. The beginner in entomology need not
fear, however, that possibilities in this group are
exhausted. It is a comparatively easy thing to
find species not heretofore reported for the state,
and there is no end of other matters needing to be known about the
beetles.

6a Front wings leathery at base (a), membranous and overlapping
at the tip (b). Mouth parts fitted for sucking. (True Bugs).
Figs. 39 and 147 to 164. Order XVII, HEMIPTERA p. 76

i'i5;ure 08

Fig. 39. A True Bug. Orlus Insidlosus Say
The Insidious Flower Bug.

Black with whitish spots on corlum and
membrane of wing. Although only two milli-
meters in length, it bites viciously. Des-
troys chinch bugs and other small Insects,
(from U.S.D.A.)

(Family 17, Anthocoridae)

Figure 39.

fJ^ xE'*°"l vvings leathery with veins; hind wings folded lengthwise.
Mouthparts for chewing. (Crickets, .Roaches, Katydids, Grasshoppers,
etc.) Figs. 40 and 73 to 79. Order VII, ORTHOPTERA p. 52

Fig. 40. A Cricket. Gryllus assimilis Fab. The
Common Field Cricket.

Black or dark brovm with parts of the body some-
tlm.es dull yellow or reddish brown. This species
is separated into a number of varieties. Length
of body 14-25 mm.

Some systematists would make several orders out
of what is here called the Orthoptera and there
might seem to be good reason for it since there
are such radical differences among the included
species, - Grasshoppers, Roaches, Crickets, Walk-
ing sticks etc; they figure large in man's
affairs and are well worthy of our interest.

Figure 40.

*A List of the Coleoptera of Iowa, H. F, Wickham, Bui, Lab. Hat, Hist,, State Uni-
versity of lovra.. Vol. VI,

39

HOW TO KNOW THE INSECTS

7a Wings wholly or for the most part covered with scales. Mouth-
parts formed for sucking. (Moths and Butterflies) Figs. 41 and

178 to 198.

Order XXI, LEPIDOPTERA p. 89

Fig. 41. A Moth. Celerlo
llneata Fab. Tne ?/hite-lined

■"igure 41,

Sphinx.

Body and front wings olive brown
marked vjith white; hind wings
black with mid-band of red. Often
seen hovering around petunias at
dusk, and called the humm.lng-bird
moth. Its wings cover an expanse
of three inches or more. (from
U.S.D.A.)

Scales characterize this order
very much as feathers character-
ize birds. The broad wings (a few
females have no wings) are usually
"shingled" with beautiful designs
in colored scales. For the most part, the adults are both hand-
some and harmless, but that does not free them with the ji^ry. The
children of m.any species have terrible v/ays as vie?.^ed by man, and
year after year he' pays heavily for their destructiveness. These
caterpillars have three pairs of jointed legs and from two to
five pairs of fleshy pro-legs.

7b Wings transparent or thinly clothed with hairs (as in the
bees, Mayflies, dragon flies, etc.) 8

8a Mouth parts a tube for sucking, attached to hinder part of
the lower surface of the head. Wings when at rest sloping down
and outward from center, thus/V. (Cicadas, Leafhoppers,
Treehoppers, Aphids, etc.). Figs. 42 and 165 to 173.

Order XVIII, HUMOPTERA, p.83

Fig. 42. Empoasca mali Le B. The Potato
Leaf hopper.

Pale green. Common in all stages on potato
plants where it causes hopper burn. Length
about 3 mm., (from U.S.D.A.)

The Homoptera are alike in that their mem-
branous wings slope roof like over the body. In
size, shape, markings and habits they vary
widely. They are vegetable feeders. Their
sucking tube makes their feeding less conspic-
uous but the damage they do to plants is large.

Figure 42,

8b Not as in 8a 9

9a Slender, moth-like insects, with long, slim antennae; no
mouthparts in evidence except a pair of slender palpi (a). Wings
frequently hairy; usually broadest beyond the middle. (Caddis
files) Fig. 43.

Order XX, TRICHOPTERA
40

Figure 43.

9b Not as in 9a

HOW TO KNOW THE INSECTS

Fig. 43. Llninephllus rhomb Icus L.

Pale tan, front viilngs mottled with
darker tan. Length about 15 mm.

These Interesting Insects are
named and known best for their young.
The larvae live In streams and build
cases of v/eb and little stones, twigs
or debris, for their protection.
They are so abundant that after the
fish have eaten a large percentage
of them, the adults developing from
the remaining larvae become an In-
tolerable nuisance at lights near
water courses. Fishermen should be
much Interested In knowing more
about these and our other aquatic
Insects, If fish culture Is to be
wholly successful.

10

10a Wings vNith but few cross veins (or none) as in the bees.
Fig. 44 11

Fig. 44. Iv-egachlle mendlca Cress.

Black thorax and rings on abdomen
covered with pale yellowish white hairs,
Cuts circular pieces from leaves and
petals of rose and other plants with
which to line its nest. Length 12-14
mm.

(Family 61, Megachllldae)

Figure 44,

10b Wings with several to many cross (vertical) veins, as In
the dragon flies, lace wings, etc. Fig. 45

12

Fig. 45. Plathemls lydla Drury

Brown; two yellow stripes on each
side of thorax and a yellow spot
on each side of abdominal segments,
2-9. Length 40-44 mm. Expanse of
wings 68-72 mm.

Figure 45,

11a Front wings the larger; hind wings frequently hooked to
front wings. Mouthparts for chewing or for chewing and suck-
ing. (Bees, wasps, ants) Figs. 46 and 226 to 245,

Order XXV, HYMENOPTERA p. 106

41

HOW TO KNOW THE INSECS

Figure 46,

Fig. 46. Vespa maculata L. The Bald
Faced Hornet.

Black with pale yellow markings.
Builds a very interesting gray paper
nest on trees. (And abundantly able
to defend it.) Length 20-24 mm.

From the viewpoint of social ad-
justments and intelligence, the Hy-
menoptera probably ranks the highest
of any order of Insects. It is a
large order; some think that It will
be found to contain more species than
any other order of Insects. The Iowa
Survey collection contains many

species, but of course, the work in the order is only started.

Specimens should be mounted promptly when caught to keep them in

good condition.

11b Small, slender insects. Wings very narrow and margined
with bristly hairs. (Thrips) Fig. 47. Order XIII, THYSANOPTERA

Fig. 47. A Thrips. Hellothrlps
haemorrho 1 dal 1 s (Bouche) The
Greenhouse Thrips.

Dark brown. Feeds on foliage of
greenhouse plants. Larvae white.
Length about 1 mm. (U.S.D.A.)

This Is but one of a large number
of species of thrips to be found in
Iowa. They may very frequently be
found in large numbers among the
stamens of the flowers of many spe-
cies of plants » They are also found
Figure 47. on leaves, bulbs, roots, under loose

bark, and in decaying fruit. They
are always tiny but because of their
great abundance are frequently quite destructive.
12a Front wings much larger than hind wings. Wings held ver-
tical above body. Long fragile jointed tails behind. (May-
flies, or "Mormon-flies") Fig. 48.

Order IV, EPHEMERIDA

Fig. 48. Hexagenia llmbata Guerln

Abdomen pale yellow, dorsal line and
oblique lateral stripes dark. Length
of body (without cercl) 15-22 mm.

The L'ayflles are the only insects
that molt after once getting their
wings. Even then the adults live only
a day or two. They appear In flight
at lights in Immense numbers at towns
along rivers or lakes. Burlington,
Iowa has an authentic record of a pile
eight feet deep forming a. ound an elec-
tric light pole one night when a heavy
flight was in progress. Their nymphs
are especially valuable as food for fish

42

Figure 49

HOW TO KNOW THE INSECTS

12b Not as in 12a 13

13a Head prolonged Into a trunk-like beak with chewing mouth-
parts at its tip. (Scorpion flies) Fig. 49.

Order XXII, MECOPTERA

Fig. 49. Panorpa venosa
Westw.

Head light reddish brown;
eyes, bodies and markings on
wings dark brown. Length about
15 nun.

It Is the turned up claspers
on the end of the abdomen of the
male of some species that give
these Insects the name Scorpion
Files. Of course, they do not
sting. Only a few species are
known for Iowa and not much Is known about them.

13b Not as in 13a 14

14a Antennae short and inconspicuous; long slender insects with
long narrow wings. (Damsel flies, dragon flies) Figs. 50 and
67 to 72. Order V, ODONATA p. 50

Fig. 50. Llbellula pulchella
Drury

Blackish brown. Thorax with
two yellow stripes on each
side, abdomen with yellow
stripe on each side, whitish
in old males. Wing spots
black or dark brown. Males
with chalk white spots on wing
also. One of our most common
species, about 46 mm.

The Dragon Files and Damsel
Files are always of Interest.
They have been given many pop-
ular names and a mass of sup-
erstition Is built about them. They are wholly Inoffensive to
man. The adults live on mosqultos and other small Insects taken
from the air. The nymphs are ravenous highwaymen that waylay any
creature of their own size that comes along In the water. Insects
and young fish doubtless make up most of their food.

14b Antennae readily seen 15

15a Abdomen usually with two short tails (a). Back wings much
broader than front wings and folded lengthwise. (Stone flies)
Fig. 51.

Order 111, PLECOPTERA

Figure 50,

43

HOW TO KNOW THE INSECTS

Fis. 51. Isoperla bilineata Say

Yellowish, with greenish hyaline win^-s. Head
yellow with a brov/n spot over the ocellar tri-
angle. Perhaps our most conimon species. Length
to tip of wings 10-14 mm.

Stone flies are important aquatic insects from
the standpoint of fish culture. The nymphs make
good bait. Both nymphs and adults have two
tail filaments. The nymphs leave the v:ater and
crawl out on the bank or on logs Lo change into
the adult stage. A female may lay several
thousand eggs. The order is not large. Some of
our larger Iowa species are considerably over an
inch in length.

Figure 51,

15b

Not as in 15a 16

16a No appendages at end of abdomen. Tarsi five jointed. (Ant-
lions, Lacewlngs, Dobson flies, etc.) Figs. 52 and 174 to 177.

Order XIX, NEUROPTERA p. 87

Figure 52.

Fig. 52. Chrysopa oculata Say

When living, rather pale green
throughout; eyes golden. When
pinned, pale green to pale yellow-
ish brown. Len'.:th to tip of wings
12-17 mm.

The T-yeuroptera once Included many
insects no longer associated ^:.Qth
the order. It still includes in-
sects representing a wide variation
of sizes, colors, and habits. Some
are seldomi seen. The order is not
large .

16b Wings equal in size and with indistinct veins. Thorax In
front of wings very short. (Termites or White-ants) Fig. 53.

Order IX, I SOPTERA

Fig. 53. A V/hlte Ant. (Queen)
Retlculitermes f lavipes Kollar
The Common Northern Termite.

Males and queens at swarming time
winged and dark brown or black. Wings
are broken off when a "Royal pair"
establishes their colony. Workers,
soldiers, and nymphs wingless, white.
See Fig. 55.

There are but two species of ter-
mites known to Iowa. They are

Figure

44

HOW TO KNOW THE INSECTS

comiaon In the woods In decaying logs but sometimes Invade the
cities where they do serious damage to buildings. Their
communal life makes them exceedingly Interesting. Unlike the
true ants, both sexes are represented among the workers.
17a Narrow wai sted, ant-like insects. (Ants, Velvet ants, etc.)
Figs. 54, 230 and 231. Order XXV, HYMENOPTERA, p. 106

Fig. 54, AnAnt. Laslus nlger amerlcanus
Emory. The Cornfield Ant.

The workers are all undeveloped fe-
males. Queens break off wings after
nuptial flight. Stubs of wings still
show. Length of v/orkers about 3 mm.

Figure 54,

17b Not narrow walsted 18

18a Ant-like but with wide waists. Not flattened. Light
colored. (White ants or termites. )Fig. 55. Order IX, I SOPTERA

Fig. 55. White Ants, (a Worker, b I.'ale,
c,e,f Stages of Females, d Soldier.
Retlculltermes flavlpes Kollar The
Common Northern Termite.

Soft bodied, wingless, whitish. They
live within their tunnels In wood and
seldom if ever appear at the surface.
Length 5-7 mm., (from U.S.D.A.)

Figure 55.

18b Not as in 18a 19

19a Small, flat bodied insects with heads as wide as bodies or

nearly so. Chewing mouthparts 20

19b Not as in 19a. 21

20a Antennae of many segments. Found on old papers, etc.

(Book lice). Fig. 56. Order XIV, CORRODENTIA

Fig. 56. A Book-louse. Llposcelis
dlvinatorius Mull.

Grayish white; eyes dark. Length
about 1 mm.

Some members of this order have two
pairs of wings, and resemble aphids.
They are known as barkllce and are
found on tree trunks, on dead leaves,
in lichens, etc.

Figure 56.

45

HOW TO KNOW THE INSECTS

ae short; not over five segments. Found mostly on
ew on mammals, (Bird lice) Fig. 57.

Order XV, MALLOPHAGA

Fig. 57. A Bird Louse. Llpeurus heterographus
Nltzsch. The Chicken Head Louse.

Paxe to dark gray. Luch flattened. Feed on
skin scales of young chickens and turkeys. Length
2-5 mm. (from U.S.D.A. )

This order Includes many species, most of which
are parasites on birds. There are probably as
m.any species as there are species of birds. A fev;
species of biting lice live on domestic mammals.

Aphis maidi-radicis Forbes

21a Sma 1 1, soft-bodied insects with small heads and plump bodies
Two short tubes extending from back of abdomen (a). Found suck-
ing juice from plants. Frequently attended by ants. (Plant
lice or Aphids) Figs. 58 and 173. Order XVIII, HOMOPTERA p. 83

Fig. 58. An Aphid.
The Corn root Aphid"

V/hitlsh. Found on roots of corn v/here it is
placed and cared for by ants (See Fig. 54). All
sumjner long there are nothing but m.any genera-
tions of females v/hlch produce living young. At
the approach of cold weather males and egg lay-
ing females are formed. The ants care for the
eggs during the winter and see that the young
find .proper food when they hatch in the spring.
Figure ss. Length about 2 mji:. (from U.S.D.A.)

21b Not as in 21a 22

22a Small, broad and flat across back; fleshy legs, each with
single hook like claw for grasping hairs; fleshy, unjcinted,

sucking beak. Found on mammals. (Suck-
ing lice.) Fig. 59. Order XVI, ANOPLURA

Fig. 59. A Sucking Louse. Kaem.atopinus
suis (L.) The liog Louse.

Grayish bro\im with black markings.
Lives by sucking the blood of the hog.
Length 4-6 mir^.

The true lice are confined in their
hosts to the mamm:als. Two species prey
on man, while cattle, the horse .sheep,
dog and several wild mammals each have
at least one species.

46

HOW TO KNOW THE INSECTS

22b Not as in 22a 23

23a Small narrow insects, flattened on the sides; sucking

mouthparts; hind legs for jumping; five tarsal segments.

(Fleas) Fig. 60. Order XXIV, SIPHONAPTERA

Fig. 60. The Dog Flea.
Curtis.

Ctenocephalis canis

Reddish brovm. Infests dog. cat and man.
Length 3-5 mm. (from U.S.D.A.)

Fleas parasitize both the mammals and birds
and live by sucking the blood of their host.
The larvae are worm-like and live on decaying
organic matter.

23b Not as in 23a 24

24a Body thickly covered with scales, mouthparts for sucking
or absent. (A few female moths) Figs. 61 and 198.

Order XXI, LEPIDOPTERA p. 89

Fig. 61. The Spring Cankerv/orm.
Paleacrita vernata Peck.

female

Gray, covered vjith scales,
to April. Length 10-15 mm.

Appear from February

Figure 61.

24b Not as in 24a 25

25a Very delicate insects with chewing mouthparts and long,
jointed thread-like tails and antennae. (Fishmoths, bristle
tails, firebrats). Fig. 62. Order I, THYSANURA

Fig. 62. The Sllverfish. Lepism.a saccharina L,

Light silvery gray. Soft body, flattened.
Runs rapidly. Length about 15 mm. (from
U.S.D.A.)

The members of this order are lovers of
starch, so are found in old papers and books,
under wall paper and in starched clothes. One
species known as the flrebrat is seen in fur-
nace rooms and about fire places. It apparent-
ly can stp.rd rather high temperatures.

Figure 62.

25b Not as in 25a

26

47

HOW TO KNOW THE INSEQS

26a Delicate insects with chewing mouthparts and but six

abdominal segments. Underside of abdomen frequently has a long,
usually double, appendage (a) used for leaping. (Spring tails)
Fig. 63. Order II, COLLEMBOLA

Fig. 63. Folsomla elongata (MacG. )

Gray to dark brown. Eyes eight on
^^ii^^^^M^I^ each side. Antennae about equal to
iW^^^Ki^BlMw head. Furcula reaching posterior

margin of second abdominal segment.
^t^ Length up to 1.5 mm.

A monograph of the Collembola of
Figure 63. lowa* by Harlow B. Mills, published

in 1934, describes the 132 known
species of this order. Widespread collecting preceded the pub-
lishing of this list and while it is inconceivable that it is all
complete, it probably represents one of the best worked lists for
any order in our state.

26b Not as in 26a 27

27a With mouthparts for chewing 28

27b With mouthparts for sucking 29

28a Antennae thread like; face directed forward or downward.
(Crickets, roaches, grasshoppers, walking sticks) Figs. 64
and 79. Order VII, ORTHOPTERA p. 52

Fig. 64. Ceuthophilus maculatus
(Harris) Spotted Camel Cricket.

Brown, often with m.edlan
lighter stripe on thorax. Sev-
eral yellowish spots on dorsal
surface of abdomen. Length 14-
19 mm.

Figure 64. While most of the Orthoptera

are winged, the Camel Crickets,
or Walking Sticks, some roaches
and some crickets have been denied organs of flight. They have
chewing mouthparts, are herbivorous or omnivorous in their feed-
ing habits and often do serious damage.

28b Antennae bead-like, club-like or corab-Hke. but without
prominent forceps at tip of abdomen. (Beetles)

Order XI, COLEOPTERA p. 55

Some female Fire Flies (Lampyridae) are wingless. They are
knovm as "glow worms."

28c With prominent pair of movable forceps at tip of abdomen.
(See Fig. 37) (Earwigs) Order X, DERMAPTERA

Wingless Earv;lgs are quite common in some regions. Earwigs
range in length from 3 to 35 mm. Their antennae are slender
and have from 10 to 35 joints.

29a Small legless Insects firmly attached to plant leaves or
stems. Frequently covered with a waxy scale. (Scale insects)
Figs. 65 and 171. q^^^^. xvm, HOMOPTERA p. 83

* "A Monograph of the Collembola of Iowa" Harlo-Ar B.
Press, Inc. Ames Iowa.

;ills, April 20, 1934 Collegiate

48

A

•!#-#».^

r

•^gi^feaJ^

HOW TO KNOW THE INSEQS

Fig. 65. The San Jose Scale, (a. c, d
and e, females; b and g, males;
Aspldlotus pernlclosus Comst.

Female scale round, gray, with raised
center reddish yellow. Diameter about
2 mm. Male scale black oblong, about
1 mm. long. Mature female Insect yellow-
ish,wingless, legless, does not leave
scale, but gives birth to living young.
A'ale adult yellow, two-winged, active.
(From U.S.D.A.)

These rather Inconspicuous Insects
are exceedingly destructive especially
to fruit and to green house plants. They
are cosmopolitan In their distribution.
A few species furnish valuable commer-
cial products such as cochineal, shellac,
etc.

Figure 65,

29b Well developed legs; sucking beak arising at front of head
and held between the legs. (True bugs) Fig. 66.

Order XVII, HEMIPTERA p. 76

Fig. 66. Nab Is subcoleoptratus Kby.

Subdepressed. Shiny jet black. Edge
of abdomen and legs yellowish. Wings very
short. A fully winged form occurs, but
Is rare. Length 9-12 mm.

Not only this family (Nabldae) but the
Clmicldae, Lygeldae and Gerrldae also con-
tain some flightless forms of Hemlptera.
In some cases both winged and "wingless"
forms occur In the same species.

Figure 66.

KEY TO THE FAMILIES OF THE ORDER ODONATA

la Hind wings wider than front wings near base. When at rest
wings extended on either side at right angles to the body.
Strong flyers. (Dragon-flies, suborder Anisoptera.) Figs. SI,
71 and 72 3

Fig. 67. Cellthemls
eponlna Drury

V/lngs yellowish, marked
with brov/n. Face yellow;
thorax brovm with black-
ish stripes; abdomen
black, streaked with yel-
low. Length 40 mm. Ex-
panse 70 mm.

The Dragon-files are
much more sturdily built
than the bamsel-flles
and will average consid-
erably larger. Large
dam.s el -files, however,
are larger than some
small species of dragon-
files. The dragon-files
are strong flyers and some species fly at considerable height
and ".Ith great speed. i''eeding, mating, ef':g-laylng, - In fact
m.ost of their daylight life - is spent on the wing. At night
they roost in tall grasses, shr^-bs and v.'eeds, and may be easily
collected. They are quick to detect m^ovements. When one strikes
at them with a net and m.isses they frequently return to see v/hat
it i.-as all about with the result that many a fine specimien graces
a collection that v.^ould not otherwise be there.
1b Front Snd hind wings similar in size and shape. When at
rest wings folded together edge up, parallel to the body.
Feeble flyers. (Damsel-flies, sub-order Zygoptera) Figs. 68,
69 and 70 ?

W

r igure

Fic^.

Hetaerlna americana (Fabr.

rigijre G-

The Co;^^r:On Ruby Spot.

Thorax bronze; abdomen greenish
bronze. Spots at base of -Ings ruby-
red in male; amber-yellov/ in female.
Length 44 mm. Expanse 58^mn:.

The Dam.sel-flies seem, to live a life
of leisure as compared to the hustling
dragon-flies. They are for the most
part low, feeble flyers. The nymphs, as
with the dragon-files, live in v/ater and
are predacious . Damsel-fly nymphs may
be recognized by the three leaf-like
tracheal gills at the posterior end of
the body.

50

HOW TO KNOW THE INSECTS

2a Wings with five or more antenodal cross veins (a). Wings not
narrowed to form a stalk at base. (The Broad-winged Damsel-
files.) Fig. 69. Family 3, AGRIONIDAE

Fig. 69. Anrlon maculatuin
Deauv .

Entire body brilliant
metallic green, wings ■.••holly
black In male. The female
has a v.-hlte stigma on v:lngs
and colors are paler. A
most beautiful and exceed-
ingly Interesting damsel fly.
Length 42 mm. Expanse 64mm..

This little familly con-
tains two groups of delight-
fully charming darr.sel files,
- the "Black V/ings" and the
"Ruby Spots." iirllliant
metallic colored bodies with
blackened wings characterize
rigure 60, the ono whllo the other dis-

plays bronze bodies with red
spotted wings in the m^ales
2b Wings with only two or three antenodal cross veins (a).
Wings narrowed to form a stalk at base (b). (The Narrow-winged

Damsel-f I ies) Fig. 70.

Fami ly 4, COENAGRIONIDAE

Fig. 70. Lestes uncatus I'irby

L'etallic green; sides of body
yellov;. Legs blackish, lined with
yellow; tarsi black. Length 40mm.
Expanse 42 mm.

Lost of our species of d?uTisel
files belong in this fajnily. They
are abundant along all permanent
water courses. They are mostly
clear winged but their bodies are
beautifully marked with delicate
shades of blue, green, tan and
red, and with black

3a Antenodal cross veins in first and second row not meeting
each other (a). Triangles in fore and hind wing similar in
shape and relative position. Fig, 71.

Fami ly ^, AESCHNIDAE

51

HOW TO KNOW THE INSEQS

Fig. 71. Anax Junius
(Drury)

Thorax green, abdomen
bluish. Femora reddish;
remainder of legs blackish.
Vi/ings transparent with am-
ber sheen. Length 76 mm.
Expanse 104 mm.

This family includes our
largest and swiftest fly-
ing dragon flies. They
are often seen long dis-
tances from water. L'os-
quitos, moths, and many
other flying insects make
up their diet, which they
Figure 71. tear apart and eat with

their large jaws. In some
regions they have proven
a pest to bee raisers by destroying large numbers of honey bees.
3b Antenodal cross veins in second row a continuation of those
in the first row (a). Triangles in fore and hind wing unlike
in shape and differently placed. (The Skimmers.) Fig. 72.

Family 2, LIBELLULIDAE

Figure 72.

ent patterns for the two sexes.

and proportionately heavier than in the Aeschnidae.

Fig. 72. Libellula lactuosa
Burm. The Widow.

Abdomen blackish, striped
with yellow; legs dark. Base
of wings marked v/ith brown. A
common Iowa species. Length
47 mm. Expanse 84 mm..

This family of dragon flies
is considerably larger than the
preceding in number of species.
They cover a rather wide range
in size and show many brilliant
colors with frequently differ-
The abdomen is usually shorter

KEY TO THE FAMILIES OF THE ORDER ORTHOPTERA

1a Hind legs for leaping. Three or four tarsal segments. . 2

1b Hind legs not fitted for leaping. Five tarsal seg-
ments 5

2a Three tarsal segments 3

2b Four tarsal segments. Antennae usually longer than body.
(The Long-horned Grasshoppers) Fig. 73

Family 5, TETTIGONI I DAE

52

HOW TO KNOW THE INSECTS

Figure 73,

Fig. 73. Mlcrocentrum rhomb 1 folium
( Saussurel Large AnpaAlar-wlnged
Katydid.

Grass green, face, under surface
and first and second legs yellowish
green. Length of body 25-30 mm.

The Katydids and meadow grasshop-
pers belong here. They are usually
green and the female has a sword-llke ovipositor. The camel
crickets, queerly shaped, humpbacked wingless forms that live In
dark places, are also Included In the family. They range from a
mottled light brown to dark brown In color.

3a Antennae short 4

3b Antennae long and slender. Ovipositor usually long and
nearly cylindrical. (The Crickets) (in part) Fig. 74.

Family 7, GRYLLIDAE

Fig. 74. Pecan thus nlveus De G, The Snowy
Tree Cricket.

Pale green or white. First segment of
antennae with a round black dot. This and
other tree crickets are persistent singers.
Their high pitched trills which continue
throughout the night are made with the
wings. Only the males sing. Length of
body, 12-15 mm. (After Fulton)

There are a number of subfamilies of
crickets differing In structure and habits.
The sword bearing crickets, bush crickets,
tree crickets, field crickets and tiny
Figure 74. little crlckets that live with the ants.

They are all lar^elv vegetable feeders. The
family Is an important one.
4a Front legs widened, fitted for burrowing. (The Mole
Crickets) (in part^ Fig. 75 Family i, GRYLLIDAE

Fig. 75. Gryllotalpa hexadactyla Party.
The Common Mole Cricket.

Reddish brown, thickly covered with short
fine hairs; claws, and veins of wings
darker. Wings quite variable in length.
Length of body 20-30 mm.

The mole crickets, though not often seen,
never fail to attract attention when found.
They burrow in mud at the sides of ponds
and streams and are nocturnal in habits.
Some persistent searching in favorable
places should result in securing some speci-
mens of this highly interesting Insect for
one's collection. They cause injury by
feeding on the roots of plants.

Figure 75.

4b Front legs normal, not used for burrowing; organ of hearing
on first abdominal segment. Ovipositor (a) short. (The Lo-
custs or Short-horned Grasshoppers) Fig. 76.

Family 4, LOCUSTIOAE

53

HOW TO KNOW THE INSECS

Fig. 76. Melanoplus differential! s
Thomas The Differential Locust.

Varies in color from yellow through
greenish yellow to blackish. Prominent
diagonal stripes on femora and other
markings black. Length 30-45 mm.

Figure 76.

To this family belong the species of
grasshoppers that have been responsible for
heavy crop losses throughout the history of man. The Rocky i:oun-
tsin Locust was particularly destructive because of its migratory
habits. Our lot^'a species, though sometimes doing heavy damage,
seldom fly long distances. The Pigmy or carouse locusts, which we
include here, are small and have the pronotum prolonged to or be-
yond the tip of the abdomen.

5a Body flattened and oval; head covered with pronotum. (The
Cock-roaches) Fig. 77. Family 1, BLATTIDAE

Fig. 77. Parcoblatta pennsylvanica De Geer
The Pennsylvania V/ood Koach.

Pronotum dark brown, marked with yellow-
ish; upper wings brown, with yellowish
side margin. Wings of male as shown; of
f empale only about half as long as abdomen.
This seems to be our most abundant native
roach. Length of body 13-135 mm.

Roaches are alike in being soft, smooth
and slippery. Several species are fairly
common in Iowa and may be pests about the
kitchen or in restaurants and store houses.
They have long associated with man but
greatly outdate him. in antiquity. A bea.u-
tiful pale green roach (Panchlora cubensls
?isL-.re 7^. Sauss . ) IS somctlmes found in bananas but
does not establish itself in our climate.
5b Head free; body elongate; prothorax long and slim. ... 6
6a Front legs fitted for catching insect prey and held in a
characteristic prayerful attitude. (The Praying Mantes)
Fig. 78 Family 2, MANTIDAE

Fig. 78. Stagomantls Carolina (Johann-
son) The Carolina Mantis.

Females dark brovm, sometimes greenish
yellow; males gray or grayish brown.
Length 45-55 mm.

This species is not native to the
state, but now and then one of these
very unusual appearing Insects is found
where it has been brought in from out-
side. They are valuable in killing
destructive insects.
narrow, cylindrical, wingless insects.

6b Front legs normal

(The Walking Sticks) Fig. 79

Fami ly 3, PHASMIDAE

54

HOW TO KNOW THE INSECTS

vire 7;,

Fig. 79. Diapheromera femorata (Say) The
Common Walking-Stick.

Colored In various shades of green, brown,
gray and rarely pink. Length of body 65-100
mrr..

These Interesting Insects are sometimes
Imown as devil's darning needles and reputea
to have fatal stings. They are wholly harm-
less and so ambltionless that they move very
slowly. They are vegetable feeders. V/hen
motionless with legs and antennae extended in
line with the body they strongly resemble a
twig or stick and doubtless often thus elude
their enemies.

KEY TO THE MORE IMPORTANT FAMILIES
OF THE ORDER COLEOPTERA

1a Mouthparts reduced. Front of
head usually prolonged Into a slen-
der snout. Gular sutures fuscd into
one at middle. Prosternal sutures
wanting, (Weevils, Engravers
Beetles, etc.) Fig. 80.
(Suborder RHYNCHOPHORA) 48

Fig. 80. Head views of snout beetles.

Figure 80,

1b Head not prolonged
into a narrow cylindrical
snout. Gular sutures two
Prosternal sutures dis-
tinct. Fig. 81.
(Sub-order COLEOPTERA

GENUINA) 1

Fig. 81. Head views of
beetles without snout.

Fi.rare 81,

55

HOW TO KNOW THE INSECS

2a Hind tarsi with the same number of segments as the

fore tarsi 3

2b Hind tarsi with only four segments. Fore tarsi with'

five segments 33

3a All tarsi with five segments. (If

the 4th segment is obscure as in Flo. C^^'"'"''^ ta.rsu6

83a, take 3b). Fig. 82 ".4 ^^-~I:^^^fefe:jbe^

Fig. 82 Middle leg of ground beetle. ^^^^^^^£3^J

Figure b2

3b All tarsi with apparently four
segments. Fig. 83 42

Figure 83.

3c All tarsi with apparently three
segments. Fig. 84 47

Fip-ure 84.

4a Antenna almost always fili-
form.* (a) (In family Gyrinidae
the antennae are very short and
modified as in Fig. 85b). First
ventral segment of abdomen com-
pletely divided by hind coxal
cavities, (c) Fig. 85 [

FiOTre 85,

4b Antenna* of various shapes, usually not
filiform.* (See Fig, 29). First ventral
segment all in one piece and not cut
entirely across by the hind coxal cavi-
ties. Fig. 85-^ 10

5a Legs fitted for walking or running. . 6

5b Aquatic beetles with legs fitted for
swimming, usually by being flattened
and fringed with stiff hairs. Fig, 86. 9

Figur

If the antennae are filiform the first ventral segment should almiys be examined.

56

HOW TO KNOW THE INSECS

6a Head including eyes wider than the thorax. t^ Antennae In-
serted on the front above the base of the mandibles. (Tiger

CICINDELIDAE

Figure 87.

Fami I v 1,

Clclndela repanda DeJ.

Brownish-bronze with white markings-. Under-
parts and legs greenish. Common on sandy banks
of streams. Length 12-13 mm.

Some of the most beautiful beetles belong to
this family. It Is real sport to catch them.
They are boi*n hunters and know the tricks of
the game. Often one must put them to flight
to locate them, their protective coloration Is
so good. Then the beetle lights several feet
In advance, but always facing the pursuer,
ready to fly again as the latter approaches
striking distance. Even when In the net they
do not give up the fight but frequently escape.
When fish fall to bite or game Is scarce, try
catching tiger beetles for a real thrill.

6b Head narrower than the thorax 7

7a Antennae ten-jointed. Hind coxae forming large plates.
Small aquatic beetles with slender crawling legs, sometimes
delicately fringed with hairs. (Crawling Water Beetles) Figs.
88 and 93. Family 5, HALIPLIDAE

Fig. 88. Hallplus triopsis Say

Light brown yellow; spots on elytra black.
In quiet v/aters. Length about 3.5 mm.

Our members of this family are all quite
small. Although living In water, they are
feeble swimmers. They are frequently found
well below the surface. A fine water net and
some good patience is necessary to get many
of them.

Figure

7b Antennae eleven-jointed 8

8a Beetles of round convex form. Not over 8 mm. in length.
Scutellum concealed. Presternum scoop-shaped, entirely cov-
ering the metasternum. Fig. 89.

Family 4, OMOPHRONIDAE
Fig. 89. Omophron tessellatum Say

Pale brownish yellow; with metallic green
markings. Found under debris and buried in
sand at edge of -watercourses. Length 6-7 mm..

These were formerly Included with the
ground beetles. It is a small family and
has only the one genus.

Figure 89.

* See Foot-note p. 58.
57

HOW TO KNOW THE INSECS

8b Varying much in form and size, but not as in 8a. (Ground
beetles) Fig. 90.* Family 2, CARABIDAE

/^^

Fisrure 90.

Fig. 90. Agonoderus coirjna (Fab.)

Yellowish bro\^/n with wide black stripe on
each elytron. Antennae reddish brovm, legs
pale. One of our most common Iowa beetles:
Often very abundant at lights. Length 5-6
mm..

Ground beetles are for the most part
active only by night. During the day they
hide under stones and debris. A great many
species m.ay be taken, especially in the
spring, by looking under boards and stones
lying on the ground. Black is the most
usual color but many are beautifully marked,
They range widely in size, and are bene-
ficial in killing other insects.

;eje?

Fi •J re

9a Two pair of eyes, one pair on upper surface and one on

lower surface of head. Antennae very short. CWhi rl igig Beetles)
Fig. 91. Family 7, GYRINIDAE

Fig. 91. Dineutes americanus Say

Black vath metallic luster; legs
brovmish yellow. Often seen in
large numbers on surface of quiet
water. Known as "apple-bug" or
"penny-bug" on account of scent.
Length 10-12 mm.

Whirligig beetles are well kno¥/n,
although the family is not large.
The collector will find it good
sport to attempt catching them.
They seldom dive but are good at
dodging.

9b One pair of eyes. Antennae eleven |ointed; slender. Hind
legs with fringes of long hairs and large spurs. (The Pre-
dacious Diving Beetles). Fig. 92. Family 6, DYTISCIDAE

Fig. 92. Agabus disintegratus (Cr.)

Head and thorax dull reddish; elytra dull
yellow; markings black. Length 7-8 mm..

Some members of this family are large
beetles, averaging over an inch in length. The
larvae, which live in water also, are known
as vrater tigers and are highly destructive to
fish fry and other sm.all anim.als with which
th^y are associated. These beetles fly
readily and are often taken at lights.

* A few pround beetles have the head vdder than the thorax
and might seem to be tiger beetles. The f,enus Elaphrus, oon-
Figure S2. men on mud flats with E:bout 20 North American species, is one
of such. They differ from the tiger beetles by the antennae
: rininp "t side, of head between base of nandible and the eye instead of on the front
cf head above the base of the mandible.

58

HOW TO KNOW THE INSECTS

9c Antennae ten jointed. Legs slender without stiff hairs.
Hind coxae forming large plates. (Repeated here since habits
are aquatic) (The Crawling Water Beetles) Figs. 93 and 88.

Family 5, HALIPLIDAE

Fig. 93, Peltodyteg pedunculatus Blatch.

Dull yellov/ with black markings. Note two
I'^ipre^^sed black spots on base of thorax
distinguishing this genus from Hall plus.

Lem^tli 3-3.5 vm.

ir is'-ire J-j

10a Antennae lamellate, bearing flattened plates at end.

See Figs. 94 and 9b 11

10b Antennae not lamellate 14

11a Plates composing antennaj club
flattened and capable of close
apposition. Fig. 94 12

flattened
platen ^' ^^''

Figure 94.

lib P
capable
but s
Fig.

12a A
then

lates

of c

light

95. .

of antenna I cl ub not
lose apposition, usually
ly flattened.

13

Figure 55.

bdomen with six visible ventral segments, or If only five,
the epimera of the metathorax reaching the coxae. (The
Scarabaeids or Dung Beetles) Fig. 96.

Fami ly 97, SCARABAEIDAE

Fig. 96. Geotrupes splendldus Fab.

1/Vell rounded, metallic green, some-
times purple or bronze. Abundant in
dung. Length 13 to 17 mri.

Because of their style of antennae the
members of this family are called Lamel-
llcorn Beetles. It is a large family rang-
ing widely in size, color, shape, and
habits. Our destructive white grubs which
grovj up to be I/ay Beetles belon^r here,
as do many other plant feeders. Some
species are scavengers and do no harm.

59

HOW TO KNOW THE INSECS

12b Abdomen with five visible ventral segments; epimera of the
mesathorax not reaching the coxae, (a) (The Skin Beetles) Fig. 97.

Fami ly 98, TROGIDAE

Fl^. 97. Trox fflonachus Hbst.

Dull grayish black, roughened with warty
tubercles. One of a small family of heavy
set thick bodied beetles found on skins and
bones of carrion. Length 13-16 mm.

One may often find several species of this
little fajnily flying to the lights at night.
An old slaughter house is a good place to look
for them. They are frequently so encrusted
with dirt that they must be cleaned before
accurate identification is possible.

Figure 97.

13a Antennae not elbowed. Mentum deeply eraarginate, the ligula
filling the notch. Fig. 98. Family 100, PASSALIDAE

Fig. 98. Passalus cornutus Fab. The Horned
Passalus.

Length 32-37 mm. Shiny black v/ith a short
horn bent forward on the top of the head. Both
adults and larvae found in decaying wood. Our
only Iowa species of the family.

I'^igure 98.

13b Antennae nearly always geniculate (elbowed); mentum entire.
(The Stag Beetles). Fig. 99. Family 99, LUCANIDAE

Fig. 99. Pseudolucanus capreolus (L.) "The
Pinching Bug. "

Dark reddish brovm, femora light brown. Man-
dibles of female only half as long as those of
male, here shov/n. Frequently fly to lights.
Length 22-35 mm.

We have only a few species of stag beetles
but because of their threatening ways they are
well known. The adults are said to live on
plant secretions and honey dew. The larvae are
found in decaying wood.
14a Hind legs modified for swimming; Antenna clavate or
capitate. (The genus Sphaeridi urn belonging here, does not
have swimming legs.) (The Water Scavenger Beetles)

Figure 99.

Fig. 100.

60

Family 8, HYDROPHILIDAE

HOW TO KNOW THE INSECS

Fig. 100. Hydrous trlanp:ularls (Say)

Black with olive tinge; shining, more so
below. In water and flying to lights.
Length 54-38 mm.

The members of this family are supposedly
scavengers but there Is good evidence that
at least some species catch living Insects
or small fish. There are some small spe-
cies that live In the dung of cattle and
are shaped somewhat like Hlster beetles
but may be readily distinguished .from them
In not having truncate elytra.

Figure 100,

14b Hind legs not modified for swimming 15

15a Elytra short (a), leaving the greater part of the abdomen
exposed. Abdomen flexible with seven or eight segments visible
below. (The Rove or Short winged Scavenger *Beetles) Fig. 101.

Family 16, STAPHYLINIDAE

Fig. 101. Paederus llttorarlus Grav.

Head, elytra and tip of abdomen metallic
bluish-black; thorax and first four dorsally
exposed segments of abdomen yellowish red; legs
brownish yellow. Length 4-6 mm.

This Is a very large family, many species of
which are very abundant In decaying organic mat-
ter. They have a peculiar way when disturbed of
running around with the tip of the abdomen
turned up as though threatening to sting. Of
/'•^.ck"^ \ course, they have no sting but doubtless earn
considerable protection from this ruse.

Kig;ure 101,

15b Elytra covering all or at least more than half of the

abdomen 16

16a Small oval convex, very shiny beetles with conical tipped
abdomen (a) exposed under broadly truncate elytra. Six or
seven ventral abdominal segments. (The Shining Fungus Beetles)
Fig. 102 Family 20, SCAPHIDIIDAE

Fig. 102. Scaphldium quadrlguttatum Say

Shining black with a reddish spot on each
elytron. Found in fungi, on which it feeds.
Length about 4 mm.

A variety piceum, wholly black, Is about
equally common. The family is a small one.

Figure 102.
* Professor Ralph Voris finds them predacious and not scavengers.

61

HOW TO KNOW THE INSECS

16b Not as in 16a 17

17a Abdomen with seven or eight ventral segments 18

17b Abdomen with less than seven ventral segments 20

18a Middle coxae separated from each other. Epipleurae

absent. Fig. 103. Family 24, LYCIDAE

Fig. 103. Calopteron reticulatum (Fab.)

Dull orange yellow with black mark-
ings. Length 12-20 mm. Unlike the
fireflies, which they strongly resemble,
the members of this family are diurnal.
They spend

EPl5TERNUfrl^

hTndooxa \

Fipure 104^.

their day
hunting In-
sects on
which they
,,_ ^ feed.

Figure 103.

18b Middle coxae touching. Epipleura
distinct 19

19a Head more or less completely
covered by prothorax; epister.jum of metathorax not sinuate
(double curved) on inner side. (Fig. 104^ b) .
(The Firefly Beetles) Fig. 104. p^^-.y 25, LAMPYRIDAE

Fig. 104. Lucldota atra (Fab.)

Dull black; sides of thorax dull yellow
with reddish margin next to black mid-line.
Length 8-11 mm.

The Fireflies live a sluggish life by day
but at dusk come out with a splendor un-
approached by other Insects. The fire flashes
apparently serve to attract the mate. In some
species the females are wingless and are
known as glow worms.

Figure 104,

19b Head, if at all, less than half covered by the prothorax;
episternum of metathorax sinuate' (with S curve) on inner side.
(Fig. 104i a). (The Soldier Beetles, etc) Fig. 105.

Family 27, CANTHARIDAE

Fig. 105. Chaullognathus pennsylvanlcus De G.
The Soldier Beetle.

Thorax and elytra yellow marked with black;
head and underparts black. Very abundant In
late summer and fall on goldenrod. Length
9-12 mm.

The members of this family. In shape and soft
bodies, resemble the fireflies. They are di-
urnal and probably live on pollen and nectar of
flowers.

Figure 105,

20a Abdomen with six ventral segments 21

20b Abdomen with five ventral segments 23

62

HOW TO KNOW THE INSECTS

21a Mostly large beetles, usually over 12 mm. long, either
broadly flattened or heavy and in this latter case with elytra
short, exposing two or three segments of abdomen. (The Carrion
Beetles) Fig. 106. Family 12, SILPHIDAE

Fig. 106. Sllpha amerlcana L.

Much flattened. Thorax yellow with center
spot black; elytra brov.Tilsh with elevations
darker. Fairly common on carrion. A beau-
tiful beetle If It were not for Its disgust-
ing ways. Length 16-20 m_m.

Four other species of this genus are
found In Iowa, all of them flattened and
shaped somewhat like amerlcana. Another
genus Necrophorus Is common. Its members
are large, elon^^ate and robust. They are
black with brilliant vermilion markings on
head, thorax, and elytra. They are knovm as
burying beetles because of their habit of
burying small carcasses as food for their
larvae .

Seldom over 10 mm. in length. Cylindrical

Hind coxae conical. Front coxae long with

Figure 106,

21b
22a

22

chant ins. Fig.

Fami

forms. . .
distinct tro-
ly 28, MELYRIDAE

;Fab.)

107.

Fig. 107. Collops quadrlmaculatus

Head, abdomen and femora black; thorax and
elytra reddish-yellow; markings blue or blu-
ish black. Readily taken throughout the
state by sweeping. Length 4-6 mmi.

fairly large one and
found to have a number of
Iowa, if sufficient col-

Thls family Is a
doubtless would be
representatives In

lee ting and study were given it.

Figure 107,

22b Hind coxae flat; covered with femora when at rest. Fourth
tarsal ioints equal to others. (The Checkered Beetles) Fig. 108.

Fami ly 29, CLERIDAE

Fig. 108. Enoclerus nigrlpes Say

Elongate-cylindrical, thickly clothed with
hairs. Head, thorax and base of elytra dull
red. Two cross bars on elytra black. Tips
of elytra and space between black bars
v/hitlsh. Length 5-7 mm..

Figure 10!J.

63

HOW TO KNOW THE INSEOS

23a Antennae both elbowed and clavate. Hard, usually small,
black beetles with truncate (a) elytra. (The Hister Beetles)
Fig. 109. Family 23, HISTERIDAE

Fig. 109. Platysoma depressum Lee.

Shiny black, much flattened. Common under
bark of logs. Length 3-4 mm.

Other members of this family live under
bark and are greatly depressed. Many others
live In carrion. They are usually much
thickened. A few species have red markings
on the elytra.

^igure 10 9.

23b Not as in 23a 24

24a Femora attached to end of

trochanter or very near the

end. Fig. 110 25 / C VY^'^^^ ^

Fig. 110. c, Coxa; t, tro- "^^^.J?

chanter; f, femur.

Figure 110,

24b Femora attached to side of f /^"^ — ^

trochanter. Fig. 111 26 y^xr_ £

Fig. 111. c, Coxa; t, tro- \ ^T"^*^--— JL

chanter; f, femur. ^-^^

Figure 111.

25a Antennae inserted on the front. Small beetles. (The
Deathwatch and Drug-store Beetles.) Fig. 112

Family 91, PTINIDAE

Fig. 112. Ptinus brunneus Dufts.

Pale brown. Clothed v;ith recumbent
hairs and erect bristles. An old world
species, found in places where meal is
stored. Length about 3 mm.

Judged from human likes and dislikes,
some Insects have queer tastes. Some
members of this and of the family Anobi-
Idae live in drugs and other stored!
products seemingly poorly suited for
food.

Figure 112,

64

HOW TO KNOW THE INSEQS

25b Antennae inserted before the eyes; (a); tibiae with spurs (b);
first ventral not elongated. (The Powder-Post Beetles.) Fig. 113

Family 93, BOSTRICHIOAE

Fig. 113. Amphlcerus blcaudatus (Say)

Dark brown, with scattered recumbent hairs.
Elytra coarsely punctured. Length 7-9 mm.

The beetles of this family are dull colored
and cylindrical In form. They feed In dry
wood and often cause serious damage to lumber
and to buildings.

26a Front coxae conical, profectlng prominently from coxal

cavity 27

26b Front coxae globular or transverse, usually projecting

but little from coxal cavity 28

27a Hind coxae dilated into plates partly covering base of

femora. Antennae with large three segmented club at end.

(The Skin Beetles) Fig. 1U. Family 64, DERMESTIDAE

Figure 114.

Fig. 114. Anthrenus scrophularlae (L.)
The Carpet Beetle.

Ovate, convex. Black, thickly covered
with colored scales In black and white zig-
zag transverse rows. Interrupted by a
bright red sutural stripe, through middle
of back. This Insect has been Introduced
from Europe and the adults may be fre-
quently found In great abundance on the
flowers of Spiraea In early summer. Length
2.5-3.5 mm. (From U.S.D.A.)

The Skin beetles do not constitute a
large family but are very destructive to
stored foods, furs, clothing, etc. They
are the most persistent pests of the Insect collection and every
unguarded collection Is sure to contain some living representa-
tives of this family even though no pinned ones are present.

27b Hind coxae flat, not dilated into plates, fourth |oint of
tarsi equal to others. (The Checkered Beetles) Fig. 115.

Family 29, CLERIDAE

65

HOW TO KNOW THE INSEQS

Fig. 115. Hydnocera pallipennis Say

Black; antennae and legs pale; elytra dull
yellowish with variable brownish or black
markings. Length 3-5 mm. The checkered
beetles may well be favorites with collectors
Although rather small in size their graceful
form and varied color patterns, not infre-
quently brilliant, place them among the most
beautiful beetles.

28a Front coxae transverse; hind coxae flat 29

28b Front r.oxae globular 30

29a Tarsi slender, first segment short; elytra never truncate.
(The Grain and Bark-gnawing Beetles.) Fig. 116

Farai ly 68, OSTOMIDAE

Fig. 116. Tenebroides maurltanica (L.)

The Cadelle. Flattened; shiny black. A
serious pest in mills, granaries and storehouses.
Length 9-10 mm. (From U.S.D.A.)

This is a small family. Its members are black
or reddish black. L'ost of them, live under bark
and are flattened so that they may accommodate
themselves to such cramped quarters.

Figure 116.

29b Tarsi more or less dilated; first segment not short; elytra
often truncate. (The Sap-feeding Beetles.) Fig. 117

Fami ly 69, NITIDULIDAE

Fig. 117. Qmoslta colon (L.)

Brownish black with margins of thorax, four
spots on base of elytra and a region of the
apical ends dull yellow. On carrion and fungi.
Length 2-3 mm.

The Sap-Feeding beetles are a fairly sizable
family, l.^any of them are flattened. Their
feeding habits vary greatly. Most of our Iowa
species are quite
small, but a few
species reach a length
Figure 117. Of 7 or 8 mm.

30a Prosternum with a spine which
fits into a groove in the meso-
sternum. Fig. 118 31

Figiare 113,

66

HOW TO KNOW THE INSECTS

30b Not as in 30a
31a The first and

c I osel y I oi ned to

Fig. 119.

32

Figure ll-'.

second abdominal segments fused; prothorax
mesothorax. (The Metallic Woodborers)

Fami ly 54, BUPRESTIDAE

Fig. 119. Chrysobothrlc femorata Fab.
(a, larva; b, adult. ) The Flat
Headed Apple Borer.

Dark bronze with branny metallic
luster. Whitish markings on elytra
variable. The larvae bore in the
trunks of v/hlte oak, apple, and other
trees. Length 8-16 nun. (From U.S.D.A.)

The i.Ietalllc Woodborers are favo-
rites with collectors. Tost of them
look as though they '.vere a product of
our machine age. Some are very bril-
liantly colored. They run through a
wide range of shapes and sizes.

31b Ventral
mesothorax .

segments not fused; Prothorax loosely

(The Click Beetles) Fig. 120

■ -- -y

joined to

Fami

51

ELATERIDAE

Fab.

Fig. 120 I;'onocrepidius vespertinu^
(a and b, larvae; c, adult . )

Usually yellow beneath and dark reddish
brown above, side markings on thorax and
elytra yelloxv. Length 7-10 mm. (From U.S.
D.A.)

The Click beetles are so named because of
their unique scheme for righting themselves
when turned on their backs. Two or three
flips into the air Is quite certain to land
them right side up, then they lose no time in
F:rn;re i''o. runnlug away. The larvae are wire ■:.'orms;

many of them live in decaying logs but m.any
others attack growing plants and accordingly are in ill repute
with farmers and gardeners. The family is a large one.
32a Body flattened, middle coxa I cavities open behind. (The
Flat Bark Beetles or Cucujids) Figs. 121, 127 and 130.

Family 72, CUCUJIDAE

121. OrvzaeDhllus surinamensis (L

Fig. 121. Qryzaephllus surinan

Dark reddish brov.Ti. Readily distinguished
teeth on m.argin of thorax. A pest of stored
and dried fruit. Length about 2.5 mm. (From

by

grain
U.S.D.A.)

Fif^ire 1^1

Lost of the m.embers of this family live under bark
and as would be suspected, are very much flattened.
Brovm seems to be the prevailing color, though one Is
bright red and several are attractively marked. Some
of our Iowa species are a half inch or more in length
but m.ost of them are much smaller.

32b Front and middle coxal cavities closed behind. Body convex

or cylindrical. (The Pleasing Fungus Beetles) Fig. 122

Fami ly 73, EROTYLIDAE

67

HOW TO KNOW THE INSEQS

Fig. 122. Langurla trlfasclata Say

Cylindrical, tapering at both ends. Head and
base and apex of elytra bluish black; thorax,
middle of elytra and 'segments two to six, inclu-
sive of antennae reddish yellow. Length 6-8 mm.

The Pleasing Fungus Beetles are for the most
part smooth, shiny, elongate beetles that live
In fungi . The larvae of Langurla mozardl feed
in the stems of clover. Many of the adults are
marked with contrasting patterns of black and
red.

Figure 122.

33a Front coxa! cavities closed behind. Abdomen Vwith five ven-
tral segments in part grown together. Fig. 123A 34

i'ig, 123 A, Front coxal caTitles closed behind and separated; ii, v,riaely
opsn behind and confluent; C, open behind and separated; p, presternum;
es, epistemuni; cc, coxal caTlties. (After Wiclchani,)

33b Front coxal cavities open behind. See
34a Next to last segment of tarsi spongy.
Beetles) Fig. 124.

Fig. I23B and C . . 35
(The Lagrild Baric
Fami ly 88, LAGRI I DAE

Fig. 124. Arthromacra aenea glabrlcollls
Blatch.

Elongate, convex. Brovmlsh black with
metallic Iridescence. Length 10-13 mm.

This Is a small family of beetles; found
under bark and on leaves.

Figure 124.

34b Next to last segment of tarsi not spongy. (The Darkling
Beetles.) Fig. 125. Many Tenebrionids
Fig. 124. They should
characters .

my I erieui I uri I us Strongly resemble
be checked carefully for the tarsal

Family 87, TENEBRIONI DAE

^

68

HOW TO KNOW THE INSEQS

Fig. 125. BolltothoruG cornutus (Panz.)

Dull bro^jvnlsh black. Thorax and elytra much
roughened v/ith large and small Irregular tuber-
cles. Llales with two horns as pictured. When
disturbed they "play pocDum" and strongly re-
semble bits of dry rotten wood or fungi among
v/hlch they are found. Length 10-12 mm.

r^m* ''St^ The Darkling beetles represent a large family.
tis'AfVil / ^ large percentage are western forms and not

found In our area. They vary In size from tiny
little fellows to that of some of our largest
Figure 125. beetles. A number of species are cosmopolitan
pests of grain products. Many of our native
species are found under bark. Ov/en J. Smith* has pictured and
described the knovm Iowa species.

35a Head not strongly and suddenly constricted at base. ... 36
35b Head strongly constricted at base, being suddenly narrowed

behind 37

36a Mesosternum long; epimera of metathorax visible. (The
Melandryid Bark Beetles.) Figs. 126 and 133.

Family 90, MELANDRYIDAE

Fig. 126. Eustrophlnus blcolor (Fab.)

Convex. Shiny black, sparsely pubescent. Ab-
domen, legs and four basal joints of antennae
reddish yellow. Common under bark. Length
5-6 mm.

The members of this comparatively small family
are found mostly in fungi and under bark. They
are often thickly covered with silken hairs and
range in size from 3 to 15 mm.

Figure 126,

36b Mesosternum quadrate; epimera of metathorax covered. (The
Flat Bark Beetles) Figs. 127, 121 and 130.

Family 72, CUCUJIDAE

Fig. 127. Telephanus velox Hald.

Slender, subdepressed, rather thickly clothed
with hairs, pale broivnish-yellow; head and apical
ends of elytra darker. The antennae are fre-
quently held in the characteristic position
pictured. Length about 4 mm.

Figure 127.

37a Side pieces of prothorax not separated from the pronotum by
a suture. Base of prothorax narrower than elytra 38

* "A study of the Tenebrionidae of Southeastern lov/a." 0\7en J, Smith. Proc. la.
Academy Science. 28: 259-265. 1931,

69

HOW TO KNOW THE INSEQS

37b Lateral suture of prothorax distinct; base of prothorax as

wide as elytra. Antennae filiform 41

38a Hind coxae large and prominent 39

38b Hind coxae but slightly prominent, if at all 40

39a Tarsal claws simple; head horizontal. (The Fire-colored
Beetles) Fig. 128. Family 43, PYROCHROIDAE

Fig. 128. Deiidroides blcolor Kewn.

Reddish yellow. Head, antennae and elytra
black. Specimen here shovm, female.
Branches of antennal joints longer In male.
Length 0-13 mm.

This Is a small family of beetles that In
softness of body and shape somewhat resem-
ble the fireflies . Red or yellow Is
usually a part of the color pattern and
probably suggested the name. They are
found under bark of partly decayed trees.

Figure 128.

39b Front vertical. Claws toothed or cleft.
(See Fig. 128^). (The Blister Beetles)

^'^- '^^^- Family 39, MELOIDAE

Fig. 129. Eplcauta vlttata Fab.

Sub-cyllndrlcal. Dull clay yellow with
black markings. Underparts black. A pest of
potatoes and other garden plants. Length
12-18 mm. (From U.S.D.A.)

The Blister beetles are m.ostly medium sized
Insects, and contain cantharadlne which
raises blisters when applied to human skin.
The larvae pass through several Intere-stlng
stages In one of which they feed on grass-
hopper eggs, and so like many other Insects
are neither wholly good nor v.rholly bad.

Figure 129.

40a Anterior coxae globular, not prominent. (The Flat Bark
Beetles) Figs. 130, 121 and 127. Family 72, CUCUJIDAE

Fig. loO. Brontes dub 1 us Fab.

Very thin. Dusky brov/n. Legs and margins of
elytra paler.

Antennae very long. Common under bark. Length
4-6 mm.

Figure 130,

70

HOW TO KNOW THE INS^-QS

40b Anterior coxae conical, prominent. Neck narrow. Eyes
rounded. (The Ant-like Flower Beetles) Fig. 131

Family 45, ANTHICIDAE

Fig. 131. Motoxus mono don Fab.

X A\ /■' Dull brovmlsh yellow, thickly covered with
grayish hairs. Thorax and elytra marked with
black. This and other members of the genus are
peculiar In having a thick horn projecting for-
ward from the front of the thorax. The head Is
usually held down and Is not visible from above ,
Length 2.5 to 4 mmi.

As the name indicates, many of the members of
this interesting family are shaped like ants.
They are beautifully marked and quite abundant.
It is probable that the number of species in
Iowa is quite large, but the family has not
been thoroughly studied.

Figure 131,

41a Hind coxae plate-like, abdomen usually pointed (a). (The
Tumbling Flower Beetles) Fig. 132. Family 37, MORDELLIDAE

Fig. 132. Mordella oculata Say

Antennae, tibiae and tarsi dull red; head,
thorax and abdomen blackish with yellow and
gray markings. Length 5-7 mm.

The Tumbling Flower Beetles are so named be-
cause of their habit of tumbling actively about
when disturbed until out of reach of the enemy.
They are wedge shaped with arched body and head
bent down. Most of the rather large number of
species are of small size.

41b Hind coxae not plate-like. (The Melandryid Bark Beetles)
Figs. 133 and 126. Family 90, MELANDRYIDAE

Fig. 133. Qsphya varians (Lee.)

Black, sparsely clothed with fine gray
prostrate hairs; margin and middle of thorax
reddish yellow. Length 5-8 mm.

Two of the larger and more common species
are Penthe obllquata Fab. and Penthe pimelia
Fab. Both are black, the latter wholly so,
v/hlle the former has the scutelluir. covered
with rust-red hairs.

Figure 133,

42a Tarsi in reality with five segments, the fourth very small
and hidden between prongs of third. (See Fig. 83a) . • ... 45

71

HOW TO KNOW THE INSECS

42b Only four tarsal segments 43

43a First four ventral abdominal segments fused. Tibiae

dilated, armed with rows of spines for digging. (The

Variegated Mud-loving Beetles) Fig. 134.

Family 58, HETEROCERIDAE

Fig. 134. Heterocerus ventralls Melsh.

Black covered with brownish and yellowish
hairs; the latter In three Indistinct cross
bands. Length 6-7 min.

The members of this little family are found
In burrows at the edge of our water courses.
At night they are sometimes found In great
numbers at lights. The other species are
smaller than ventralls.

Figure 134,

43b Ventral segments of abdomen not grown together, front coxae
globose 44

44a Tarsi slender. (The Pleasing Fungus Beetles.) Fig. 135

Fami ly 83, ENDOMYCHIDAE

Fig. 135. Aphorlsta vlttata (Fab.)

Shiny, brownish red. Markings on thorax and
elytra black. Length 5-6 mm.

Look In decaying wood, bracket fungi and
under bark for the Pleasing Fungus Beetles. We
have but few species In Iowa but they are well
nsuned and make an Interesting addition to the
collection.

Figure 135.

44b Tarsi more or less dilated and spongy beneath. (The Hand-
some Fungus Beetles.) Fig. 136. Family 73, EROTYLIDAE

Fig. 136. Ischyrus quadrlpunctatus (Ollv. )

Convex. Thorax and elytra yellowish red. Head
and markings on thorax and elytra black. Length
7-8 mm.

This beautiful beetle Is found hibernating In
large numbers under bark and logs. That Is also
true of Megalodacne fasclata Fab. which Is con-
si derablylargerTlO^^T5~mm7y and displays less
red.

Figure 136.

45a Body elongate; antennae almost always long, often as long
as the body or longer. Base of antennae usually partly sur-
rounded by eyes. (The Long Horned Wood-boring Beetles.) Fig.
137. Family 101, CERAMBYCIDAE

72

HOW TO KNOW THE INSEQS

Fig. 137. Typocerus velutlna (Ollv.)

Head, thorax and antennae black. Elytra
reddish brown with yellov.^ cross bars. Common
on flowers such as New Jersey Tea, Purple
Headed Cone Flower, etc. Length 10-14 mm.

The Long Homed Woodborers are strong favo-
rites with collectors. Theirs is a large
family varying widely In shape, size, and
color. Many species are destructive to trees
and shrubs, while the larvae of some species
live In the stems of herbaceous plants.

Figure 137.

Figure 138,

45b Body usually short, more or less oval; antennae short, not
at all surrounded by eyes 46

46a Front prolonged into a broad quadrate beak. Elytra exposing
tip of abdomen (a). (The Seed Weevils) Fig. 138.

Fami ly 103, MYLABRIDAE

Flc. 138. l!ylabrls obtectus Say

The Common Bean V/eevll. Black, clothed with
grayish pubescence. Elytra marked with obscure
bands. Altogether too common In stored beans.
Length about 3 mm. (From U.S.D.A.)

This family Is small but very important. The
larvae are universal pests of the larger seeds of
Leguminous plants. The eggs are laid in most
cases when the pods are quite small and develop
within the growing seed. It is a rather reckless
thing to do, for many of the tiny grubs lose
their lives on the dinner table. Some species
run a series of generations in stored seeds. If one will collect
the seeds of different legumes and bottle them, the beetles, as
well as their parasites which are also likely to be represented,
may easily be collected when they emerge.

46b Front not prolonged into a beak. Abdomen usually wholly
covered with elytra. Larvae and adults live on leaves of
plants. (The Leaf Beetles) FigS. 139 and 38.

Family 102, CHRYSOMELIDAE

Fig. 139. Chryptocephalus mutabllis I.'elsh.

Heavy, subcyllndrical. Shiny, reddish brovm
with markings on thorax and elytra yellow.
The males have spots on thorax and elytra
black or very dark. Length 4-6 mm.

This is a very large and important family.
Few plants escape the ravages of some species
of leaf beetle. They closely rival the Long-
horns in Interest and beauty for collections
though they average smaller In size. Their
greater abundance makes up for this seeming
handicap.
4Ta Tarsal claws toothed or appendiculate.
(Flg.139i). First ventral abdominal seg-
ment with distinct curved coxal lines.
(The Lady Beetles). Fig. 140.

Family 85, COCCINELLIDAE Figure 139|.

73

Figure 139,

HOW TO KNOW THE INSEOS

Figure l-

Fig. 140. Hlppodamia convergens Guer.
The Convergent Lady Beetle.

Head and thorax black, marked with
pale yelloY/. Elytra orange red with a
common scutellar spot and six small
spots on each, black. (Part of the
spots are not always present) Underparts
black. Length 5-6 mtl. (From U.S. D. A. )

Lady beetles have long been favorites
with man. They protect his plants from
destruction and entertain his children.
V/hile many lady beetles are spotted^
some are plain colored and others
striped. I.-'any spotted insects of this
size are not lady beetles as the be-
ginner sometimes supposes. We have many lov/a species. They
range in length from 1 mm. to alm.ost 10 mm^.

47b Tarsal claws simple. First ventral abdominal segment with-
<5ut coxal lines. (The Handsome Fungus Beetles). Fig. 141.

Fami ly 83, ENDOMYCHIDAE

Fig. 141. Endomychus biguttatus Say

Elytra red marked with black. Head, antennae,
legs, thorax, and scutellum black. Length about
4 mm. (Redra^m from Blatchley's Coleoptera of
Indiana. )

Figure 141.

48a Beak absent or very short and broad. Antennae short and
always elbowed. Tibia usually with teeth. (The Engraver
Beetles) Fig. 142. Family 109, SCOLYTIDAE

Fig. 142. Scolytus rugulosus Ratz.
(a, dorsal view; b, side view.)
The Fruit Bark-Beetle.

Blaclcish; antennae, tibiae, tarsi
and apex of elytra reddish brovm.
Does serious dam.age to fruit trees.
Length 2-2.5 nun. (From U.S.D.A.)

The Scolytids vary widely in form
but are much alike in being exceed-
ingly destructive. Because of their
uniquely designed galleries in the
cambium of tree trunks they are
called "engraver beetles." The lum-
bering industry has paid a heavy
toll to them. IJany species are very
small. But little has been done to determine the nimiber of
species in Iowa, yet they have a vital relation to our reforesta-
tion program.

figure 142.

74

HOW TO KNOW THE INSECTS

48b Tibia without teeth on outer edge. Beak usually longer
than broad 49

49a Antennae without a distinct club; not elbowed. Body long,
slim, cylindrical, in the one Iowa species. (The Primitive
Weevils) Fig. 143. Family 104, BRENTIDAE

Fig. 143. Eupsall

FijT-ure 143

mlnuta Drury

Subcyllnclrlcal. Dark reddish brovvTi with yel-
lowish marKlriKS on elytra. The entire drawing
Is of the female. The males average larger than
the females and have Instead of the heavy man-
dibles a long, fairly straight snouth projecting
in line with the body to a length nearly equal
to the thorax, (a) Found under bark of dead or
dying oaks, and other trees. Length 7-17 mm.
(From Blatchley and Leng's Rhynchophora of N.E.
America. )

The Primitive Weevils have many representa-
tives In the tropics. The species here described
and a variety lecontei are the only members of
the family known to occur In our state.
49b Antennae with distinct club; but either straight or

elbowed 50

50a Stout gray and black checkered beetle, 12-18 mm. long.
Antennae not elbowed but with small oval club (a). But one
species in Iowa. (The New York Weevil) Fig. 144

Family 105, BEL I DAE

Fig. 144. Ithycerus noveboracensls (Forst.)

Black, clothed with gray and brown pros-
trate hairs arranged in Interrupted stripes
on thorax and elytra. Scutellum whitish.
Breeds in bur oak and is destructive to fruit
trees. It is the only representative of its
fam.lly. Length 12-18 mm..

Figure 144.

50b Not as in 50a 51

51a Beak always short and broad. Palpi flexible. Thorax with
transverse raised line. Antennae almost always
not elbowed. (The Fungus Weevils) Fig. 145.

Family 106, PLATYSTOMI DAE
Fig. 145. Euparius marmoreus (Oliv.)

Robust dusky brown v;lth Irregular pattern of
pale brown and gray scales on thorax and elytra.
Bar of black on each elytron. Legs ringed with
gray and black. Common under bark on dead stumps
of willow, maple, etc. Length 4-9 mm.

This family has Its largest representation In
the tropics. Our species appear to be fungus
feeders and are found in proximity to fungi on

Fip-ure 145. lOgS and StU2TipS.

75

HOW TO KNOW THE INSEOS

51b Snout often long and curved downward. Palpi rigid. Antennae
almost always elbowed, (a) (The Typical Snout Beetles) Fig. 146.

Family 107, CURCULIONIDAE

Fig. 146. Hypera punctata Fab. The
Clover Leaf Weevil.

Convex, robust. Black, so clothed
v/ith gray, brown, and yellowish
scales as to be much striped and
mottled. Thorax with narrow midline
and a wavy one on either side,
light. (From U.S.D.A.)

The Curcullonids comprise a large
and very Important family. Some
Figure 146. serlous posts Of com and small

grain belong here. Many of the
worms" in fruit and nuts are the
larvae of snout beetles. Thus a long list of complaints might be
registered against these interesting beetles, but they feel that
they must live and have chosen to let man pay the bill. A life
time could be spent In studying this one family in Iowa without
at all exhausting its possibilities.

KEY TO THE MORE COMMON FAMILIES OF THE ORDER HEMIPTERA

la Antennae shorter than the head, frequently hidden, mostly

aquatic 16

lb Antennae longer than head, not hidden (except in

Phymatidae) 2

2a Scutellum very large and convex, covering most of abdomen.

Antennae of five segments 3

2b Scutellum not as above 4

3a Tibiae without strong spines. Our Iowa species light

brown. (The Shield-backed Bugs.) Fig. 147.

Family I, SCUTELLERI DAE

Figure 147.

Fig. 147. Homaemus bl.lugis Uhler

Ground color yellowish tan ranging from
light to darker in different specimens.
Head black with lateral margins, reddish
tan. Diverging stripes on thorax and
scutellum formed by numerous black punc-
tures. Length 6-8 mm.

Comparatively few species of these
curiously shaped bugs are known to Iowa.
They seem to be vegetable feeders and are
taken by sweeping.

3b Tibiae with strong spines. Shiny black or dark brown.
Often resemble beetles. (The Negro Bugs and the Burrower
Bugs.) Fig. 148. Family 2, CYDNIDAE

76

HOW TO KNOW THE INSECS

Fig. 148. Galgupha atra A. and S.

Very convex. Black, shining; antennae
reddish brovm. Our largest Negro bug. Length
5-6 mm.

The Negro bugs are black and very convex.
Beginners often mistake them for beetles. The
Ground or Burrower Bugs are more flattened and
resemble the Stink bugs In form. Some are
black and others deep chestnut brovm.

Figure 148.

4a Sma 1 1 insects.
Fig. 149.

Front wings resembling lace. (Lace Bugs.)

Fami ly 9, TINGITIDAE

Fig. 149. Corythuca cllllata (Say) The
Sycamore Lace-bug.

Body black; antennae and legs yellowish.
Upper surface milk white except a fuscous
middle spot. Hood depressed just behind
middle, on head. Common on leaves of syca-
more, v'hlch It discolors and causes to fall
prematurely. Length about 4 mm. (From
U.S.D.A.)

The Lace-bugs surely live up to their
name for they are daintily dressed v/lth
wings that look as though they had been
made by some expert lace knitter. l,:any are
oval In outline while some are elongate.
Figure 149. Nymphs and adults are found together, feed-
ing on the underside of leaves of many
plants. Like many other plant feeders a
species usually sticks pretty closely to one food plant.

4b Not as In 4a 5

5a Antennae with five segments; mostly flattened, shield shaped
bugs. (The Stink Bugs.) Fig. 150 Family 3, PENTATOMIDAE

Fig. 150. Ivlurgantla hlstrlonlca
(Hahn) The Harlequin Cabbage Bug
Black; head marked with yellow;
thorax, scutellum, and elytra marked
with orange red. The pattern is
rather uniform in arrangem.ent but
varies considerably In different
species as to size of red marks. A
pest of cabbage and related plants,
now coming into lov/a. Length 9-12 mm .

The Harlequin Cabbage Bug is more
brilliantly colored than many of our
stink bugs, and, at present, less
comm.on In Iowa. Many species are
characterized by a prominent lateral
spine on each humeral angle of prono-
tum. This family is a fairly large
one. *Stoner gives keys and descrlp-
rigure loo. tions for Identifying 45 Iowa species.

* Stoner, Dayton,
1-140. 1920.

The Scutelleroid^a of lo-.m. Univ. Iowa Studies Nat. '-ist, 8(4;

77

HOW TO KNOW THE INSECTS

5b Antennae with less than 5 segments 6

6a Beak four jointed 7

6b Beak three jointed 13

7a Front tibia armed with spines and capable of being closed
tightly against the femur for catching insects (a); front
femur usually thickened; ocelli present; first segment of

beak short. (The Damsel Bugs).

Fig. 151. Fami ly 15, NABIDAE

Fig. 151. Nab is ferus (L.)

Dull ashy gray or grayish yellow. Head
and front of pronotuui with median dark
stripe. There are both short-winged and
long-winged forms. This is one of sev-
eral quite similar Iowa species of this
genus. Length 6-9 mm.

The Damsel bugs are more vicious than
their name might indicate. They seem to
feed largely on plant lice and other
soft-bodied insects. The family is a
small one.

7b Front legs for walking 8

8a Front wings with a cuneus (a); no ocelli. (The Plant

Bugs.) Fig. 152. Family 19, MIRIDAE

Fig. 152. Lygus pratensis (L.) The Tarnished
Plant-bug.

Dull reddish or broijmish yellow m.arked with
blackish; clavus and corium usually reddish
brown. Length 5-6 mm. (From U.S.D.A.)

This is perhaps our most common representa-
tive of this large family. Plant bugs are
very abundant throughout the summ.er. There is
wide variation in their color, size and
relative shapes.

Figure 152.

8b Front wings without a cuneus 9

9a Body elongate, tarsal claws arising from sides of tarsus
above the end. (The Water Striders) Fig. 153.

Family 24, GERRIDAE

78

HOW TO KNOW THE INSEQS

Figure 153,

Fig. 153. GerrlG remlgls Say-
Above bro;vn to reddish brown; reddish
brovm on sides. First joint of antennae
nearly as long as next three Joints com-
bined. Mo median carina or pronotum.
Length 14-16 mm.

The legs of the V/ater-strlders are
long and slender, for they are used to
skate about on the surface film of quiet
water. They are frequently found In
large groups. Iv'any species have two
forms, winged and wingless, with some-
times a third short-winged form. They
live on other insects that fall Into the
water.

9b Tarsal claws arising from end of tarsus 10

10a Ocelli present 11

10b No ocelli; much flattened and thin for living under barl(.
(The Fl?t Bugs). Fig. 154. Family 5, ARADIDAE

Fig. 154. Aradus acutus Say

Blackish brown; a row of -jhltlsh spots on
each side of exposed disk of abdomen and on
elytra. Head longer than wide and longer
than pronotum. Found under bark of logs.
Length 7-10 mm.

The Flat bugs are well named. They live
under bark and some of them have been reduced
almost to the thinness of paper. The general
color is black or dark brov/n. Some species
bear small markings of red or of white.

Figure 154.

11a Body and appendages very slender; antennae longer than body,

Its fourth segment short and thickened. (The
Stilt Bugs). Fig. 155, Family 6, NEIDIDAE

Fig. 155. Jalysus spinosus (Say)

Dull reddish or yellowish brown. First
joint of antennae longer than third, second
only twice the length of fourth. Scutellum
with spine inclined at angle of about 45
degrees. Length 7-9 mm.

The Stilt Bugs are very slender Insects
with long v/eak legs and antennae. They are
fairly abundant and may be readily taken by
sweeping. The family is a small one.

79

HOW TO KNOW THE INSECS

lib Body not extremely slender as in 11a; antennae shorter

than body 12

12a Membrane of front wing with many veins, usually forked, (a)
(The squash Bug Family). Fig. 156. Family 4, COREIDAE

Fig. 156. Anasa trlstis (De Geer) The Squash
Bug

Depressed above. Dull brownish yellow, grayed
with black punctures. Head black with three
yellow lines. Alternate squares of black and
yellow on connexlvum (sides of abdomen). A
serious pest of squashes and pumpkins. Length
13-18 mm. (From U.S. D. A. )

iLOst of the members of this large family are
plant feeders. They are, provided for defense
with stink glands with which they make their
neighborhood hideous when disturbed. They vary
greatly In shape and color. They are medium to
large bugs.

12b Membrane of front wing with but four or five veins (a).
(Some species with short winged or wingless forms), (The
Chinch-bug Family). Fig. 157. Family 7, LYGAEIDAE

Fig. 157. Bllssus leucopterus Say The Chinch
Bug

Dull black, thickly covered with fine pubescence.
Elytra white with large black spot on corlum. Legs
and beak brovmlsh yellow. Length about 4 mm.
(From U.S.D.A.)

The Chinch bug alone would make this large fam-
ily famous but many other notable pests belong
here also. They are mostly plant feeders. i:any
are small. Some are wingless. Young collectors
frequently discard these short v/lnged forms for
nymphs .

Figure 156,

Figurs 157.

13a Broad flat flightless bugs; Tarsi 3 segmented; ocelli none.
(The Bed Bugs). Fig. 158. Family 16, CIMICIDAE

Fig. 158. Clmex lectularlus L. The Common
Bed Bug.

Dark reddish brown, sometimes yellowish.
Wings very short and functlonless. It hides
by day but v/lth the setting of the sun comes
forth to make the night long to be remembered.
Length 4-5 mm. (From U.S.D.A.)

This family Is a small one, the bed bug
being the only well known species. The others
are parasites on bats and a few birds.

Figure 158,

13b Not as in 13a 14

14a Front femora greatly thickened and much modified for catch-
ing insect prey (a); last segment of antenna thickened.
(The Ambush Bugs). Fig. 159. Family 11, PHYMATIDAE

80

Figure 159.

HOW TO KNOW THE INSEQS

Fig. 159. Phymata erosa fasclata (Gray)

Yellow or greenish yellow marked as shown,
pale to reddish brown; legs not annulated.
Length 9-12 mm.

These Ambush bugs lie In wait in the
flowers of the Compo sitae and other plants
for Insect visitors. They are so shaped
and colored as to blend Into their surround-
ings and to be quite Inconspicuous. The
front legs, with large spine-covered femora,
are adapted for catching and holding their
Insect prey. They are very common In the
fall. The species figured Is one of the
most common.

14b Front femora not as in 14a

15a Body much flattened and thin for living
Flat Bugs). See Fig. 154.

. . . 15

(The
ARADIOAE

under bark.
Fami ly 5,

The Flat Bugs all have a four-;]olnted beak but In
some the beak Is apparently three-jointed; accord-
ingly the family Is repeated here.
15b Body not very thin; front legs for catching prey but much
less than half as wide as long. Antenna filiform at tip.
(The Assassin Bugs). Fig. 160. Family 12, REDUVIIDAE

Fig. 160. Reduvlus personatus (L.)

Blackish brown; the knees, tarsi and apical
half of the tibia paler. Known as the "masked
bed-bug hunter" or "kissing bug." Some contend
that the latter name belongs to a similar but
blacker species (Melanolestes plclpes . Both
species may bite painfully If handled carelessly.
They are frequently seen at lights. Length 17-20
mm. (From U.S.D.A.)

The bloodthirsty pirates composing this family
live for the most part by catching and sucking
Figure 160. the blood of other insects. Some attack man or

other mammals. There are many species which vary
widely in size and form. The thread-legged bug; long and slim
and somewhat resembling a walking-stick, belongs here.

16a Hind tarsi with claws, front legs for catching prey. . . 17
16b Hind tarsi without distinct claws, front legs not

especially modified for catching prey 18

17a Hind legs flattened for swimming. Large oval insects.

(The Giant Water Bugs) Fig. 161.

Family 30, BELOSTOMIDAE

81

Figure 161,

HOW TO KNOW THE INSEOS

Fig. 161. Lethocerus amerlcanus (Leldy)

Dull yellowish brown. Front femora with
groove In front to receive tibiae, which
distinguishes It from another large species,
Benacus grlseus (Say). Length 50-55 mm.

Some members of this family are truly
giant and never fall to attract popular In-
terest. They are predaceous. Young fish,
tadpoles, and other water Insects suffer
heavily that these Insects may live. There
are but a few species. The female of some
species glues her eggs to the back of the
male which must then carry them about until
they hatch. Specimens thus bearing eggs
always attract attention.

17b Hind legs for walking. Mostly long slim insects. (The
Water Scorpions) Fig. 162. Family 29, NEPIDAE

Fig. 162. Ranatra fusca P. B.

Dark reddish to fuscous brown; legs but
faintly annulated If at all. Front part
of pronotum less than half the width of
hind part. Length of body 35-42 mm.

The members of the genus Nepa are broad
and flat, roughly resembling the giant
water bugs, but have a long respiratory
tube at the end of the abdomen. Members
of the genus Ranatra are much more common.
They seem to prefer shallow stagnant water,
If one will rake out the decaying vegeta-
tion on the bank, these Interesting Insects
may be separated from It. They are pre-
dacious.

Figure 162,

18a Front tarsi of but one scoop-shaped segment and without
claws, body flattened above with head over lapping the thorax
dorsal ly. (The Water Boatmen). Fig, 163.

Fami ly 33, CORIXIDAE

82

Figure 163,

HOW TO KNOW THE INSECS

Fig. 163. Arctocorlxa Interrupta (Say)

Above brown, hind angle of pronotuin obtuse;
pronotim r.iarked with transverse black lines. The
median ones usually Interrupted. Perhaps our
most coriimon species. Abundant In streaiis and
flying at lights. Length 10-11 mrii.

The VJater Boatraen swim on their ventral sur-
face as would be expected. Instead of on their
back as do the IJotonectidae. They seem to live
on the minute plant and animal life In the ooze
which they shovel Into their short tube-like
mouths with their front legs. The posterior
pair of legs Is held In the position of and used
like oars when they swim.

18b Front tarsi with claws, body convex above with head inserted
into the thorax. (The Back-swimmers). Fig. 164,

Family 27, NOTONECTIDAE

Fig. 164. Notonecta undulata Say

Dull yellowish white, usually
marked with black. Often abundant
In stagnant pools. Care should be
taken in handling; they bite
viciously^ Length 10-12 mm.

As the name indicates, the members
of this family swim with their backs
down. The body is boat shaped and
stream lined. It is the hind pair
of legs that are used for swimming.
They often hang head down at the
surface of the water, with the tip
of the abdomen exposed to secure air.
They are highly predacious and are
known to kill young fish consider-
able larger than themselves.

Figure 164,

KEY TO THE MORE COMMON FAMILIES OF HOMOPTERA

ia Large insects with broad head, clear wings; three ocelli;
front femora thickened. (The Cicadas or so called "Locusts")

Fig. 165. Family 1. CICADIDAE

Fig. 165. Magiclcada septendeclm (L.)
Periodical or Seventeen Year
Cicada.

Head, thorax, and abdomen mostly
black; veins of wings and some mark-
ings on body orange brown; eyes red.
The adults of these interesting in-
sects mature and appear in May for
about six weeks of activity once

Figure 165,

83

HOW TO KNOW THE INSEQS

each seventeen years. It should be noted, however, that there
are seventeen broods so that adults appear somewhere every year
and some localities may have two or more visits in a seventeen

year period due to overlapping broods. Brood III will appear in
the Central states next in 1946. The following year Brood IV
will be out as adults in southwest Iowa and adjacent parts of
Nebraska, Kansas and Ilissouri. One may readily compute that
Brood XIII which visits northeast Iowa and northwest Illinois
will not appear again until 1956. Throughout the south there are
thirteen broods which have a thirteen year cycle. One of these
reaches southeastern Iowa, and was found in 1933 in 8 counties.
They, of course, should appear again in 1946, along with Brood
III of the 17 year strain. Length to tip of wings 35-45 im.
(From U.S.D.A. j

The so-called dog-day harvest flies or "locusts," - large black
and green fellows (some are marked with brownish yellow instead
of green) v/hich appear in late summer, - are members of this
order. They are purported to have an uncanny insight into the
outlook for winter, war, and other weighty matters. Entomolo-
gists find them very Interesting but pay little attention to
their "predictions.

1b Smaller insects, seldom over one-half inch long; only

ocelli or none

2a Tarsi three jointed, antennae bristle like, inconspi

beak, plainly arising from head

2b Tarsi one or two jointed; antennae threadlike, conspi

or absent; beak apparently arising from between front I

3a Antennae arising from side of head

below the eyes (a ,F1g.165i) ; ocelli

below or near the eyes. (The Plant

Hoppers) Fig. 166.

Family 5, FULGORIDAE

two

cuous.

cuous
egs. . 6

Figure 166.

Fig. 166, Scolops sulcipes Say

Brown with many small areoles (small
rectangles) in back part of elytra. Common
in meadows and weedy places. Length 9-11 imn.

Our members of this family vary widely In
appearance. Members of the genus Scolops
(a species of which is used as our example)
are common in pastures and wherever grass
grows. Some of the other genera have broad
green or brown wings and in shape resemble
moths. The family is a fairly large one.

Figure 166|-.

3b Antennae arising in front of the eyes and between them. . . 4

4a Prothorax extending back over the abdomen; Insect usually

widest in front; frequently with a horn or horns on the thorax.

(The Tree-hoppers). Fig. 167.

Family 3. MEMBRACIDAE

84

figure 167,

4b Prot

5a Hind

hopper

HOW TO KNOW THE INSECTS

Fig. 167. Ceresa bubalus Fab. The Buffalo
Tree-hopper.

Light green. Seriously destructive to young
orchards through the scars left on the twigs
from egg laying. The nymphs feed on weeds.
Length 6-7 ram. (From U.S.D.A.)

Professor Comstock has aptly suggested that
"Nature must have been In a Joking mood when
she made the treehoppers" . They are surely a
grotesque lot of little creatures with their
curiously distorted prothorax. Some species
doubtless get some good protection through
their resemblance to thorns as they stand head
down on the stems of plants. They do not have
a 100% faith in the program for when disturbed
move around to the opposite side of the stem,
- a queer thing for 'thorns" to do.

horax not as in 4a 5

tibiae with rowed spines on under side. (The Leaf-

s) Fig. 168. Family 4, CICADELLIDAE

Figure 163,

Fig. 168. Platymetoplus acutus

Say The Sharp-nosed Leaf-
hopper, (a, Adult; b, vertex and
pronotum; c, face; d, female gen-
italia; e, male genitalia; f,
elytron. )

Broi^vn, often with bronze lustre.
Face yellow, bordered with brown.
Length about 5mm. (From U.S.D.A.)

This is the largest family of
homoptera. They are slender,
mostly sharp-nosed, quick Jump-
ing little insects. They are
often exceedingly abundant and
do much damage to plants. Many
species have two host plants and make regular seasonal migrations
from one to the other.

5b Hind tibiae without spines except at end which has several
small spines and one or two large teeth. (The Spittle Insects
or Frog Hoppers.) Fig. 169. Family 2, CERCOPIDAE

Fig. 169. Lepyronla quadrangular! s (Say)

Dusky-gray to deep taimy-brovm . Spots
darker shades of ground color. Length
6-8 mm.

The nymphs of the spittle insects hide
themselves in a mass of foam which is often
on a stem in the axils of the leaves. Birds
presumably do not think or care to probe
into this frothy mass when in search of
food. The adults which develop within
... ^.^p, this protection are shaped somewhat like

"^^^f/cinti leaf hoppers but are usually broader.

Figure 169,

85

HOW TO KNOW THE INSEGS

6a Hind legs fitted for leaping with thick femora. Antennae
nine or ten jointed. Front wings often leathery. (The Jump-
ing Plant-lice) Fig. 170. Family S, CHERMIDAE

Fig. 170. Psylla pyrlcola Foerster The Pear
Psylla.

Dark reddish brown, the abdomen banded with
black. An enemy of the pear. Len^^th 2-3 mm.
(From U.S.D.A.)

These are tiny Insects that look like minia-
ture cicadas. They live on the llm.bs and
twigs of plants and may cause severe damage.
Some are gall makers. The family Is not a
large one.

Figure 170.

6b Not as in 6a 7

7a Legless, wingless, scale or mealy covered insects living
and often firmly attached on limbs of plants (females), or
without beak, and with but one tarsal joint and one pair of
wings and with long antennae (males). The Scale Insects,
(Bark Lice, Mealy Bugs, etc.) Fig. 171. Family 10, COCCIDAE

Fig. 171. Lepldosaphes ulml (L.) The
Oyster-Shell Scale, (a, Female with
eggs; b, mature female; d, male.)

Scale dark brovm to black. The young
are yellowish, and active for a short
time after hatching. One of our most
common scales on fruit trees and
shrubs. Length; female about 3 mm.
Male about 1 mm.

This Is a fairly large family of
highly destructive Insects. The males
usually have one pair of wings, and
the young run about actively for a
short time. Other than this, the
usual procedure Is to thrust the suck-
ing tube Into the tissue of the plant
host, build a waxen scale over the tiny
body and spend the entire life In th<=^
Figure 171. One spot. Frult and shade trees ano

greenhouse and house plants are fre-

,^ ,, ^ quently heavily damaged.

7b Not as in 7a 8

8a Wings opaque, usua 1 1 y whi t i sh, sometimes with colored mark-
ings; body and wings covered with white powder;
tarsi with two segments. (The White Flies.)
Fig. 172. Family 9, ALEYRODIDAE

Fig. 172. Aleyrodes vaporarlorum Westw. The Green-
house White Fly.

Body and four wings of both sexes covered with
white powder. The nymphs resemble the scale In-
sects. Provoklngly destructive to house plants and
In greenhouses. Length about 1.5 mm.. (From U. S.

Figure 172„ D. A. )

86

HOW TO KNOW THE INSEQS

Some of the few species of White Files show colors on the
body and black spots on the wings. They are always small and
may multiply very rapidly.
8b Wings when present transparent (sometimes colored) legs long

and slender. (The Plant Lice or Aphids) Fig. 173.

Representina two families; 1, APHIDIDAE and 8, PHYLLOXERI DAE

Fig. 173. Aphis gossypll Grover
The Melon Aphis (a and ab,
Winged forms; c, wingless fe-
male; b and d, nymphs; aa, an-
tenra. )

Greenish to jet black. Feeds on
many plants but particularly des-
tructive to cucumbers and melons
where It feeds on the underside of
leaves causing them to curl and
die. Length 2-3 mm. (From U.S.D.A.)

Aphids are very numerous. Almost
every species of plant Is attacked
by them. Many species pass
through the winter as eggs from which only females hatch. These
In turn give birth to living young. Many generations follow thus
throughout the summer. All are females. Many have no wings but
some generations are in part or wholly winged. These hunt new
feeding grounds and often regularly migrate to a wholly different
species of plant, and have a seasonal alternation between two
hosts. Ants may frequently be seen caring for aphids, from which
they get honey dew.

Figure 175,

KEY TO THE MORE COMMON FAMILIES OF THE ORDER NEUROPTERA

1a Prothorax long and slender; (a) front legs greatly enlarged
(b) and fitted for grasping. (The Mantis-like Neuroptera)
Fig. 1T4. Family 3, MANTISPIDAE

Fig. 174. Alantlspa Interrupta Say

Greenish brown to brown. Mark-
ings on wings brown. Length of
body 17-20 mm. Expanse of wings
about 40 mm.

The few representatives of this
family are such unusual creatures
that when the collector takes his
first specimen, he Is likely to
feel that he Is dreaming. The
prothorax Is elongated giving the
appearance of a long slim neck.
The front legs are large and fit-
ted for grasping prey. They are
so rare that they are not partic-
ularly well known.

Figure 174.

lb
2a

Not as in la

Base of hind wing broad, anal area folded fanlike when at
rest. (The Alder Flies, Dobson Flies, and Fish Flies) Fig. 175.

Family 1, SIACIDAE

87

HOW TO KNOW THE INSEaS

Fig. 175.
L.

Corydalls cornuta

Brown, the sexes differ In
that the male has long man-
dibles and the female short
ones. They are found flying
near streamiS and attract miuch
attention. Vifing expanse
100-130 mm.

This family contains the
Figure 175. largest members of the Neur-

optera. The larvae are
aquatic, and the adults
ordinarily do not pet far from water. The alder flies are com-
paratively small, soft winged and often smoke colored.

2b Hind wings narrow at base, not folded 3

3a Less than one inch in length; antennae not enlarged at tip.
CThe Lacewing Flies or Aphis-Lions) See Fig. 52.

Family 9, CHRYSOPIDAE

These fragile insects are exceedingly valuable in that their
larvae have an insatiable appetite for plant lice. The eggs are
white and placed at the top of a stiff bristle about a quarter of
and inch long. This is thought to be done to prevent the first
larva that hatches from eating the other eggs. The cocoon is
spherical, about the size of a B.B. shot. How a creature the
size and shape of the adult could come from it seems a mystery.
The genus has several Iowa species but all look very much alike.

3b Over one inch in length; antennae usually knobbed at end. . 4
4a Antennae long. Insects resembling dragon flies except for
antennae. (The Ascalaphids) Fig. 176. Family 11, ASCALAPHIDAE

Fig. 176. Ulo lodes made ay ana hageni
Van der Weele.

Reddish brov.m. Long lighter browri
hairs on front of head and sides of
thorax. Wings hyaline. Stigma near
apex of v/ings, yellowish white. Ex-
panse of wings about 65 mm.

If it had not been a rather inno-
cent little girl who brought in my
first specimen of this family I
would have been sure it had been
made by gluing parts of different
insects together. The Ascalaphids
are so uncommon that we wish to get
the record on any that are found in
the state. The adults prey on
other insects.
4b Antennae short. Feeble flying insects, resembling damsel
flies. (The Ant Lions) Fig. 177.

Family 10, MYRMELEONI DAE

Figure 176,

HOW TO KNOW THE INSEQS

Fig. 177. Hesperoleon abdomlnalls
(Say)

Pronotum yellow with a pair of
dorso-lateral brown bands; abdomen
dark; labrum yellow; tibial spurs
slightly curved. Spread of wings
about 45 mm. Length about 40 mm.

This Is the family of the far
famed "doodle bug." The larva
makes a funnel-shaped pit In dry
sand or soil In a protected place,
then lies burled at the bottom of
Its trap waiting for some passing
ant to slide down the "funnel's"
side. As the story goes they may
be called up into view by repeat-
It should be remarked, hov iver,
that the performance must be entered Into with such enthusi-
asm that some sand or other particles are blown or knocked
down the side of the trap, then the "doodle bug" comes out to
catch the ant It would normally find.

KEY TO THE MORE COMMON FAMILIES OF THE ORDER LEPIDOPTERA

1a Antennae bearing a knob or club at the end 2

1b Antennae of varying shapes but not knobbed at end .... 8
2a Antennae without recurved hook at end of knob; front wing
with less than five branches arising from top of discal

cell, body slender. (Butterflies) 3

2b Antennae usually with recurved hook (a) at end of knob;
front wing with five branches arising from top of discal

Figure 177.

Ing "Doodle-dooQie-Qoodle. "

cell, body frequently heavy.
(The Skippers) Fig. 178.

Figure 178.

Fami ly 3, HE SPERM DAE

Fig. 178. Epargyreus tityrus Fabr.
The Silver Spotted Skipper.

Dark chocolate broi^wi with yellow-
ish spots. Large irregular silvery
white spot in center on under side
of back wings. Expanse of wings
about 50 mm.

This family represents a half-v/ay
condition between the moths, and the
butterflies. Active by day; - some
are so completely 50-50 that when
at rest they hold the front wings
erect like butterflies and spread the back ones like the mot hs <, Thmr
caterpillars present a curious appearance with large heads
supported by very slender necks.

3a Large butterflies with tail like projection (a) extending
back from hind wings. (The Swallow-tails) Fig. 179.

Fami ly 1, PAPILIONIDAE

Fig. 179. Papillo polygenes Fabr. The
Black Swallow Tail.

Ground color black; markings of
yellow. Many blue scales betv/een the
two rows of yellow spots on back wings;
more In female. Orange spot with black
center near anal angle of back wing.
The beautiful yellow and black cater-
pillar feeds on the leaves of carrots

ifare 179.

89

HOW TO KNOW THE INSEaS

and related plants. Expance of v:lng from 90 to llvS irin. (From
U.S.D.A.)

The swallow tall butterflies are so named from the tall like
prolongations on the hind wings. They are all of large size. The
caterpillars have no spines but project a pair of fleshy horns
from the prothorax when dlstiorbed. These horns emit an unpleas-
ant odor.

3b Not as in 3a 4

4a Front legs reduced in size and held against breast; large
or medium sized, brown or reddish butterflies. (The Fourfooted

Butterflies) 5

4b All three pairs of legs normal 7

5a Antennae naked; large reddish and black butterflies; larvae
feed on milkweed. (The Milkweed Butterflies.) Fig. 180.

Family 3, DANA I DAE

Fig. 180. Danaus archlppus
Fabr. The Monarch Butter-
fly.

"""^ ■r^^^^^-^::^r"""'''^y Ground color of wings

brownish red; their borders
and veins black. White spots
In border. Males may be dis-
tinguished by scent pouch on
a vein of back wing. The
pale yellowish caterpillar,
r^f^ocn marked with rings of black,

„. ,„^ feeds on milkweed. Expanse

Figure 180. ^ • -u j. -, /^rN

of Wings about 100 mm.

The Monarch Is the only
member of Its family known to occur In Iowa and Is one of our
best known butterflies. It collects In large numbers In the fall
and migrates to the South. It seems that none spend the winter
here but that each spring they return from the warmier south, to
lay their eggs and r^et things going again.

5b Antennae clothed at least in part with scales 6

6a Discal cell of back wings closed by a prominent vein. (The
Meadow-browns) Fig. 181. Family 4, SATYRIDAE

Fig. 181. Clssla eurytus Fabr. The
Little Wood-satyr.

Upper surface dark bror.Ti, outer
fourth sometimes paler. Spots
black with pale yellow margins. Ex-
panse of wings 35-40 mm..

These are, for the most part,
medium-sized broi'-m butterflies.
They have a row of rather promi-
nent eye spots along the outer
margin -of the wing. They are fre-
quently found in open v;oods and
meadows .

6b Discal cell of back wings either open or closed by a mere
vestige of a vein. (The Nymphs) Fig. 182.

Fami ly 5, NYMPHALIDAE

Figure 181,

90

HOW TO KNOW THE INSEQS

Fig. 182. Euptoleta Claudia Cram.
The Variegated Frltlllary.

Wings reddish brown with pale
cross band and dark markings. The
caterpillar Is orange red with
dark stripes and v/hltlsh blotches.
It bears six rows of spines. Ex-
panse of wings 45-65 mm. (From
U.S.D.A.)

These butterflies are medium to
large size and are alike In hav-
ing the front legs greatly reduced
In size In both sexes. This Is
our largest family of butterflies.

Figure 18J

Ta Medium size; yellow, white, or orange wings often marked
with black. (The Plerids.) Fig. 183. Family 2, PIERIDAE

Fig. 183. Plerls rapae L.
Cabbage Butterfly.

The Common

Figure 183,

White, marked with black. The one shown
Is a female. The males have but one black
dot on each front wing. The larva Is the
v;ell known velvety green caterpillar found
on cabbage and related plants. Expanse of
wings 35-50 mm. (From U.S.D.A.)

The members of this family are mostly of
medium size. They are white, yellow or
orange. The wing margins are often decorated in black. They are
common everywhere and are often seen in great numbers around mud
holes, where they are getting water.

7b Small; blue, violet, or brown, sometimes with small red
markings or tiny tail like projections. (The Gossamer-winged
Butterflies.) Fig. 184. Family 8, LYCAENIDAE

Fig. 184. Heodes thoe Bdv. The
Bronze Copper Butterfly.

Front wings orange copper with
dark border. Back wings purplish
brown v/lth border of reddish
copper. Expanse of wings 34-38
mm.

These butterflies are small and
delicate. The wings are daintily
marked; brilliant shades of blue
and copper are common.

Figure 184,

8a Wings wholly or in large part transparent, without scales;
slender moths that resemble bees. (The Clear-wings) Fig. 185.

Fami ly 45, AEGERI IDAE

91

HOW TO KNOW THE INSEQS

Fig. 185. Melittla satyrlnlformls
Hbn. The Squash-vine Borer

Fore wings, thorax, and basal
segment of abdomen, dark metallic
green. The remainder of abdomen
and leg red, marked v/lth black. The
larvae bore In Joints of squash
vines, destroying them. Hind
wings clear. Expanse of wings
about 35 mm. (From U.S.D.A.)

The clear wing moths are beautl-
Figure 185. f^l boo-llke Insocts that love

the sunlight and fly rapidly by
day. The larvae do not have a
proper regard for man's possessions. They bore In many of his
trees and herbaceous plants, greatly to their hurt. Some Sphinx
moths have wings partly transparent and might erroneously be
placed here.

8b Wings fully covered with scales. (If partly transparent the
antennae thicker near tip than at base) 9

9a Rather small moths with wings split lengthwise, the borders
of these segments fringed with scales. (The Plume-moths)

Fig. 186. Family 37, PTEROPHORIDAE

Fig. 186. Oxyptllus perlscell-
dactylus Fitch. The Grape
Plume Moth.

Yellowish brown marked with
whitish. Wing margins bordered
with fringe of whitish scales.
The caterpillars are greenish
with white hairs. Expanse of
wing 17-20 mm.

These moths have their wings
split Into feather-like parts,
hence the name. The front wings
have two or three parts, the
hind wings being split Into
three or four parts. The "plumes" overlap when the moths are at
rest, giving them an odd appearance. The family Is a small one;
the moths are also small.

9b V^ings not split 'engthwise 10

10a Very small moths with narrow pointed wings; hind margins
of wings with wide fringe of scales, (The Tineids) Fig. 187.

Family 62, TINEIDAE

Fig. 187. Tinea pelllonella L.

The Case-Making Clothes Moth, (a.
Adult Moth; b, larva In case; c,
larva . )

The head and fore wings buff or
grayish yellow; dimly spotted with
darker. Hind wings whitish. The
larva lives In clothing and furs
and weaves a case about Itself from
Figure 187. the chewlngs of the fabric on which

It feeds. An Interesting experl-

Figure 186,

92

HOW TO KNOW THE INSECTS

ment is to confine some of thece larvae In a small tin box and
change the color of the goods given them from time to time. They
then weave a variegated case and one can tell In which order the
different parts were put on. Expanse of v/lngs 12-16 mm. (From
U.S.D.A.)

This Is a large family of mostly tiny moths, many of which
are destructive. I.!any of the leaf miners belong here.

10b Wings not as in 10a 11

11a Narrow strong wings; heavy spindle-shaped body; antennae
tapering at both ends, sometimes hooked at end; usually large
moths. (The Hawk or Sohinx Moths) Fig. 188.

Fami ly 10, SPHINGIDAE

Fig. 188. Protoparce sexta Johan.
The Tomato Worm, (a, Adult; b,
larva; c, pupa, frequently
spaded up in gardens . )

V/ings brovmlsh gray, marked vlth
black, brown and whitish lines and
spots. Abdomen gray and black
with two rows of large yellow
spots. The larvae feed on tomiato
and tobacco. Expanse of wings
100-130 mL'.. Our sphinx moths are
medium to large size and are nar-
row winged, swift flyers. L:any of
the larvae have a horn (a) at the
posterior end. It is harmless.
(From U.S.D.A )

rieure 183.

lib
12a

Not as in 11a

12

Small, feebly flying, smoke colored moths with long, nar-
row, thinly scaled wings and slender, plumose antennae; often
marked with yellow or red. (The Smoky Moths) Fig. 189.

Fami ly 34, ZYGAENIDAE

Fig. 189. Harrisina aiiericana Guer.
The Grape-leaf Skeletonlz.er.

Irridescent bluish or greenish
black with bright yellow collar.
The .caterpillars feed in companies
on the leaves of Virginia creeper
and grape. Expanse of wings about
35 mm.

This Is a sm.all family of small
moths. L^ost of them have smoky
wings. Somie have markings of
bright colors.
12b Not as in 12a 13

13a Small slender straw-colored moths with long "snouts" formed
by palpi; wings wrapped around body when at rest. (Sod web-
worm Moths). Or Small moths with three unbranched (anal) veins

throck

Figure 189.

at back of hind wings. Fig. 190.

Ficure 190,

Fami ly 36, PYRALIDIDAE

Fig. 190. Pyrausta nubil-
alis HubnerT The Euro-
pean Corn-borer.

Light tan with brovmlsh
markings. The larva bores
in stalks of corn and many
other plants. Not yet

93

HOW TO KNOW THE INSEQS

known to occur In Iowa but doubtless will, eventually. Spread of
wings 25-30 mm. (From U.S.D.A.)

These are small to medium sized moths. The family is a large
one, with wide variation in form and markings. A number of
species are particularly destructive.

13b Not as in 13a 14

14a Very large broad-winged, heavy-bodied moths. Many with
transparent windows or eye spots (a) in wings; often with
feathery antennae. (The Royal Moths and the Giant Silk-worm

Moths) Fig.191.Fami ly 11, SATURN I I DAE
Fig. 191. Tropaea luna L. The Luna
Moth.

Wings delicate, light green; front
margin of front wing bro^mish purple.
Each wing has a transparent eye spot.
Body and legs white. This is thought
by many to be our most beautiful
moth. Expanse of wings 75-90 mm.

The Giant Silk-worm moths have
heavy bodies and hairy wings. They
have feathery antennae, those of the
males being broader than those of
the females. The wings frequently
have transparent window-like spots.
The larvae feed on the leaves of
different species of trees but are
not ordinarily of sufficient abun-
dance to do serious damage.

Figure 191,

14b Not as in 14a. 15

15a Vein running along lower side of
discal cell of front wing, with
three branches, (a) Fig. 192. ... 16

Figure 192,

15b Vein running along lower side of
discal cell of front wing with four
branches, (a) Fig. 193 17

Figure 193.

16a Hairy moths with heavy bodies and femora covered with long
hairs. (The Prominents) Fig. 194.

Family 19, NOTODONTIDAE

94

HOW TO KNOW THE INSEQS

Fig. 194. Da tana mlnlstra Dru.

The Yellow-necked Apple Cater-
plllar.

Front wings cinnamon brown,
marked with dark brown lines; hind
wings pale straw. Thorax with
prominent red brovm spot In front.
The larvae defoliate apple and
other trees. Expanse of wings
45-50 mm.

Figure 194.

Whether the Promlnents are so
called because of the hump on the
back of most of the larvae or from the lobe on the Inner margin
of the front wing is uncertain. Either would do for a reason.
These moths are of medium size, but the family Is a large one.
The larvae feed on the leaves of trees and shrubs.
16b Bodies slender; wings broad and delicate; legs not covered
with lona hairs. (The Geometrids or Measuring Worms.)
Fig. 195. Family 26, GEOMETRIDAE

Fig. 195. Cleora pampinaria Guenee.
? ^^ (a, Adult female; b, measuring worm

larva . )

Tan v/lth dark brouim markings. Expanse
of wings about 30 mm. (From U.S.D.A.)

The larvae of this family are the well
known "measuring worms," which have but
two pairs of prolegs Instead of the cus-
tomary five and in consequence walk with
a looping movement. Many of these lar-
vae when disturbed seek protection In
holding themselves rigidly in a diago-
nal position from a limb, thus closely
resembling a branched twig. Others drop
from their feeding place and hang sus-
pended on a few feet of silk. They
climb back to their food when danger passes. The family includes
ma.ny species.

17a Stout, medium sized, hairy moths; the wings marked boldly in
contrasting colors (a few forms plain white or yellow). Vein
running along lower side of discal cell of hind wing, four-
branched. (The Tiger Moths, etc.) Fig. 196.

Family 14, ARCTIIDAE

Fig. 196. Estigmene acraea Dru.

Male (pictured) front wings, thorax,
and tip of abdomen white; back wings and
top of abdomen (except last segment)
orange yellow. Spots on wings and mid-
dorsal line of abdomen black. Female
similar to male except that hind wings
are white with black spots. This Is one
of our most common moths. Expanse of
wings 50-60 mm. (From U.S.D.A.)

This is a large family. The caterpil-
lars are for the most part heavily covered with hairs, which
they weave into a loose cocoon when they pupate.

Figure 195.

FigTire 196,

95

HOW TO KNOW THE INSECTS

Figure 197.

17b Front wings, at least, usually dull gray or brown. ... 18
18a Antennae usually thread-like, two ocelli often present;
front margin of wings fairly straight, (A large percentage of
moths flying into houses at night belong in this large family)
(The Owlet Moths) Fig. 197. Family 16, NOCTUIDAE

Fig. 197. Hellothus obsoleta Fab. The
Corn Ear-v/orm.

Front wings straw colored, marked
with brownish; hind wings creamy white
marked with blackish. This insect is
variable both as to colors and mark-
ings. The larvae are altogether too
common in the ears of sweet corn and
not infrequently feed on field corn
and tomatoes. Some years it ranks as
one of Iowa's most troublesome insects.
Expanse of wing about 35-40 mm. (From
U.S.D.A.)
The name Owlet Moths refers to the thick fluffy appearance of
the members of this family and to the way their eyes shine at
night. The family is one of the largest of the Lepidoptera, and
highly variable. The "Under-wings , " fairly large moths with hind
wings brilliantly striped with red and black or other outstanding
color combinations belong here.

18b Antennae feathery, ocelli none; front margin of wings of
male rounded; females wingless. (The Tussock Moths.) Fig. 198,

Family 21, LYMANTRIIDAE

Fig. 198. Hemerocampa leuscostigma A.& S.
The White Marked Tussock Moth, (a, Larva; b,
female; c, female laying eggs on pupa
case; d and e, adult males; f, egg mass.)

Female v/hite, wingless. Male ashy gray
with brovm markings. The larvae are beau-
tifully colored and marked with tufts and
stream.ers of long scales (i). Expanse of
wings about 35 ncn. (From U.S.D.A.)

The greatly i-educed v/ings of the female
is characteristic of many members of this
family. The larvae pupate on trees and
buildings in late su]';Tmer. The pupa case is
often wrapped in a leaf. The adults
emerge shortly and the female usually de-
posits her 250 to 700 eggs on the cocoon
from which she emerged. The eggs are
covered with a white weather proofing se-
cretion. These egg masses may be easily
seen and collected during the v/lnter. The
young caterpillars hatch when the trees
begin to leaf out but will hatch somewhat
earlier in a v/arm room. They will feed on
a V7ide range of plants. It is an interest-
ing project to rear a brood to the adult stage. There are two
broods each year.

Figure 198.

96

HOW TO KNOW THE INSEQS
KEY TO THE MORE COMMON FAMILIES OF THE ORDER DIPTERA

1a Coxae close together, often touching. Abdominal segments
showing. Wings usually present 2

1b Wings absent or much reduced. (Some less common species
winged but coxae always widely separated.) (The Bird Parasite
Files.) Fig. 199. Family 81, HI PPOBOSCI DAE

Fig. 199. Melophagus ovlnus L.

Reddish brown, covered with long bristly
hairs. Altogether too common on shoep and
lambs. Length 5-6 mm.

The members of this small family are curious
creatures, scarcely resembling files. The
larvae are full grown when born and Immedi-
ately pupate. Some species are winged. One
of these Is rather common on owls and hawks.

Figure 199,

2a Antennae with six or more free moving segments. (Usually
8 to 16) 3

2b Antennae with not more than five free moving segments;

often with only three segments but the third frequently ringed
or bearing a large bristle, or both 8

3a Suture between the pro- and mesothorax V-shaped, (a) Usually
medium to large, loosely jointed, long-legged flies. (Crane
flies) Fig. 200. Family 4, TIPULIDAE

Fig. 200. Tlpula angustlpennls Lw.

Head and thorax brownish gray;
abdomen orange yellow with mid-
dorsal stripe black. Wings smoky,
with one dark brown and several
whitish patches. Length 19-25 mm.

A large family of mosquito shaped
files. They are usually much larg-
er than mosquitoes but some are
very small. Their long legs are so
fragile that It Is a perplexing
problem to mount and keep a collec-
tion of this family. They are
most abundant In damp places. The
larvae of some species are Injur-
ious to grass crops.

Figure 200,

3b Thorax without V-shaped suture *

4e Veins and margins of wings fringed with scales. Six longi-
tudinal veins reaching the margin of wing. (The Mosquitoes)
Fig. 201.

Family 13, CULICIDAE

97

HOW TO KNOW THE INSEQS

Figure 201<

Fig. 201. Culex plplens L. The House
Mosquito.

Reddish brown; legs and bill blackish.
Abdomen blackish above, with white bands
at base of segments. V/ing scales dark,
halr-llke. Length about 5 mm.

Everybody doubtless recognizes the mos-
quito at sight. Some species of mosqui-
toes do not bite and it Is only the fe-
males of any species that bite. Some
species serve as alternating host for
several of man's v/orst diseases. This
has given the mosquitoes a lot of publi-
city and made them notorious. They have
been said to be man's worst enemies among
the Dlptera. Specimens should be handled
with great care and mounted promptly. Even
then It is difficult to keep them in good condition.

4b Veins of wings without scales 5

5a Antennae shorter than the thorax. Small, heavy-set, hunch-
backed, broad-winged flies without ocelli. (The Black Flies)

Fig, 202. Family 7, SIMULMDAE

Fig. 202. Prosimullum pecuarum (Riley)
The Buffalo-gnat.

Black, the base of the abdomen
lighter. One of the larger members of
the family. Length about 4 mm. (From
U.S.D.A.)

The members of this family are exceed-
ingly annoying to man and his domestic
animals. The gnats are small, hump-
backed and most persistent food-getters.
Their bites are annoying at the time but
with many species become more irritating
somewhat later. They make an Interest-
ing addition to the collection but are
otherwise good Insects to keep away from.

Figure 202.

5b Antennae longer than thorax 6

6a Costa (front marginal vein) continuing around the wing;
wings usually with but three veins, small delicate flies with
broad wings. (The Gall Midges) Fig. 203, Fami I y 14, CECI DOMYIDAE

Fig. 203. Dasyneura rhodophaga Coq. The
Rose Midge.

Head and thorax broim; abdomen yellowish.
Length 1-1 1/4 mm. (From U.S.D.A.)

The tiny members of this large family
form galls or other deformities on many
species of plants. The best way to collect
them is to rear them from galls. The gall
and a record of the plant on which It grew
should always be preserved with the Insect
specimens. The Hessian fly, the Cloverleaf

98

Figure 203,

HOW TO KNOW THE INSEQS

midge and the Wheat midge are among the well known pests belong-
ing to this family.

6b Costa ending near tip of wing 7

7a Coxae usually much elongate (a); all the tibiae with apical

spurs (b); ocelli usually present; rather small slender flies.

(The Fungus Gnits.) Fig. 204. Family 16, MYCETOPHILI DAE

Fig. 204. ^/lycetophlla punctata Melg.

Head and thorax reddish tan, abdomen
darker. Wings light tan. Eyes and
antennae dark reddish brown. Length
5-6 mm.

This Is another large family of rather
small somewhat mosquito-shaped files.
Many species feed In fungi and compete
with other Insects In hastily reducing
these plants. The long coxa Is a char-
acter for Identification. As with sev-
eral other families of Dlptera, practi-
cally no work has been done on the fam-
Figure 204. Hy in lowa. The Intensive study of one
of these groups would make a fine avocation as well as a valuable
contribution to science.

7b Coxae not noticeably elongated; usually no apical spurs on
tibiae; ocelli wanting, antennae usually plume-like. (The
Midges.) Fig. 205. Family 9, CHIRONOMIDAE

Fig. 205. Chlronomus lineatus Say

Thorax very light greenish gray with
mid-dorsal stripe of dark brown and lat-
eral markings of light brown. Abdomen
pale green with lateral lines of pale
brown. Eyes dark reddish brown. Length
about 10 mm.

Most of the Midges are unable to bite
although they loo^ much like mosquitoes.
The air is often filled with the adults
and at night they become so numerous
about our .lights as to drive us from our
work. Our water courses are filled with
their larvae, Yifhlch doubtless play a very
important part in feeding young fish. Our
Iowa species probably run into the hun-
dreds, out not a dozen have been named.

Figure 205.

8a Third segment of antennae with rings, often long and seeming
to consist of several segments 9

8b Third segment of antennae not ringed, but bearing an elongate
style or arista 10

9a Discal cell (a) small, its dimensions usually nearly equal;
squamae small or vestigial; no spurs on tibiae. (The Soldier
Fl ies.) Fig. 206.

Fami ly 20, STRATIOMYI DAE

99

HOW TO KNOW THE INSEQS

Fig. 206. Stratlomyla
melglnil Wled.

Bluish black; thorax covered
at sides with gray pubescence.
Margins of abdomen marked with
yellow which turns in towards
center at back of each seg-
ment. Tip of abdomen with
mid-dorsal yellow line. Length
12-14 mm.

The Soldier Flies apparently
get the name from the bright
colored stripes with which
figure 206. many species are decorated.

The members range in size from
small to fairly large and vary
a great deal in shape. Many species are found on flowers.
9b Discal cell at least twice as long as wide (a); squamae
large; two spurs at tip of middle tibiae. (The Horse Flies)
Fig. 207. Family 22, TABANIDAE

Fig. 207. Tabanus laslophthalmus
Macq.

Thorax black with narrow gray
stripes; v/ings hyaline; markings
on wings brown. Abdomen broadly
reddish on sides. Eyes pilose.
Length 13-15 mm. (From U.S.D.A.)

These merciless pests of man
Figure 207. ^'^^ beast range from medium to

large size. The males do not suck
blood but feed on the nectar or
pollen of flov;ers. Tularaemia and other serious diseases are
known to be transmitted by Horse Flies. It is a large family.
10a Vein above anterior cross vein two-branched (Radius four-

.nK^'*^S^^®^^.!^®® Figs.. 208 and 209. , . , 11

10b Vein above anterior cross vein unbranched (Radius three-
branched). See Fig. 211 , , . . . .13

11a Top of head hollowed between the eyes (a), strongly con-*
cave when viewed from in front, three ocelli, medium to
large, bristly flies. (The Assassin Flies) Fig. 208.

Family 27, ASILIDAE

Fig. 208. Promachus vertebratus
Say

Thorax black, more or less'
thickly covered with gray pubes-
cence. Abdomen pale gray with
black cross bar at base of each
segment. Tibiae and tarsi orange
yellow, sometimes marked with
blackish. Covered pretty much
throughout with long gray hairs.
Length 28-35 mm. (From U.S.D.A.)

True to their name these highway-
men of the Insect world wait in
some advantageous post along the
paths frequented by insects, and
100

Figure 208.

HOW TO KNOW THE INSECS

many an unfortunate Insect suffers from their attacks. There are
many known species, some of which are quite large. Gray Is the
predominating color. Their choice of habitat Is much varied In
different species. The collector who wishes to get the largest
number of species v.'lll visit a v/lde variety of regions.

11b Top of head not hollowed 12

12a Anal cell open (a), or closed near the wing margin, the
anal vein always reaching the margin. (The Bee Flies) Fig. 209.

Family 30, BOMBYLIIDAE

209. Sparnopollus fulvxis Wled.

Black, thickly covered with golden
yellow hairs. Frequent, hovering over
flowers or alighting on them. Length
9-10 mm.

There is considerable variation in
size and shape of the bee flies. Many
of them look like fluffy little balls
lazily dangling over a flower, where
they feed on pollen and nectar. The
larvae are parasitic on other Insects.
Since the hairs, which rub off easily,
3. are necessary for identification the
be very careful with specimens of this family.
closed, remote from wing margin (a); anal vein
sometimes wanting. (The Dance Flies)

Family 33, EMPIDAE

Figure 2

collector must

12b Anal cell

never reaching margin,
(in part) Fig. 210.

Figure 210,

Fig. 210. Rhamphomyia rava Lw.

Head, thorax and abdomen feebly
marked with brown. Eyes dark
reddish brov/n. Wings and legs
yellowish brown. Length about 9mm.

Who has not watched with wonder
the swarms of small to medium sized
flies, often seen floating with up
and down movements in the shade of
a tree? They are predacious,
luckily, - the world would soon be
overrun with Insects if many of
them were not set against the others. The family is a large one
but no one knows much about the Iowa species.
13a A spurious (extra) vein running diagonal ly between the
third and fourth veins (a), bisecting the anterior cross vein;
anal cell closed near wing margin. (The Flower Flies.) Fig. 211.

Fami ly 39, SYRPHIDAE
Fig. 211. Syrphus ribesli L.

Blackish with pale yellov/ markings. Its
larvae feed on the melon aphis. Length
7-8 mm. (From U.S.D.A.)

The flower flies are doubly valuable.
Many of them feed in their larval state
on plant lice and m.ealy bugs. Nearly all
of them make a valuable contribution in
pollinating plants. They look like bees
and often act like them, which doubtless
gives them much protection from the birds
and other enemies. This is one of the
largest families of Dlptera.

101

Figure 211,

HOW TO KNOW THE INSEaS

13b No spurious vein, anal cell short
or wanting 14

14a Frontal lunule (a crescent shaped
sclerite just above antennae)
present. Fig. 212 16

Fig. 212. Diagrainmatic front view
of head.
14b Frontal lunule whol ly absent. 15

15a Second basal cell always united
with discal cell to form one cell;
anterior cross vein small and not
more than one-fourth the length of
wing from its base* small, usually
metallic green or blue flies. (The
Long-Headed or Long-Legged Flies.)
Fig. 213.

Fami ly 34, DOLICHOPIDAE

■YlYXC^.

vibrissde

Figure 212.

Fig, 213. Sciapus sipho Say

Bright metallic green; legs, eyes
and spots on v/lngs blackish. Length
5-6 mm.

These flies are small, almost al-
ways under ten millimeters in
length. Most of them are metallic
green or blue, and have- longer legs
than the other related families.
They feed on smaller insects and
mites. They are found in a rather
wide range of habitats and are rep-
resented by many species. This
would seem to be a good family for
some enthusiastic amateur collector.

15b Anterior cross vein well beyond the basal fourth of the
wing, or the second basal cell complete; anal vein never reach-
ing the margin, sometimes wanting. (The Dance Flies) (in
part) See Fig. 210. Family 33,EMPIDAE

16a Squamae (whitish scale-liice lobe
betow base of wing) large. Fig.
214

Figure 213.

21

16b Squamae small or absent 17

ITa Mouthparts vestigial; hidden in a
small oval opening. (The Horse Bot-
flies.) Fig. 215

Family 75, GASTROPHILIDAE

Figure 214,

102

HOW TO KNOW THE INSEQS

Figure 2ib.

Fig. 215.
De G.

Gasterophllus Intentlnalls

Yellowish brown, thickly covered with
hairs, somewhat resembling a honey bee.
Wings are mottled and abdomen ringed
with brown. Lays Its eggs on legs of
horses. Length 12-14 mm.

There are but three species of this
family known In the United States. The
larvae attach themselves to the wall
of the stomach, throat, nasal passages
and Intestines of horses and If present
In large numbers greatly reduce the
horses' efficiency.

17b Oral opening large; mouthparts well developed 18

18a Anal cell (between 5th and 6th
veins) present. Fig. 216 19

Fig. 216. Wing of Trupaneld show-
ing anal cell.

18b Anal eel I absent.
Flies.) Fig. 217.

Figure 216

Usually devoid of bristles. (The Frit

Family 60, CHLOROPIDAE

Fig. 217. Chloroplsca glabra
tielgh.

Head, thorax, legs, scutellum
and underparts of abdomen yellow.
Eyes, mid-dorsal stripe on head,
three stripes on thorax and much
of the dorsal surface of abdomen
blackish brown, shining. Very
common and readily taken by
sweeping in grasses. Length
about 2.5 mm.

The Frit Flies are very small,
Figure 217. smooth flios. Many of them

attack the stems of grasses
where the larvae develop. Our
cereal plants have several rather serious pests in this family.

19a Wings pictured (with colored design) 20

19b Wings usually not pictured; antennae bristle long plumose (c)
(The Small Fruit Flies). Fig. 218.

Fami ly 55, DROSOPHILIDAE

103

HOW TO KNOW THE INSEQS

Fig. 218. Drosophlla melanogaster Melg.
(a. Adult; b, antennaT]

Grayish brovm with dark markings on
thorax and tip of abdomen. Eyes bright
red. This Is the little fly so common
at fruit stands. It Is now used exten-
sively in studying genetics. Length
about 3 mm. (From U.S.D.A.)

The members of this family are usually
under 5 mm. In length. They are found
Figure 218. wherovor overripe fruit or vegetables

abound. Some feed on sap and fungi.
Their life cycle Is short and their multiplication rapid.
20a Vibrissae (Large bristles, one on either side of oral open-
ing) present (see Fig 212), though sometimes indistinct. Legs
moderate length. Abdomen with 4-5 segments. (The Fruit Flies.)
Fig. 219. Family 43, TRUPANEIDAE

Fig. 219. Rhagoletls congulata Lw. The
^Vhltebanded Cherry Fruit Fly.

Blackish. Thorax with yellow margins, ab-
domen with white bands. Length about 5 mra.

The adults of this family are frequently
found on flowers. The larvae live In fruit,
and seeds. Some are leaf miners. Others
make galls. The round knobs so frequently
seen on the stems of golden rod are made by
one of these files.

Figure 219.

20b Vibrissae absent (see Fig. 212). Legs short, abdomen with
5 or 6 segments. (The Pictured-Wing Flies.) Fig. 220.

Fami ly 42, OTITIDAE

Fig. 220. Delphlnla plcta. Fab.

Head, thorax and abdomen
reddish brown. Eyes darker, scu-
tellum yellowish brown. Wings
opaque. In reddish brown and
white. Length 7-8 mm.

In size these Pictured wing
files range from small to moder-
ately large. They are miost com-
mon In damp places.

Figure 220.

21a Metascutellum developed,
appearing as a strong con-
vexity below the scutellum
(a), hypopleura (h) with
strong bri sties . (The
Tachinids.) Figs. 220i and
221.

Fami ly 79, TACHINIDAE

Fif;. 220|^
Thorax of a Fly.

104

HOW TO KNOW THE INSEQS

Fig. 221. P'norocera clarlpennls
L'elg.

Black, with metallic bluish
sheen. Head and thorax with gray
hairs. Scutellum brovm. Squamae
whitish, prominent. Length about
8 mm. (From U.S.D.A.)

This Is one of our most helpful
families of files. The family Is
a large one. Its members are
parasitic on other Insects, many
Figure 221. of them destroying caterpillars.

It Is a very common sight to find
the adults busily flying through
loiv plants searching for victims on v;hlch to deposit an egg.
21b Metascutel lum weak or absent, or if developed there is only

hair (no bristles) on the hypopleura 22

22a Oral opening and mouthparts very small; scutellum very
short. (The Bot Flies.) Fig. 222.

Fami ly 87, OESTRIDAE

Fig. 222. Hypoderma lineata De Vill. The
Ox Warble.

Hairy. Black with bands and markings of
pale yellow. Larvae mature under skin of
cattle. Length 12-14 mm. (From U.S.D.A.)

The fsunlly contains oiily a very few
species, all of which are parasitic in the
larval stage on mammals.

Figure 222.

22b Oral opening and mouthparts of normal size 23

23a Hypopleura with a row of bristles 24

23b Hypopleura with fine short hairs or bare, oral vibrissae
present. Fig. 223.

Fami ly 74, MUSCIDAE

Fig. 223. Stomoxys calci trans L.
The Biting House Fly.

Black and gray. Rather closely
resembles the house fly. Common
about stables and domestic animals.
Bites viciously (a). Length 6-7mm.
(From U.S.D.A.)

The family Ivluscidae as here de-
fined by the key Is as set forth by
Curran in his recent "North Ameri-
can Diptera," and would include many
species placed with other families
by earlier writers. The group in-
cludes many serious pests of plants
as well as of animals.

Figure 223.

105

HOW TO KNOW THE INSEOS

24a Apical (first posterior) cell strongly narrowed or closed
at wing margin (a). (The Flesh Flies.) Fig. 224.

Fami ly 76, METOPIIDAE

Figure 224.

Fig. 224. Lucllla caesar L. The Green
Bottle Fly.

Abdomen bright me"talllc blue or oftener
green. Common around garbage and carrion.
Length about 8 mm. (From U.S.D.A.)

The members of this family are moderately
small to medium sized files. Many are
mottled gray and black. Others have their
abdomens metallic green or blue. The lar-
vae are largely scavengers, and flesh
feeders. Some are parasitic.

24b Apical cell not at all narrowed at wing margin (c) . Fig,
225. Fami ly 74, MUSCIDAE

Fig. 225. Hylemxla brasslcae
(Bouche) The Cabbage Maggot,
(a, Dorsal view; b, side view.)

Black and gray. The maggots
live In the roots of cabbage and
related plants producing decay.
Length 5-6 mm. (From U.S.D.A.)

Fierure 225,

KEY TO THE MORE COMMON FAMILIES OF THE ORDER HYMENOPTERA

1a Base of abdomen broadly joined to the thorax Us in Fig.

229) 2

1b Abdomen joined to thorax by a slender petiole of varying
length (As in Fig. 241) 5

2a Fore leg with but one terminal spur on tibia 3

2b Fore leg with two terminal spurs on tibia 4

3a Ovipositor rigidly exserted, nearly half as long as abdomen;
antennae not clubbed; wood borers. (The Horn Tails.) Fig. 226.

Family 5, SIRICIDAE

106

HOW TO KNOW THE INSECS

Fig^jre 226.

3b Ovipositor bare
f I ies.) Fig. 227.

Fig. 226. Tremox columba L. The
Pigeon Horn-tall.

Brownish yellow, marked with
dark brown. Wings brownish yel-
low with light brown veins. Fig-
ure Is of female. Male has abdo-
men wholly brov/n and lacks ovi-
positor. The eggs are lain In
the trunks of oak, apple, elm and
other trees where the larvae bore.
Length 20-45 mm.

This family Is a small one. The
members are elongate v/lth subcyl-
indrlcal bodies. The females
bore holes In the trunks of trees
with the stiff ovipositor and lay
one egg In a place. The larvae
develope as wood borers.
evident; antennae clubbed. (The Stem-Saw-

Fami ly 3, CEPHIDAE

Figure 227.

Fig. 227. Cephus clnctus Norton
The Western Wheat-stem Sav.^fly.

Black, shining; abdomen promi-
nently marked with three yellow
crossbands; wings smoky; legs
yellow. A pest of wheat ?nd
other small grains. Length
6-8 mm.

The members of this family bore
into the stems of grasses and
other herbaceous plants and into
the young shoots of trees and
shrubs. They are insects of
moderate size, rather slender and
elongate

4a Antennae clubbed; large insects. Fig. 228.

Fami ly 6, CRABRONIDAE

Fig. 228. Cimbex americana (Leach)
The American yawfly.

Head, thorax and base of abdomen
black except for a bright yellow spot.
Remainder of abdomen brownish red.
Antennae yellowish brown. V/ings
smoky. The larvae feed on the leaves
of willow and elm. Length 20-28 mm.
(From U.S.D.A.)

There are probably few species of
this family to be found in Iowa. The
larvae are grub-like but bear eight
pairs of pro-legs v/hich distinguish
them from either the caterpillars or

beetle larvae.

Medium sized species. (The Typical

Fami ly 9, TENTHREDINI DAE

Figure 228.

4b Antennae not clubbed.
Sawf I ies) Fig. 229.

107

HOW TO KNOW THE INSEQS

Fig. 229. Eriocampoides llmaclna
Retzlus. The Pear and Cherry
Slug.

Head, body, legs and antennae
black. Wings smoky v/ith black
veins. Tl-ie larvae are brown slimy
slugs which feed upon the upper
surface of the leaves of pear,
cherry and plum. Length of adults
about 6 mm. (From U.S.D.A.)

Sawflies are abundant both in
Figure 229. individuals and species, llany of

them are marked v^ith sharply con-
trasting colors. The imported
currant worms, abundant in spring on currants and gooseberries,
and the rose slugs are common examples of the larvae of the
family.

5a Slender petiole of abdomen bearing a node or erect scale (d).
Usually wingless. Males and queens winged at mating season.
(The Ants.) Fig. 230, Family 52, FORMICIDAE

Fig. 230. Carnponotus hercu-
leanus penn sylvan icus De G.
The Carpenter Ant. (a, Winged
queen; b, worker minor; c,
worker major. )

Black or dark brovm. Our
largest ant. Lives in logs,
eating galleries in the v/ood.
Sometimes destructive to
buildings. Length 7-16 mm.
(From U.S.D.A.)

Ants may be found almost
everywhere. There is a goodly
number of species already known to the state. They live a highly
successful community life, build houses, plant and harvest their
crops, keep their domestic animals and pets, and do many other
highly interesting things.

5b Petiole not as In 5a 6

6a Wingless (females) or winged (males); thorax or wide band on

abdomen thickly covered with red hairs;
hind tarsus slender and cylindrical
(Velvet Ants.) Fig. 231.
W'^ Ji Fam i I y 50, MUT I LL I DAE

Fig. 231. Dasymutilla interrupta Banks

Head and thorax brick red. Eyes and
legs black. First abdom.inal segm.ent
covered with reddish brown hairs sur-
rounding four light red, round spots.
All abdominal segments margined with
black and fringed^ with silver-white
hairs. Males are* winged and display
more black. Length 9-14. mm..

Figure 230,

Figure 231,

The members of this family are often
heavily clothed with hair. The body
does not have the scale-like nodus on

108

HOW TO KNOW THE INSEQS

the pedicel as do the true ants. The predominating colors are

black and red. The males are winged and are found on flowers.

The wingless females sting viciously.

6b Winged; without covering of reddish hair, (or if with red
hairs, tarsi broad and flat.) 7

7a Hind leg with two trochanters, i.e. three small segments
between femur and thorax 8

7b Hind leg with but one trochanter, i.e. two small segments
between femur and thorax 11

8a Front wings without closed cells. Mostly very small para-
sitic wasps. (The Cha Icid-f I ies.) Fig. 232.

Fami ly 31, CHALCIDIDAE

■:^^^ Fig. 232. Brachymeria ovata (Say)

-^ ^^~^ Hind femora black, with white or yellow

spot at tip. Head and thorax heavily punc-
tured but dorsal surface of abdomen without
punctures. Tegulae wholly white or yellow.
Length 3.5-7 mm. (From U.S.D.A.)

In this family belong some of the tiniest
of all Insects, some being only one-fourth
of a millimeter in length. Black Is the
predominating color; many have a metallic
sheen. The head Is proportionately large
and the wings with but few veins. Some very
Figure 232. Important egg parasites belong here. Some
species Infest seeds and are harmful.

8b Front wings with one or more closed cells 9

9a Front wings without a dark thickened spot (stigma) midway
on front margin. Mostly small gall-making wasps. (The
Cynipids.) Fig. 233. Family 28, CYNIPIDAE

Fig. 233. Rhodltes rosae (L.) The
Mossy Rose Gall.

Head, thorax, and antennae black;
abdomen and legs reddish brown, the
former shining and darker at apex.
Wings, brownish. May be readily

reared In large numbers by enclos-

//y£s=^— ^=-^ / j^j^g mossy rose galls in a tight
container. Length about 4 mm.

These little fellows have some
peculiar ways of making a living.
There has been much speculation as
to Just what causes the plant so
p^ g 233 greatly to Increase its grown of

^^^^ * tissue in producing a gall and

whether the magic cause could not
be applied to fruits and stems to grow apples as big as nail
kegs or potatoes the size of watermelons. For genuine Interest
these and some other groups of gall makers could enliven one's
leisure hours for a lifetime.
9b Front wings with a dark thickened spot (stigma) midway on

front margin; females with long thread-like ovipositors. , . 10
10a Cells Ml and 1st M2 (See Figs. 253 and 254) of front wings
distinct. (The Ichneumon Wasps.) Fig. 234.

Fami ly 13, ICHNEUMONI DAE

109

HOW TO KNOW THE INSECS

Fig. 234. Megarhyssa lunator Fat).

Light chestnut brown. Abdomen with
row of V-shaped yellow marks on each
side, these bordered with black.
Darkened areas on wings brovm. A para-
site of the Pigeon-Tremex. Length of
body 22-40 mm.

This large family includes some small
wasps, but most of its members are of
medium or large size. They are mostly
parasitic on caterpillars or other in-
Figure 234. soct larvao and thus do a valuable

piece of work in keeping these pests
from becoming too numerous.
10b Cells M1 and 1st M2 fused into one cell. (The Braconid
Wasps.) Fig. 235. Family 12, BRACONIDAE

Fig. 235. Chelonus texanus Cress.

Head, thorax, abdomen and anten-
nae dull black; two sub-basal spots
on abdom.en, yellowish v/hite. Wings
whitish. Legs in part black,
marked irith yellowish red. Length
about 5 mm. (From U.S.D.A.)

In habits and appearance the
Braconids are much like the Ichneu-
mon wasps. Some are of medium size
but most of them are small. Some
are so small that they undergo
their entire development within
the body of a plant louse. We have
counted over 500 Braconid larvae
within the body of what appeared to be a fairly healthy tomato
worm. The two families are distinguished by the wing characters
mentioned in the key.

11a No closed cell in back wings 12

lib Back wings with one or more closed cells 13

12a Black, wasp-like insects with slim abdomen four or five
times as long as thorax. Antennae long and filiform. Fig. 236.

Family 27, PELECINIDAE

Fig. 236. Pelecinus polyturator
Drury

It is the one Iowa species of
this family. Shiny black, length
about 75 miTi. The female here
shoi/m is fairly common. The male,
which has a much shorter abdomen,
is rare. It is parasitic on
white grubs.

Fig\iT-e 235,

Fiimre 256.

110

12b Abdomen short,
purpi Ish bee-l ike
Wasps) Fig. 237.

Figure 237.

HOW TO KNOW THE INSEQS

Antennae short. Metallic green, blue or
Insects, heavily punctured. (The Cuckoo-

Fanlly 45, CHRYSIDIDAE

Fig. 237. Chrysls trldens (Lep.)

Brilliant metallic greon with brassy
or bluish lustre. Eyes, antennae,
\^elns of wings and tarsi black. Length

a-11 mm.

For beauty of coloring and sculDture
these Interesting wasps are hard to
beat. Host of them are a brilliant
.Tietalllc green, often with blue or vio-
let shades. The whole body Is covered
with large uniform punctures, which
greatly enhance Its beauty and Interest.
Like the European cuckoo, these wasps depend upon their neighbors
to raise their children. The eggs are laid In the nests of wasps
or bees.

13a First segment of hind tarsus enlarged, more or less flat-
tened, and usually covered with hairs for carrying pollen.
Bees 18

13b First segment of hind tarsus near-
ly naked and usually cylindric.
Wasps 14

14a Pronotum touching the tegulae

(Fig. 238 A) 15

14b Pronotum not touching the tegulae
(Fig. 238 B) (The Typical Sphecoid
Wasps) Fig. 239. pamjiy 53, SPHECIDAE Figure 238.

Fig. 239. Sceliphron coementarlun
(Dru.)

The Black and Yellow Mud-Dauber
Black, marked on thorax, legs and
abdomen with bands of yellow.
Wings yellowish brown. Builds
nests of clay which It provisions
with spiders. Length 20-28 mm.

Nest building takes many forms
with the Sphecolds. Som.e burrow,
some dig In the stems of plants,
some are masons, while others
look for a suitable hole to pro-
vision. Caterpillars and spiders
Some tend their nests and feed the larvae as
they grow; the more usual scheme Is to fill the nest with food
and let the young help themselves.

i-igure

are the usual food.

15a Wings not folded when at rest 16

15b Wings folded once longitudinally when at rest. Eyes
with notch on inner side. (The Typical Wasps) Fig. 240.

Family 55, VESPIDAE

111

HOW TO KNOW THE INSEQS

Fig. 240. Pollstes varlatus Cresson

Head and thorax black, marked
with brown. Abdomen blackish with
yellow margins on the antennal seg-
ments and often reddish yellow
spots on sides. A very common wasp
or hornet which builds a flat paper
nest and invades houses at the
approach of cold weather. Length
17-22 mm.

Some of the Vespids are social
wasps and build large nests which
house a fairly sizable colony by
the latter part of the sumir.er. In
Figure 240. 0^1^ reglon Only the fertile young

queens go through the winter, so

that nest building and colony raising starts all over every spring.

Many species of the family are solitary, and after building and

provisioning a nest and placing a few eggs in it give it no

further attention.

16a Coxae very large and long; legs much lengthened, the hind
femora when extended reaching almost to the tip of the abdomen;
wings usually dark. Eyes not notched. (The Spider Wasps)
Fig. 241 Family 42, PSAMMOCHARIDAE

Fig. 241. Psanmocharus am.ericanus
Pal. de Beauv.

Dull black, dorsal part of first
and second abdominal segments brick
red. Wings sm.oky. Length 12-14 mm.

These wasps use spiders that have
been paralyzed by stinging, in pro-
visioning their nests. The nests
are usually in burrows In the ground
but some are made of clay. The fam-
ily Is a fairly large one and some
very large wasps belong to It .

Figure 241.

16b Legs shorter, the tips of the hind femora Figure 242.

not reaching beyond the middle of the abdomen . 17
17a Tarsal claws simple. (Fig. 242). (The Scollids) Fig. 243.

Family 51, SCOLIIDAE

Fig. 243. Scolia blclncta Fab.

Black, shining with bluish or
purplish sheen. Abdomen with two
broad golden yellow bands. Wings
dark. Length 21-25 mm.

These wasps and some members of the
next family locate white grubs, the
Fic-re 243 larvae of May beetles, and having

paralyzed the grub by stinging, attach
8'i egg to it, then build a cell about the grub and leave It where
found. The wasp larva makes Its entire development on this grub
and eventually emerges a fully mature wasp to hunt out and destroy
more grubs. Since white grubs rank among the most serious Insect
pests In our state, the Scollids and Tiphilds play an Important
role. 112

HOW TO KNOW THE INSEQS

17b Tarsal claws cleft. (Fig. 244)

Fig. 245.

Fit'ure 244.

D.E

Family 49, TIPHIIDAE

Fig. 245. Ells qulnoueclncta (Fab.)

(a, adult male; h, abdomen of male,
side view; c, abdomen of female;
d, antenna of female.)

Glossy black with markings on head,
thorax and abdomen, bright yellow.
(Yellow changes to red If left too long
In a cyanide bottle.) Antennae and
Fipure 245. legs of female, yellowish brown, Anten-
nae of male dull grayish black; legs black at base, yellowish
brown at apex. Male with upturned black spine at tip of abdomen.
Both sexes partly covered with gray hairs; wings dark. Length
16-23 mm.

Often very abundant on sweet clover In late summer.
18a Cheeks broad; eyes remote from base of mandibles. First

ioint of hind tarsus flattened 19

18b Cheeks narrow; base of mandibles close to eyes. First

ioint of hind tarsus not much flattened 20

19a Hind tibiae with apical spurs; eyes bare. (The Bumble

Bees). Fig. 246. Family 62, BOMBIDAE

Fig. 246. Bombus amerlcanoriun
(Fab.)

Black, front part of thorax and
second and third abdominal seg-
ments and most of first yellow;
face black. Males with thorax
and abdomen almost wholly yellow,
except mldspot on thorax and
parts of first and last abdominal
segments, which are black. Legs
black. Probably the most abun-
dant species of bumble bee in
Iowa. Length 15-25 mm.

We have a number of species of
Bumble bees in Iowa. They may
be counted among our highly valuable insects. Red clover is al-
most wholly dependent upon them for pollination and other plants
are also served in this way. Only the young queens live through
the winter, which accounts for the small colonies in early sum-
mer. Their contribution to the entertainment of small country
boys is worth considering.

19b Hind tibiae without apical spurs; eyes hairy. (The Honey
Bees.) Fig. 247. Family 63, APIDAE

Fig. 247. Apis melllfica
L. The Honey Bee. (a,
Worker: b, queen; c,
drone . )

There are several
strains, which vary In
color and size, bred by
bee keepers. Length of
worker 12-15 mm. Males
(drones) have large eyes

Figure 246.

Figure 247

113

HOW TO KNOW THE INSEOS

and are larger than workers. The queens look much like the
workers but are considerably longer. (From U.S.D.A.)

The world knows only 3 or 4 species of this family. But this
one species Is knovm In the United States. It plays a highly
Important part In our economic life. Besides their honey and
wax, this Insect Is the m.ost dependable pollinator of many of our
plants. A pound of honey has cost Its makers, flight equivalent
to t¥Jlce around the -.Torld for one bee.

20a Front wing with three submarginal cells (a) (a few have
only two). Tongue always pointed and either long or short.
(The Andrenids) Fig. 248.

Family 60, ANDRENIDAE

Fig. 248. Hallctus virescens (Fab.)

Head and thorax brilliant metallic
green; sides covered '.vith ^:7hltlsh
hairs; antennae and eyes black. Abdo-
men black; basal part of each segment
ringed with whitish hairs. Legs cov-
ered with light brown hairs; often
loaded with pollen. Length 11-13 mm.

A great number of our bees belong
Figure 248. here. Some are medium size or larger;

many are comparatively small. Their
nesting sites are varied. Pollen is
used for stored food and in collecting it, the plants profit In
pollination.

20b Front wings with but two submarginal cells (a). Pollen
brush on ventral side of abdomen of female. (The Leaf-cutter
Bees.) Fig. 249. Family 61, MEGACHILIDAE

Fig. 249. Qsmia lignarla Say

Dark bluish green, shining.
Covered In parts with long
whitish hairs. Legs, eyes,
and antennae black. Length
8-12 mm.

Everyone has noticed the
round holes cut in leaves of
roses and other plants. The
petals of flowers show the
same mutilations. These cir-
Figure 249. cular plecos are used to line

the nests. It is v/ell worth
waiting quite a v/hlle to see how deftly and quickly the bee cuts
out her leaf circle, then catches it up and is gone with it. Not
all the members of the family build their nests in this way.

114

THE IOWA INSECT SURVEY

large Insect collection must have well planned hous-
ing and systematic arrangement If It Is to be pro-
tected from destructive agencies and be workable.

In many geographic and natural areas, surveys are
being made to find just what plants or animals live within these
borders. Individual collectors, as well as biology departments
of high schools and colleges, find this an excellent means of
getting a better knowledge of the Insects, and In maintaining
Interest. A survey collection, whether small or large, on which
active work Is being done, gives a desirable air of continuity
and permanency to a school department. The Iowa Insect Survey,
which was designed as an aid In teaching systematic entomology,
is here-ln briefly described in the hope that the Information
may prove useful to others. The purpose of the Survey is to
determine and record the seasonal and geographic distribution

16065
XI-102

Phyllotreta sinuata (Stepii,)

Figure 246. A Tray Label.

of the adults of all known Iowa species. For each species of
Insect, the attempt is made to keep one specimen from every pos-
sible county and to see that each possible month is likewise
represented. All the specimens representing the one species are
pinned in a cardboard tray. A red margined tray label bearing
the catalog, order and family numbers together with the typed
name of the species stands at the head of the tray. (Fig. 246)
Trays are kept in 14 x 19 glrss-topped wood cases and are
arranged in their logical m^merical order which makes it pos-
sible to locate 'iny species on a moment's notice. These cases

Figure 247, A ^oeciiP.en record card, x Insect specimen in
the lov/a Survey Collection; • A Literature records.

115

HOW TO KNOW THE INSEQS

are housed In duct-tight, pest-proor steel cabinets, holding two
rows or 48 cases in each cabinet.

Each species of insect known to occur in the state has a
record card (Fig. 247) on which its distribution by counties and
months is marked. The records come from the specimens in the
Survey collection and from the apparently reliable lists of Iowa
insects. Different characters are employed to show the source
of the Information thus marked on the cards.*

HOW OTHERS MAY HELP

Entomologists, private collectors, biology and agriculture
departments of high schools and junior colleges and others who
are interested in seeing the largest possible progress made with
this survey of Iowa Insects are Invited to collaborate with it,
as many have been doing in the past. Authentic lists of insects

from any Iowa region are always welcome and
useful. Carefully collected specimens in
good condition, with locality and date
records, are desired from all parts of the
state. Even a few specimens are appreciated.
Large numbers will help that much more. As
far as time will permit, the Survey is glad
to furnish identifications of Insects sent in.
It is a particular pleasure to help high
schools, and teachers or students may feel
free to write at any time.

Correspondence with specialists making a
study of or revising a group is invited .
Duplicates are gladly shared with specialists
who thus make determinations.

^

1

nil nil

-

C3^

C0 =

o

III nil

— ■

-

e

nil nil

«sj

C5 =

—

4

III III

-

« zz

.^_

ff^

—

-

Accurate measurements play "an important
part in insect identification. A rule is
printed here for the help of those v7ho may
not have one at hand.

* Scao Eeohods of Labelling and Housing Large Insect Collec-Uions, H. E. Jaques,
Canadian Entoiaologist, Jan, 1936,

116

THE ORDERS AND FAMILIES OF INSECTS

'1YSTE1!ATIC entomologists do not all agree on tne arrangement of
orders and families. As further study Is given to the groups,
changes are frequently found necessary. The following list
should not be understood to be the arrangement, but one arrange-
ment of the orders and families. It Is the order which Is fol-
lowed In arranging the specimens and records of the Iowa Survey
Collection. With the hope that It will Increase the usefulness
of this list for others, brief descriptions of many of the families have
been added. With some families the number of known Iowa species Is given.
This Is the number In parenthesis Immediately following the family name.
Since many species new to the state are being added to the survey collection
and records all the while, these numbers will be out of date even before be-
ing printed.

I Order THYSANURA (The Briftle-Talls)

*(Insec-cs of New York)

1. llachllldae Active leaping forms about one-half Inch long.

Found among stones.

2. Leplsmatldae Sllverflsh, Flrebrats. Soft, thickly-scaled,

about one- third Inch long.

3. Campodeldae Small, white; -ander stones.

4. Projapygldae Small; under stones.

5. Japygldae Delicate, small; under stones.

II Order COLLEMBOLA (The Spring-Tails)

* (Collembola of Iowa, Mills)

1. Podurldae (48) Elongate, flat antennae no longer than head;

in decaying vegetation, etc.

2. Entomobryldae .... (56) Elongate, distinctly segmented, antennae

longer than head.

3. Neelldae (1) Body subglobose, antennae shorter than head.

4. Smlnthurldae (28) Body subglobose, antennae longer than head.

Ill Order PLECOPTERA (The Stone Flies)

*(Plecoptera of rl. A., Needham and Claassen)

1. Pteronarcldae .... Large, many veins In wings.

2. Peril dae Fewer veins In wings; around water.

3. Nemourldae Usually small dusky species.

4. Capnlldae Small, dark; often on snow In early spring.

IV Order EPHEMERIDA (The May-Flies)

*( Insects of New York)

1. Ephemeridae Appear In Irmense flights along our rivers and

lakes.

*Book In which the catalog numbers for the order are found.

117

HOW TO KNOW THE INSEQS
V Order ODONATA (The Dragon Flies and Damsel Flies)

*(Han(it)Ook of the Dragon-files of North America, Needham and Heywood.)

1. Aeschnldae (19) The Aeschnlds. Some of our largest dragon

files.

2. Libellulldae (25) The Skimmers, Many of our most common dragon

files belong here.

3. Agrlonidae (3) The True Agrlonlds. Broad v;lnged, metallic

colors.

4. Coenagrlonldae. • . • (27) The Stalked-wlnged Damsel Files. Delicate

winged; about water.

Yl Order EMBI IDINA

1. Emblldae Tropical and sub-tropical; resemble psoclds.

VII Order ORTHOPTERA

*(Orthoptera of II. E. A., Blatchley)

1. Blattldae (8) The Cockroaches. Much flattened, non-leaping,

omnivorous .

2. Mantldae (4) The Praying Mantes. Uncomm.on In Iowa but

occasionally found.

3. Phasmldae (4) The Walking Sticks. Long and slim, wingless

In loY/a; herbivorous.

4. Locustldae (78) The Short-homed grasshoppers. Antennae

shorter than body; herbivorous.

5. Tettlgonlldae .... (39) The Long-horned Grasshoppers. Frequently

green; long thread-like antennae; herbivorous.

6. Grylloblattldae . . . Rare mountain forms.

7. Gryllldae (22) The Crickets. Omnivorous.

VI I I Order ZORAPTERA

1. Zorotypldae Under bark of logs and stum.ps.

IX Order ISOPTERA (Termites)

1. Termltldae (2) White Ants. Live In colonies In wood.

X Order DERMAPTERA (Earwigs)

*(Orthoptera of N. E. A., Blatchley)
1. Forflculldae (1) Short wing covers, pair of forceps at rear.

XI Order COLEOPTERA (The Beetles)

*(Catalogue of the Coleoptera, Leng)

1. Clclndelldatj (34) The Tiger-Beetles. Very active, usually

brilliantly colored; eat Insects.

2. Carabldae (307) Ground-Beetles. Eat Insects.

3. Amphlzoldae Rare, unknown to Iowa.

4. Omophronldae (4) The Round Sand-beetles. In holes on banks of

streams and ponds.

118

HOW TO KNOW THE INSECTS

5. Hallplldae (7) The Crav.'llng Water-beetles. Small; In ponds

and streams. Carnivorous.

6. Dytlscldae (45) The Predacious Dlvlng-beetles. Carnivorous.

7. Gyrlnldae (15) The Whlrllglg-beetles. On surface of water.

Predacious .

8. Hydrophllldae. . . . (46) The Water Scavenger-beetles. Mostly In water;

some predacious, mostly scavengers.

9. Platypsyllldae . . . The Beaver parasite. Found on beavers; but one

species.

10. Brathlnldae Rare; small; In moss.

11. Leptlnldae (1) The Mammal-nest Beetles. Very small; In nests

of mice and bumble bees.

12. Sllphldae (26) The Carrion-beetles. Medium to large; eat

decaying flesh, etc.

13. Clambldae Very small; In decaying vegetation.

14. Scydmaenldae .... (39) Very small; under bark or stones or In ants'

nests.

15. Orthoperldae .... (8) very small; in decaying vegetation.

16. Staphyllnldae. . . . (327) The Rove-beetles. Slender, elytra very

short; scavengers.

17. Pselaphldae (84) Very small; similar to rove-beetles but v/lth

fewer abdominal segments.

18. Clavlgerldae .... The Ant-lovlng beetles. Similar to rove-beetles,

but only 2 Joints to the antennae.

19. Ptllldae (3) The Feather winged beetles. Includes the

smallest beetles known. In ant nests. In dead
wood and leaves etc.

20. Sphaerlldae Very tiny; on mud or under stones.

21. Scaphldlidae . . . . (13) The Shining Fungus-beetles. In fungi, dead

wood, etc. Tip of abdomen conical.

22. Sphaerltldae .... Mot known to be in Iowa. Resemble Ulster Beetles.

23. Hlsteridae (64) The Hister Beetles. Hard, round, shiny,

mostly black.

24. Lycidae (12) Flat, broad, flexible wings; diurnal; car-

nivorous.

-25. Lampyrldae (13) The Firefly-beetles. Soft bodies; nocturnal,

carnivorous.

26. Phengodldae (1) Similar to fireflies.

27. Cantharldae (26) The Soldier-beetles. Long, slim, thin-winged,

on flowers; carnivorous.

28. Melyrldae (11) The Soft-winged Flower-beetles. One vej^y

common Iowa species on grass, etc.

29. Clerldae (23) The Checkered-beetles. Usually brilliant

pattern; on tree trunks and flowers, predacious.

30. Corynetldae (8) Similar to checkered beetles, but differing in

tarsi.

31. Lymexylldae Rare; elongate; narrow.

32. Telegeusldae .... Not found in our state.

33. Micromalthldae . . . Rare; in decaying logs.

34. Cupesldae. . . . . . (1) Rare; under bark.

35. Cephaloidae Small family.

36. Oedemerldae (4) On plants or in ground.

37. Mordellldae (57) The tumblin'^ Flower-beetles. Wedge shaped.

110

38.

Rhlplphorldae

39.

Meloldae . .

40.

Eurystethldae

41.

Othnlldae. .

42.

Pythidae . .

43.

Pyrochroldae

44.

Pedilldae. .

45.

Anthlcldae .

46.

Euglenldae .

47.

Cerophytldae

48.

Cebrlonldae.

49.

Plastocerldae

50.

Rhiploerldae

51.

Elateridae .

52.

L'elasldae. .

53.

Throscldae .

54.

Buprestidae.

55.

Psephenldae.

56.

Dryopldae. .

57.

Helmldae . ,

58.

Heterocerldae

59.

Georyssldae.

60.

Dasclllldae.

61. Euclnetldae.

62. Helodldae. .

63. Chelonaridae

64. Dermestldae.

65. Byrrhldae. .

66. Nosodendrldae

67. Rhysodldae .

68. Ostomldae. .

69. i:itldulldae.

70. Rhlzophagldae

71. ronotomldae.

72. Cucujldae. .

73. Erotylldae .

74. Derodontldae

HOW TO KNOW THE INSEQS

(6) Wedge shaped; on flowers.

(22) The Blister beetles. Long, slim, v/lth narrow
necks.

Small family, not found In Iowa.

Small family of small predacious beetles.

The Pythenld Bark-beetles. Under bark and stones.

(4) The Fire-colored Beetles. Usually biack and
red; with distinct neck.

(8) Tree-living beetles.

(45) The Ant-llke Flower Beetles. Predacious; live
on ground.

Very small; on leaves and flowers.

Small family of rare beetles.

Southern habitat.

Found In south.

(1) The Cedar Beetles. Antennae flabellate In
males .

(117) The Click Beetles. The adults of wire worms;
slim, usually with spines on hind angles of thorax.

(13) Under bark and on leaves.

(4) Small family of small beetles resembling the
click beetles,

(66) The Atetalllc Wood-Borers. Look as though
made of metal.

Small family, mostly western; on wood.

(3) Small water beetles.
(6) In damp places.

(9) The Variegated Mudlovlng Beetles. In damp
places.

The Minute Mudlovlng Beetles. On banks of streams.

The Soft-bodied Plant Beetles. On plants near
water.

(2) Small family.

(9) On plants near water. Small beetles.
Not in Iowa

(23) The Skin Beetles. Round or cylindrical and
covered with scales. Pests of clothing. Insect
collections, etc.

(4) The Pill Beetles. At roots of trees and grass.
Small family, under bark.

(2) Small.

(8) The Bark-gnawing Beetles,
flattened beetles.

Mostly black,
Oval, somewhat

(35) The Sap-feeding Beetles,
flattened; under bark.

Under bark, small.

(3) Small; under bark and in nests of ants.

(18) The Cucu^ids. Mostly elongate and very flat.
Under bark and in grain.

(20) The Erotylids. Shiny; black and red or blue
and red.

(1) Small family of small brown beetles.

120

HOW TO KNOW THE INSECTS

75.

Cryptophagldae

76.

Byturldae. . .

77.

Mycetophagldae

78.

Colydlldae . .

79.

Murmldlldae. .

80.

Monoedldae . .

81.

Lathrldlldae .

82.

J-Iycetaeldae. .

83.

Endomychldae .

84.

Phalacrldae. .

85.

Cocclnellldae.

86.

Alleculldae. .

87.

Tenebrionldae.

88.

Lagrlldae. . .

89.

Mononmldae . .

90.

Melandryldae .

91.

Ptlnidae . . .

92.

Anoblldae. . .

93.

Bostrlchldae .

94.

Lyctldae . . .

95.

Sphlndldae . .

96.

Clsldae. . . .

97.

Scarabaeldae .

98. Trogldae . .

99. Lucanldae. .

100. Passalidae .

101. Cerambycldae

102. Chrysomelldae

103. L^ylabrldae .

104. Brentidae. .

105. Belldae. . .

106. Platystomldae

(18) Very small, yellowish brown; In fungi.
Small family; on flowers and fruits.

(9) The Hairy Fungus-beetles. Elongate; In fungi
and under bark.

(8) Small, dark; In fungi and dead wood.

(1) Small, oval.
Not found In Iowa.

(17) Very small; under bark and stones.

(2) Small family.

(6) The Handsome Fungus Beetles. In fungi or
under bark.

(6) Shining Flower Beetles. Very small; convex;
on flowers and under bark.

(46) The Lady-Beetles . Feed on aphlds and scale
Insects.

(7) The Comb-clawed Bark Beetles. Elongate, brown,
without spots.

(57) The Darkling Beetles. Mostly medium to large;
black or gray.

(3) The Lagrlld Bark-beetles. Elongate, often
metallic.

Not In Iowa; In bark.

(22) The Melandryld Bark Beetles. Under bark and
In fungi .

(17) The Drug Store Beetles. Small pests of
stored provisions.

The Death Watch Beet os. Very small, mostly
cylindrical; In wood.

(10) The Powder Post Beetles. Cylindrical, dark;
In dry wood.

(3) Dark, head prominent; bore In wood.

(2) Small species In dry fungi on trees and logs.

(4) Very small. In bark of trees.

(146) The Lamelllcorn Beetles. Dung beetles. May
beetles, etc.

The Skin Beetles. Dark colored, roughened; feed
on dried animal matter.

(9) The Stag-Beetles. Large, pinching jaws.

(1) Shiny black, large, flattened; In decaying
wood.

(151) The Long-homed Beetles. Cylindrical long
antennae, often brightly colored; larvae bore in
wood.

(253) The Leaf Beetles. Usually thickened oval
forms feeding both as adults and larvae on plants.

(11) The Bean »i/eevlls; in seeds of leguminous
plants.

(1) The Primitive Weevils. Long cylindrical,
males with heavy, blunt Jaws.

(I) The New York Weevil. But one species in Iowa;
damages fruit trees.

(II) The Fungus Weevils.

121

HOW TO KNOW THE INSEO^

107. Curculionldae . . . (317) The Typical Snout Beetles. Mouthparts

elongated into a snout. Larvae weevils In seeds
and fruit.

108. Platypldae Small family; make pinholes In. lumber.

-109. Scolytldae (12) The Engraver-Beetles. Sm.all, mostly In cam-
bium of trees.

XII Order STREPSIPTERA (Twisted-winged Insects)

1. Stylopldae Small; parasitic In other Insects.

XIII Order THYSANOPTERA (The Thrips)

* (Insects of Uew York)

1. Aeolothrlpldae. . . . Front wings strongly veined, female with saw-like

ovipositor.

2. Thrlpldae Front wings poorly caveloped, female with saw-like

ovipositor.

3. Merothrlpldae .... Small family; under bark.

4. Phlaeothrlpldae . . . Front wings weakly developed, female without saw-

like ovipositor.

XIY Order CORRODENTIA (The Psocids and the Book Lice.)

*( Insects of New York)

1. Psocldae The Psocids. Wings much longer than body, on

trees, fences, etc. Feed on lichens.

2. Caeclllldae Tarsi 2 pointed; dlscoldal cell of wing open.

3. lilyopsocldae In damp places, on lichens, etc.

4. Mesopsocldae Tarsi 3- jointed.

5. Lepldopsocldae. . . . Small family.

6. Psylllpsocldae. . . . Found throughout the year.

7. Psoqulllldae In old papers and books.

8. Troglldae The death watch; In old papers.

9. Llposcelldae In old books.

XV Order MALLOPHAGA (The Biting Lice)

1. l!enoponldae .

2. Trlmenopanldae,

*( Insects of New York, with modifications)

. The common hen louse and ether bird lice,

3. Rlclnldae . . .

4. Laemobothriidae

5. Gyropldae . .

6. Phllotherldae

. On rodents and marsupials. Only five pairs of ab-
dominal spiracles.

. All tarsi t.TO-clawed. On humming and perching
birds.

. All tarsi two-clawed. On birds of prey and on
water birds.

. Found on guinea pigs and other rodents.

. The largest family of biting lice. No maxillary
palpi. On birds.

7. Trlchophllopteridae . On m.amrrials.

8. Trlchodectldae. . . . Antennae tV'ree-segmented. On domestic and other

mamm.als .

122

1. Echlnophthlrlldae,

2. Pedlculldae. . . ,

3. Haematoplnldae . ,

HOW TO KNOW THE INSECS
XVI Order ANOPLURA (The True Lice)

*( Insects of New York)
. On seals and walrusses.
. Lice Infesting man; eyes comparatively large.

1. Scutellerldae

2. Cydnldae. .

3. Pentatomldae

4. Coreldae. .

5. Aradidae. .

6. Meidldae. .

7. Lygaeldae .

8. Pyrrhocorldae

9. Tlngitldae.

10. Enlcocephalldae

11. Phymatldae.

12. Reduvlidae.

15. Hebrldae. .

14. Mesovellidae

15. '.:abidae . .

16. Cimicidae .

17. Anthocoridae

18. Termatophylldae

19. .'-nridae . . .

20. Isometopldae.

21. Dlpsocorldae.

22. Schizopterldae

23. Hydrom.etridae

24. Gerrldae. .

25. Vellldae. .

26. Saldldae. .

27. Ilotonectldae

28. I'aucorldae.

Some plant eating, others
Destructive, plant-

. . Eyes vestigial or wanting; on domestic and v/lld
anlm.als.

XVII Order HEMIPTERA (The True Bugs)

''(Catalogue of Hemlptera, Van Duzee)

(7) The Shield-backed Bugs. Turtle-shaped, on
plants.

(13) The 'u'egro-bugs and Burrowing Bugs. Black or
dark brown.

(47) The St Ink-bugs,
predacious.

(24) The Squash-bug Family,
eating.

(10) The Flat bugs. Dark, much flattened; under
bark.

(3) The Stilt bugs. Very slim, long slender legs;
plant feeders.

(54) The Chinch-bug Family. Live on plants.

(0) The Cotton Stalner Fardly. Plant feeders.

(32) The Lace -bugs. Easily told by gauzy v;lngs.

(2) The Unique-headed Bugs. Small fcur.lly; pre-
dacious,

(2) The Ambush-bugs. Hide in flowers to catch bees
and files.

(18) The Assassin bugs. Predacious on Insects and
higher animals.

(3) Small plump bodies.

(2) Very sm.all family of small Insects.

(11) The ::abids.. Predacious; found on plants; slim
bodies.

(3) The Bed 3uf:;s. Parasitic on m.an and birds.

(10) The Flov'er Bugs. Small, on trees, flowers,
etc.

(1) Seldom, seen in Iowa.
(250) The Plant-bugs. Suck Juices of plants.

(1) Very sm.all and rare.
(0) rot knovm in Iowa.
(0) i:ot I'jiov.Ti in Iowa.

(2) The water-measurers.
(16) The water-striders.

(6) The Broad-shouldered Water-striders.
surface of water; predacious.

(9) The Shore-bugs. On damp soil; predacious.

(7) The Back-swimmers. Boat shaped, black and

Very slender, predacious.
Predacious; on water.
On the

white.

(2) The Creeping Water-bugs,
carnivorous.

Oval, flat bodied:

12^

29. Nepldae . . .

30. Belostomatldae

31. Gelastocorldae

32.
33.

Ochterldae,
Corlxldae .

HOW TO KNOW THE INSEQS

(4) The Water-Scorpions.
(3) The Giant Water-bugs,

On submerged plaijts.
Broad, flat, brown; car-

1.

Clcadldae .

2.

CercoDldae.

3.

L'embracldae

4.

Clcadellldae

5.

Fulgorldae .

6.

Chermldae .

**♦( Insects of New

7. Aphldldae . .

8. Phylloxeridae

9. Aleyrodldae .
10. Coccldae. . .

nlvorous.

(1) The Toad-shaped bugs. Body broad and short
eyes.

(2) The Ochterlds. In mud along shore.

(?) The Water-boatmen. Mostly plant feeders; prom-
inent on banks of streams.

XVII I Order HOMOPTERA

*( Catalogue of Hemlptera, Van Duzee)

(8) The Cicadas or "Locusts." Large; broad heads.

(4) The Frog-hoppers. Nymphs burled In froth on
plants.

(69) The Tree-hoppers. Queerly enlarged pro thorax.

(112) The Leaf-hoppers. Suck Juices of plants.

(21) The Lantern-fly Family. Live on plants.

(6) The Jumping Plant-lice. Look like cicadas, but
very small.

York)***

. . . The Plant Lice. Soft bodied, frequently wingless.

. . . Aphlds covered with waxy powder.

. . . The White files. Tiny white pests of house plants.

. . . The Scale Insects, bark lice, mealy bugs, etc.

XIX Order NEUROPTERA (The Nerve-Winged Insects.)

1. Slalldae. .

2. Raphldlldae

3. Ifemtlspldae

4. Slsyrldae .

5. Sympheroblldae.

6. Hcmeroblldae. .

7. Berothldae. . .

8. Polystoechotldae

9. ChrysoplQae . .

10. Myrmeleonldae .

11. Ascalaphldae. .

12. Conlopterygldae

1. Rhyacophllldae

2. Hydroptllldae.

*( Insects of New York)

(3) The Aider-files; Corydalus,etc.

The Snake files. Prothorax greatly elongate.
Western.

(2) The Mantls-llke Neuroptera. Front legs fitted
for seizing prey.

The Spongllla files. Broad, smoky brown wings,
around v/ater.

(1) Small.

(6) Dark to yellow with hyaline or pale yellow
wings.

Small family.

Large Lacewlngs.

(18) The Green Lacewlngs. Larvae feed on aphlds.

(4) The Ant-lions. Dellcate-wlnged, resembling
damsel files.

(1) The Ascalaphlds. Resemble dragon files but
longer, clubbed antennae .

The Mealy-winged Neuroptera; small, less than 3 mm
long.

XX Order TRICHOPTERA

*( Insects of New York)

Larvae In rapid-flowing streams.

The Mlcro-caddlce Files. Very small; resembling
tlneld moths.

124

3. Phllopotamldae.

4. Hydropsychldae.

5. Polycentropldae

6. Psychomyldae. .

7. Calamoceratldae

8. Odontocerldae .

9. Molannldae. . .

10. Leptocerldae. .

11. Phryganeldae. .

12. Llmnephllldae .
Ic. Serlcostomatldae

HOW TO KNOW THE INSEOS

. Larvae In rapid-flowing water.

. Larvae In rapid streams.

. Larvae In slowly flowing water.

. In swift-water, ponds and lakes.

. Small family.

. Ijlarlne.

. But one genus In our country.

. Wings slender; no ocelli.

. Larvae In standing water.

. Two or three spurs on middle tibiae,

. Ocelli absent; spurs on front legs.

XXI Order LEPIDOPTERA (The Moths and Butterflies).

*( Check

1. Papilionidae

2. Pleridae. .

3. Danaidae. .

4. Satyr Idae .

5. Nymphalldae

6. Liby the idae

7. Rhiodinidae

8. Lye aen idae.

9. Hesperiidae

10. Sphingidae.

11. Satumiidae

12. Ceratocampidae

13.

Syntomldae . .

14.

Arctlidae . .

15.

Agaristldae .

16.

rioctuldae . .

17.

Pericopldae .

13.

Dlopyidae . .

19.

Notodontidae.

20.

Thyatlridae .

21.

Lyman tri idae.

22.

Eupterotidae.

23.

Las ioc amp idae

24.

Bombycidae. .

Mostly brown with
Fore legs re-

Llst of the Lepidoptera, Barnes and McDunnough)

(12) The Swallow-tall Butterflies. Large size,
usually with tall like piece on back wing.

(19) The Cabbage Butterfly and others of our mostly
white and yellow butterflies.

(1) The Milkweed Butterflies. Large; the Monarch
and others.

(4) The Meadow-broiffn Butterflies,
numerous eye spots.

(32) The Four-footed Butterflies,
duced.

(1) The Long-beaks. Long, beak-like palpi.
The Metal-marks. Sm.all; a small family.

(13) The Gossam.er-wlnged Butterflies. Sir.all,
usually bright colors.

(20) The Skippers. Clubbed antennae with hooks at
end.

(6) The Sphinx Moths. Narrow wings; act like hum-
ming birds.

(29) The Giant Silk-worms. Includes our largest
moths.

(5) The Royal Moths. Stout bodies, hairy, live on
foliage.

(4) Narrow-winged, frequently dark colored.

(36) The Tiger Moths. Brilliantly marked, medium-
sized moths.

(2) The Foresters. Bright colored, day flyers.

(116) The Owlet Moths. Cutworms and army worms.

Bright colored moths; larvae eat foliage.

Sm.all family of uncommon species.

(31) The Prominents. Tree feeders; adults medium
size.

(3) Foliage feeders.

(1) The Tussock Moths. Females wingless, larvae
on foliage.

(1) Small family of medium sized pale gray moths.

(5) Tent caterpillars.
The Silk worms.

125

25.

26.

27.
28.
29.

30.
31.

32.
33.
34.
35.

37.
38.

39.
40.
41.
42.
43.
44.
45.
46.
47.

48.
49.
50.
51.
52.
53.
54.
55.
56.
57.
58.
59.
60.
61,
62.
63.

64.
65.

Drepanldae.

Geometrldae

Eplplemldae
Lacosomldae
Psychldae .

Llmacodldae .
Megalopygldae

Dalcerldae.
Eplpyropldae
Zygaenldae.
Thyrldae. .

36. P/ralldae

Pterophorldae
Orneodldae. .

Cosmopterygldae

Gelechlldae

Oecophorldae

Blastobasldae

Stenomldae.

Ethailldae .

Aegerlldae.

Eucosmldae.

Tortrlcldae

Phalonlldae

Carposlnldae

Hellodlnldae

Hellozelldae

Glyph ipterygldae

Plutellldae .

Yponomeutldae

Haploptlllldae

Elachlstldae

Tlscherlldae

Gracllarlldae

Scythrldldae

Lyonetlldae

Acrolophldae

Tlncldae. .

Cossidae. .

Neptlculldae
Incurvarlldae

HOW TO KNOW THE INSEOS

(4) The Drepanlds. Sickle-shaped point on front

wings .

(57) The I.'easurlng-v.'orms . Larvae walk with looping

movement.

Slender bodies, large wings.

(1) Broad wings with vestigial frenulum.

The Bag-worm moths. Wingless females, males winged;
larvae in debris-covered silken bags.

The Slug-caterpillar L'oths. Medium to small size.

The Flannel-moths. Thickly covered with scales and
long curly hair.

Body sm.all, wings broad.

Rare, not in Iowa.

(1) The Smoky Moths. On grapes, etc.

The WindOT-winged moths. With white or yellowish
translucent spots on wings.

The Pyrallds. Mostly small moths, slender body,
prominent head.

The Plume Moths. V/lngs slit length-wise.

The Many-plumed Moths. Each wing divided into six
plumes .

Sm.all narrow-winged moths.

Grain and gall moths.

The parsnip web worm, etc.

Small moths.

V/lngs broad, especially back ones.

Broad wings, front ones usually bright colored.

The Clear-winged Moths. Resemble bees.

The codling moth and others.

Small to m.edlum moths, front v/ings square cut at
outer end.

Small moths.

Small moths.

Narrow pointed wings, edges fringed.

Shar; pointed wings, long antennae.

Similar to Tortrlclds.

Small to medium size.

Small moths; feed on trees.

The pistol case bearers, etc.

Small family of small moths.

Mostly leaf miners.

Large family, mostly small leaf miners.

Small, narrow-winged moths.

The morning glory leaf miner and others.

Fairly large and heavy moths.

A large family; includes the clothes moths.

The Carpenter Moths. Spindle shaped bodies, narrow
wings, larvae T;ood borers.

The smallest of moths; wing venation much reduced.

"ootly miners and CTiSe bearers.

if-^e

HOW TO KNOW THE INSEOS

66. Adelldae Very small moths v;lth very long fine antennae.

67. Prodoxldae The Yuoca moths, and others.

68. Mlcropterygldae . . The I.landlbulate Jugates. Small family of small

moths.

69. Heplalldae The Swifts. Medium to large size, narrow wings.

XXII Order MECOPTERA (The Scorpion Files), Etc.

*( Insects of New York)

1. Panorpldae Scorpion files. In damp woods.

2. Boreldae Wingless winter forms; on moss.

3. Blttacldae Resemble crane files.

XXI 11 Order DIPTERA (The Two-winged Flies)

*( Families from North American Dlptera. Curran,
Special catalog for species.;

2.
3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.
12.
13.
14.
15,

16.

17.

18.

19.
20.

21.
22.

Tanyderldae . .

Ptychopteridae.
Trichocerldae .

Tlpulldae . . .

Anlsopodldae. .

Blepharlceridae

Slmullidae. . .

Thaumeleidae. .

Chlronomldae. .

Ceratopogonldae

Psychodldae
Dlxldae . .
Cullcldae .
Cecldomyldae
Sclarldae .

l.'ycetophllldae
Biblonldae. .
Scatopsldae .

Rachlcerldae.
Strati omyldae

Coenomylldae .
Tabanldae . .

The Primitive Crane Files. Only three species known
to North America.

The False Crane Flies; larvae in wet organic earth.

The Winter Crane Flies; sometimes abundant during
warm winter days; most abundant during spring and
fall.

(51) The Typical Crane Flies; a large family of
fragile long-legged flies.

Near edges of woods and swamps and on trunks of
trees.

The Net-winged Midges; most abundant near fast-flow-
ing streams.

The Black Flies; small, vicious, biting flies near
streams.

Along the edge of streams, particularly where moss
is present.

The Midges; mostly harmless, mosquito-shaped
insec'ts.

The Biting Midges; very small, slender flies; found
along ?/ater courses.

The Moth Flies; tiny broad hairy-winged flies.

The Dlxa Midges; near running water.

The Mosquitoes; slender scaly winged flies.

The Gall Midges; tiny gall-making flies.

The Dark Winged Fungus Gnats; around fungi in moist
places.

The Fungus gnats; moderately small, slender flies
found around fungi .

The March Flies, slender, small to medluin sized
flies, frequent in early spring.

The Minute Black Scavene;ers. Tiny black or broim
flies breeding in decaying vegetation.

I/.edium sized, elongate flies.

. (31) The Soldier Flies; often brightly marked,
around flo'vers.

. Medium to large flies found in moist woods.

. (34) The l-iorse Flies; swift-flying Mood suckers.

127

HOW TO KNOW THE INSEQS

23 . Pan t ophthalral dae .

24. Rhaglonldae . . .

25. Scenoplnldae

26. Mydaldae. .

27. Asllldae. .

28. Therevldae.

29. Aplocerldae

30. Bombyllldae

31. Nemestrlnldae

32. Cyrtldae. .

33. Empidae . .

34. Dollchopldae

35. Lonchopteridae

36. Phorldae. .

37. Platypesldae

38. Plpunculldae

39. Syrphldae .

40. Conopldae .

41. Pyrgotldae,

42. Otlt'.dae. .

43. Trupaneldae .

44. Pallopterldae

45. Lone hael dae .

46. Ropalomerldae

47. Tanypezldae ,

48. Calobatldae

49. Micropezldae,

50. Nerlldae. . .

51. Plophllldae .

52. Sepsldae. . .

53. Lauxanlldae .

54. Perlscelldae.

55. Drosophllldae

Tropical flies.

(7) The Snipe Files; small to medium sized, long-
legged flies found abundantly in vroods and damp
places.

The Window Flies; moderate or small size, dark
colored.

The L!ydas Flies; very large elongate flies; larvae
live on decayed wood.

(41) The Assassin or Robber Flies; large, mostly
elongate, predacious flies.

The Stilleto Flies; moderate sized predacious flies,
most abundant in dry areas.

Large elongate flies; mostly Y/estern.

(21) The Bee Flies; large family of hairy flies.

Koderate size; quick fliers.

Thorax and abdomen large, head small.

The Dance Flies. In moist places, woods, etc.

The Long-headed or Long-legged Flies. Small,
usually metallic green or blue.

The Pointed-wing Flies. Small, slender, brownish
or yellowish flies found in moist places.

The Hump-backed Flies. Small or very small, often
wingless.

The Flat-footed Flies. The larvae of at least part
of the family live in fungi .

The Big-headed Flies; readily told by the large
head; larvae parasitic on other insects.

(71) The Flov/er Flies; a large family of beneficial
flies.

The Thick-headed Flies; moderate sized, elongate
flies, largely parasitic on Hymenoptera.

Parasitic on beetles.

(20) The Pictured-wlng Flies. Wings usually marked
with brown, black or yellowish; common in moist
places.

The Fruit Flies; for most part small; wings usually
pictured.

In moist shady places; usually with pictured wings.

Small, dark, shining flies.

Tropical.

iZedlum sized files v/lth long, slender legs; in
moist woods.

The Stilt-legged Files; legs very long; near moist
places.

Slender files with long legs, in marshes and moist
places.

Slender flies with long legs; near water.

Small black or bluish metallic flies. The "cheese-
skipper" belongs here.

Small, shining, black or reddish flies; scavengers.

Most commonly In moist places.

Small, wings sometimes pictured.

The Small Fruit Flies. Small; wings often pictured.
Around ripe fruit and decaying vegetation.
128

HOW TO KNOW THE INSECS

56. Asteildae Small files.

57. Opomyzldae Small; wings sometimes pictured; In moist places.

58. Agromyzldae .... The Leaf miners. Small, the larvae mine the leaves

of many plants.

59. Phyllomyzldae . . . Small, usually black; often found sunning them-

selves.

60. Chloropldae .... (22) The Frit Files. Small, bare; larvae live In

many plant stems.

61. Ephydrldae The Shore Files. Small; along marshes, swamps and

water courses.

62. Canaceldae Very small; along sea shore.

63. Dlopsldae The Stalked-eyed Files; but one species known to

North America.

64. Borborldae Small, black or brown; scavengers.

65. Cluslldae Wings marked with black or brown; In moist places.

66. Chamaemyldae. . . . Small grayish files.

67. Tetanocerldae . . . The Marsh Files.

68. Chyromyldae .... Small files. Som.etlmes with pictured wings.

69. Legamerlnldae . . . Tropical.

70. Psllldae The Carrot-rust Fly and other plant feeders.

71. Coelopldae Along sea shore.

72. Helomyzldae .... Lledium size; scavengers.

73. Dryomzldae Moderate size; along water courses.

74. MuGCldae (28) The house fly and many smaller pests.

75. Gasterophilidae . . The Horse Bot Files. One genus of but three species.

76. LCetoplldae (33) The Flesh Flies. Flesh feeders, parasites or

scavengers.

77. Cuterebridae. . . . The Robust Bot Files. Parasitic on rodents.

78. Oestrldae The Bot Flies. Medium to large size, usually cov-

ered with long fine hairs.

79. Tachinidae (65) The Tachlnlds. Rather heavily bristled. Para-

sitic on other insects.

80. Braulidae The Honey-bee Parasite. But one species; found in

bee hives. .

81. Hippoboscidae . . . The Bird Parasite Files. Often r/ingless; the

Common Sheep tick, etc.

82. nycteribiidae . . . Resemble spiders; wingless, parasitic on bats.

83. Streblldae The Bat Flies; mostly parasitic on bats.

XXIV Order SIPHONAPTERA (The Fleas)

*( Insects of New York, with modifications)

1. Pulicidae Our most common fleas; pests of man and his domestic

animals. Eyes usually present. Only a single row
of setae on an abdominal terglte.

2. Dollchopsyllldae . . The largest fajiiily of fleas. Abdominal tergltes

with more than one row of bristles. Many species
have no eyes.

3. Kystrlchopsyllldae . Mostly on rodents, some quite large.

4. Macropsyllldae ... A small family restricted to Australia and South

America.

5. Ichnopsylli Jae . . . Confined to bats.

6. Hectopsyllldae . . . Thorax very much reduced. The sticktlght flea of

poultry, cats, and dogs.

129

HOW TO KNOW THE INSEQS
XXV Order HYMENOPTERA (The Bees, Wasps, Ants, Etc.)

1. Xyelldae. .

2. Pamphlllldac

3. Cephldae. .

4. Xl-hydrlldae

5. Slrlcldae .

6. Crabronldae

7. Argldae . .

8. Dlprlonldae

9. Tenthredlnldae

10. Peterygophorldae

11. Oryssldae . .

12. Braconldae. .

13. Ichr.eumonldae

Trlgonalldae.
Aulacldae . .
Stephanidae .
Gasteruptlonldae
Ropronlldae .
Kelorldae . .
Vanhomlldae.
Dlaprlldae. .
Proctotrupldae
Calllceratldae
Ceraphronldae
Scellonldae .
Platygasterldae
Peleclnldae .

28. Cynlpldae . .

29. Calllmomldae.

30. Per 1 lamp Idae.

31. Chalcldldae .

Eurytomldae .
Encyrtldae. .
Slgnlphorldae
Eupeljnldae. .
Pteromalldae.
Aphellnldae .
Eulophldae. .
TrlchograiTTildae

*(Insects of Kew York)

(5) The Xyelld Sawflies.

The Web-splnnlng and Leaf-rolling Sawflles.

The Stem Savyflles. Larvae bore In stens of plants.

(1) The Xlphydrlld Sawflles. Small family of medium
sized bees.

(1) The Horn-tails. Larvae are v/ood borers.

(4) The American sawfly and others.

(5) The Argld Saw-flies. Small family infesting
sv;eet potatoes, etc.

Feed on pine and spruce.

(64) The Typical Sawflles. Currant worm, rose slug,
pear slug, etc.

(1) Feed on oaks, hickory, etc.

The Orysslds. Adults very active, run on tree
trunks.

(145) The Braconlds. Small to medium sized, slender
wasps .

(227) The Ichneumon wasps. Some very small; mostly
fairly large slender '.vasps, parasitic.

Parasitic In nests of social bees.

:.:ostly parasitic on Coleoptera.

Parasitic on \vood-borlng Insects.

(2) Parasitic on solitary v/asps and bees.
Rare.

Parasitic in cocoons of lace wings.

Probably not in Iowa.

Parasitic on flies.

Parasitic on flies and beetles.

Very small family.

Very small parasitic wasps.

Very important family of egg parasites.

Parasitic on other Hymenoptera.

Large, black, wasp-like species with abdomen of fe-
male very long.

(47) The Cynlpids. Many are gall makers.

Parasitic on gall makers or Infest seeds.

Small parasitic v/asps.

The Chalcld flies. Tiny parasitic bees with wing
venation much reduced.

The wheat Joint worm, the wheat straw worm, etc.

Small v;asps.

Small family; not known to Iowa.

Small egg parasites.

Parasitic.

Small wasps, parasitic on aphlds and scale insects.

Small, parasitic on plant feeding v/asps.

Parasitic.

130

HOW TO KNOW THE INSEQS

40. Mymarldae Very small egg parasites.

41. Evanlldae (1) The Ensign Wasps. Abdomen short and held erect

like a flag.

42. Psammocharldae. . . (64) The Spider Wasps. Slender wasps that provision

their nests with spiders.

43. Elmbolemldae .... Rare.

44. Cleptldae Similar to next family.

45. Chrysldldae .... The Cuckoo-Wasps. Brilliant metallic green or blue.

46. Anthoboscldae . . . Very small family.

47. Sapygldae Black, spotted or banded with yellow.

48. Thynnldae Not In Iowa.

49. Tlphlldae (8) Fairly large parasitic wasps.

50. IJutillldae (13) The Velvet-ants. Females wingless, densely

clothed with hair.

51o Scollldae (3) The Scolllds. Large sized lA^asps, parasitic on

white grubs.

52. Formlcldae (51) The Ants. Workers wingless.

53. Bethylldae (2) Small to medium parasitic wasps.

54. Rhopalosomldae. . . Very small family.

55. Vespidae (24) The Hornets, etc.

56. Ampullcldae .... Uncommon; prey on cockroaches.

57. Drylnldae Small parasitic wasps.

58. Sphecidae (65) The Typical Sphecld Wasps. The common mud

daubers and others.

59. Hylaeldae (7) The Bifld-tongued Bees. Wasp-like bees.

60. Andrenldae (116) The Andrenlds. Short-tongued, solitary bees.

61. Megachllidae. . . . (30) The Leaf -cutter Bees, etc. Line their nests

with neatly cut pieces of leaves or flower petals.

62. Bombidae (13) The Bumblebees. Large or medium sized. Hairy,

usually black and yellow.

63. Apidae (1) The Honey-bees. Only our introduced honey

maker in Iowa. ,

131

INDEX AND GLOSSARY

ABDOLEN: The third and last main

division of an Insect's body; bears

no functional legs in the adult stage.

(See Figs. 31 and 32) 33
Aegerlidae 91
Aeschnldae 51
Agabus dislntegratus 58
Agonoderus pallipes 58
Agrlon maculatum 51
Agrlonidae 51
Alcohol 31
Alder flies 87
Aleyrodes vaporariorum 86
Aleyrodldae 86
Ambush bugs 80
Amphlcerus blcaudatus 65
Anal cell (See Fig. 216)
Anaplura 46
Anasa trlstis 80
Anax Junius 52
Andrenldae 113
Anisoptera 50
Ain-IULATE or AIxINULATED: Ringed or

marked with colored bands.
AMTEMNA,-AE: Jointed appendages

borne one on each side of the
head, coLjmonly called feelers.
Sensory in function. (See Fig. 29)

AI^ITETTODAL : Before the nodus (See
Figs. 69 and 70)

Anthlcldae 71

Anthocorldae 39

Anthrenus scrophulariae 65

Ant-llke flOY/er beetles 71

Ant-lions 44,88

Ants 41,45,108

APEX: That part of any Joint, seg-
ment, or wing, that is opposite the
the base or point of attachment.

Aphid 40, 46, 87

Aphidldae 87

Aphis gosspll 87

Aphis-lions 88

Aphis maldl-radlcls 46

Aphorlsta vittata 72

APICAL: At or near the apex.

Apldae 113

Apis melllflca 113

APHL^^IDICULATE: Bearing appendages
said of antennae where the Joints
have articulated appendages.

,\PPOSITION: Placed one on top of
another like a series of plates.

Aradidae 79, 8]

Aradus acutus 79

Arctlidae 95

Arctocorixa interrupta 83

ARISTA: A bristle on the last
segment of the antennae of

132

flies - often plumose (see

Fig. 29)
Arthromacra aenea glabri colli s 68
Ascalaphidae 88
.\silldae 100

Aspldiotus pernlciosus 49
Assassin bugs 81
Assassin flies 100
AUTHOR: Scientist v^o names a new

species. 1

B

Back swimmers 83

BALAl.^CERS: Pin- like structures re-
placing the second wings on the
Dlptera.
Rarkllce 86

BASAL: At or pertaining to the base
or point of attachment to or nearest
the main body.
BASAL IlIPRESSIONS: On thorax of In-
sects; the shallow depressed areas at
base.
Bean weevil 73
Beating Umbrella 15
Bed bug 80
Bee files 101
Bees 24, 41, 111
Beetles 23, 38, 39
Belidae 75
Belostomidae 81
Benacus griceus 82
Berlese's Fluid 31
Bird lice 46
Bird parasite flies 97
Bites 16
Black flies 98
Blatella germanlca 37
Blattldae 54
Blissus leucopterus 80
Blister beetles 70
Bolitotherus cornutus 69
Bombldae 113
Bombus americanorum 113
Bombyllidae 101
Book-louse 45
Bostrlchidae 65
Bot flies 105
Brachymeria ovata 109
Braconidae 110
Braconld wasps 110
Brent Idae 75
BRISTLE: A stiff hair, usually short

and blunt.
Bristle tall 47
Brontes dublus 70
Bumble bees 113
Buprestidae 67
Burrower bugs 76

Butterflies 21, 24, 28, 40, 89

Caddis flies 40

Calopteron retlculatum 62

Calosoma calldum 38

Camel crickets 48

Camponotus herculeanus
pennsylvanlca 108

Canker worm 47

Cantharldae 62

Carabldae 56,58

CARINA, -AE: An elevated ridge or
keel, not necessarily high or acute,

CARINATE: A surface having carlnae.

Carpet beetle 65

Carrion beetles 63

Caterpillars (See Fig. 5) 6, 31, 40

Cecldomyldae 98

Celerio lineata 40

Cellthemls eponina 50

Cellulose acebate mount 27

Cephas clnctus 107

Cephldae 107

Cerambycldae 72

Ceresa buballs 85

Cercopldae 85

Ceuthophllus macula tus 48

Chalcid flies 109

Chalcidldae 109

Chaullognathus pennsylvanlcus 62

Checkered beetles 63, 65

Chelonus texanus 110

Chermidae 86

Chicken louse 46

Chinch bug 80

Chironomldae 99

Chlronomus llneatus 99

CHITIN: The horny substance making
the hard outer covering of insects.

CHITINOUS: Constructed of chltin.

Chlorion atratum 38

Chloropldae 103

Chloroplsca glabra 103

Chrlsobothrls femorata 67

Chryplocephalus mutabllis 73

Chrysls trldens 111

Chrysldidae 111

Chrysomelldae 73

Chrysopa oculata 44

Chrysopldae 88

Cicadellldae 85

Cicadas 40, 83

Clcadldae 83

Clclndela repanda 57

Clcindelldae 57

Cimbex cjnericana 107

Clmex lectula.ris 80

Clmlcidae 49, 80

Cissla eurytus 90

CLASPERS: Organs of the male used
for holding the female in mating.

CLAVATE: Clubbed; thickening grad-
ually tov.'ardr the tip.

CLAVUS: Part of wing of Hemiptera
(See Fig. 249 and 250)

Clear-wings 91

Clerldae 63, 65
Cleora pamplnaria 95
Click beetles 67

CLOSED CELL: A cell in the wing which
is wholly surrounded by veins.
(Fig. 248)

Figure 248. c, closed cells; o, open cells;
CY, cross veinso

Clothes moths 92

Clover leaf midge 98

Clover leaf* weevil 76

CLUBBED: Same as clavate.

CLYPEUS: That portion of the head
before or below the front to which
the labrum is attached anteriorly.
(See Fig. 32)

Coccidae 86

Cocclnellidae 73

Cockroach 37, 54

Coenagrionidae 51

Collecting 8

Collector 14

Collembola 48

Coleoptera 39, 48

Collops quadrlmaculatus 63

Colorado potato beetle 1

COL'ICAL: cylindrical, with a flat base
tapering to a point.

COIISTRICTED: Drawn in; narrowed med-
ially and dilated toward the extre-
mities.

COrJVEX: curved up from the margins.

Coreidae 80

CORIUli': Part of Hemipteron v;ing.
(Fig. 249)

mornBranZ

(Figure 245)

Corixldae 82

Corn ear-worm 96

Cornroot aphid 46

Corrodentla 45

Corydalls cornuta 88

Corythuca c ill lata 77

COSTA: Any elevated ridge that is
rounded at its crest.

COXA,-AE: The basal segment of the
leg, by means of which it is arti-
culated with the body. (See Fig. 30)

COXAL CAVITY: The space In which the
coxa articulates; in Coleoptera the
cavity is open when the epimera do
not extend to the sternum; closed
when they reach the sternum or join
medially. (See Figs. 32 and 123).

Crabronldae 107

Crane flies 97

Crickets 23, 39,. 48, 53

CROSS VEINS: Short veins connecting
longitudinal veins. (See Fig. 248)

133

Croton bug 37
Ctenocephalls canls 47
Cuckoo-wasps 111
Cucujldae 67, 69, 70
Culex plplens 98
Cullcldae 97

CUTIEUS: Part of wing of Hemlptera
(Fig. 250)

(Figure 250)

CUPREOUS: Coppery-red.

Curcullonidae 76

Cydnldae 76

CYLINDRICAL: As anplled to the shape
of Insects, rather long and of ap-
proximately equal width and thickness.

Cyllene roblnae 5

Cynlpldae 109

D

Damsel bugs 78

Damsel-files 24, 28, 43, 50

Danaldae 90

ranaus archlppus 90

Dance files 101, 102

Darkling beetles 68

Dasymutllla Interrupta 108

Dasyneura rhodophaga 98

Dat?.na mlnlstra 95

Deathwatch beetles 64

DECm.jBENT: Bending down at tip from

an upright base.
Delphlnla plcta 104
Dendroldes blcolor 70
DENTATE: Toothed.
Dermaptera 38
Dermestldae 65

Dlabrotlca duodeolmpunctata 39
Dlapheromera fermorata 55
Dlneutes amerlcanus 58
Dlptera 37, 97
DICK: The central upper surface of

any part.-
DIURNAL: Insects tnat are active In

the day time,
Dobson files 44, 87
Dolochopldae 102
Doodle bug 89

Dragon-files 24, 28, 43, 50
Drosophlla melanogaster 104
Drosophllldae 103
Drug-store beetles 64
Dung beetles 59
Dytlscldae 58

E

Earwig 38

Eggs (See Fig. 2)

Elaterldae 67

Elbow block (See Fig. 28 1/2)

ELBOWED: As applied to antennae,
sharply bent, a slight curvature of
the basal .lolnt Is not considered as
an elbow. (See Fig. 29H)

ELEVATION: A raised portion; relative
height above nurroundlng area.

ELONGATE: Lengthened; longer than
wide.

ELYTRA: The horny first wings of
beetles; when at rest they commonly
meet In a straight line dovm the mid-
dle of the Insect's back.

ELYTRON: Singular of elytra.

EMARGINATE: With a notched margin.

Empldae 101, 102

Empoasca mall 40

Endomychldae 72, 74

Endomychus blguttatus 74

Engravers beetles 55, 74

Enoclerus nlgrlpes 63

EJ^TIRE: As applied to elytral striae,

running the full length of the elytra;

as applied to eyes, with an unbroken

margin.
ENTOMOLOGY: The science of Insect

study.
Epargyreus tltyrus 89
Ephemerlda 42
Eplcauta vlttata 70
EPn'lERA,-ERON: The chltinous plates

on the back of the sides of the

thorax.
EPIPLEURA: The inflexed portions of

the elytra. Immediately beneath the

edge; as generally used, the term Is

Incorrectly applied to the entire

bent under margin of the elytra.
Erlocampoldea llmaclna 108
Erotylldae 67, 73
Estlgmene acraea 95
Euparlus marmoreus 75
Eupsalls mlnuta 75
Euptloeta claudla 91
European corn borer 93
Eustrophlnus blcolor 69
EXCAVATED: 7/1 th a depression that Is

not the segment of a circle.

F

FA],!ILY: Group of similar Insects;
subdivision of an order.

FEI,1/\LE: Commonly designated by the
symbol? (Venus' Mirror)

FEli!0RA: Plural of femur.

FEIiOJR: The thigh; usually the stout-
est segment of the leg, articulated
to the body through trochanter and
coxa and bearing the tibia at its
distal end. (See Fig. 30).

Fiery hunter 38

FILIFORM: Thread-like, slender and
of equal diameter.

Firebrat 47

Fire colored beetles 70

Fire files 48, 62

Fish flies 87

Flshmoth 47

FLABELLATE: With long flat processes
folding like a fan.

FLANK: The sides of the thorax.

Flat bark beetles 67, 69, 70

Flat bugs 79, 81

Fleas 47

Flesh files 106

Flies 24, 37

Flower files 101

Folsomla elongata 48

Formic Idae 108

Fourfooted butterflies 90

Frit flies 103

Frog hoppers 85

FRONT: The anterior portion of the
head betiveen the base of the antennae
and below the ocelli.

Frontal lunule 102

Fruit files 103, 104

134

Fulgorldae 84

Fumigation 30

Fungus gnats 99

Fungus weevils 75

FUNICLE: The Joints between the
scape and club In geniculate anten-
nae. (See Fig. 29H)

Furcula (See Fig. 63a)

FUSCOUS: Dark brown.

Galgupha atra 77

Gall midges 98

Gasterophllus Intestlnalls 103

Gastrophilidae 102

GENICULATE: Elbowed. (See Fig. 29H)

GENTALIA: The external copulatory
organs

GENUS: An assemblage of species
agreeing In some one character or
series of characters. A more or
less arbltary grouping.

Geometridae 95

Geotrupes splendldus 59

Gerridae 49, 78

Gerrls remigis 79

Giant water bugs 81

GLA3ER0US: Smooth; free from all
vestiture,

Glolodes macleayana hageni 88

Glow worms 48, 62

Gossamer-winged butterflies 91

GRANULATE: Covered with small grains
or giving this appearance.

Grasshopper 23, 39, 48, 52

GREGARIUS: Living In societies or
communities; but not social.

Ground beetles 58

Grubs (See Fig. 5) 30

Gryllidae 53

Gryllus asslmllls 39

GULAR bUTURES: The line of divi-
sion between the gula, or throat
and genae (or cheeks). (See Figs.
80 and 81).

Gyrinldae 56, 58

Gryllotalpa hexadactyla 53

H

Haematoplnus suis 46

Hallctus virescens 114

Hallplldae 57, 59

Haliplus triopsis 57

HALTERES: Balancers.

Handsome fungus beetles 72, 74

Harrlsina amerlcana 93

Hawk moths 93

HEAD: The first of the three main

divisions of an insect's body;

Joined at its base to the thorax.

33
Keliothus obsoleta 96
Hellothrlps haemorrholdalis 42
Hempltera 39, 49, 76
Hem3rocampa leucostlgma 96
Heodes thoe 91
HERBIVOROUS: Feeding on plant

material.
Hesperidea 89

Hesperoleon abdominalls 89
Hessian fly 98

Hetaerina amerlcana 50

Heterocerldae 72

Heterocerus ventralls 72

Hexagenla llmbata 42

HIND ANGLES: As applied to the thorax,

those angles at the corner of the

back edge of the pronotum.
Hlppoboscldae 97
Hlppodamia convergens 74
Hister beetles 64
Hlsterldae 64
HOARY: Covered with a fine white

silvery pubescence.
Hog louse 62
Homaemus bljugls 76
Homoptera 40, 46, 48, 83
Honey bee 113
Hornet 42
Horn tails 106
Horse botflies 102
Horse flies 100
House fly 37
HUI'.I]RAL ANGLES: The outer anterior

angles of the elytra.
HTJI'.i;ral CARINA: An elevated ridge or

keel on the outer anterior angle of

elytra.
HULI:ruS: The shoulder or basal ex-
terior angle of elytra.
Hydnocera pallipennis 66
Hydrophllidae 60
Hydrous triangularis 61
Hylemxia brassicae 106
Hymenoptera 41, 45, 106
Hypera punctata 76
Hypoderma lineata 105
HYPOPLEURA: Sclerite Just above and

to front of hind coxa of Diptera 105

1

Ichneumonidae 109

Ichneumon wasps 109

ILIPRESSED: a surface with shallow

depressed areas or markings.
ILPRESSIONS: Shallow depressed areas

or markings.
Inflating specimens 31
INTERVAL: As applied to elytra; the

space between two rows of punctures

or striae.
Insect pins 23
Ischyrus quadrlpunctatus 72
Isopera blllneata 44
Isoptera 44, 45
Ithycerus novaboracensls 75

Jalysus spinosus 79
Jaques, H.E. 116
Jumping plant-lice 86

Katydids 39, 53
Keys 33

Killing bottles (See Fig. 6) 8, 15
Killing box 11

KNEE: The point of Junction of femur
and tibia.

Labia minor 38

135

LA3IU1': Lower lip; somewhat cc-ni lex

In structure. (See Fig. 32)
LABRULl: Upper lip. (See Fig. ox)
Lace bugs 77
Lacewlngs 44, 88
Lady beetles 73
Lagrlldae 68
Lagrlid bark beetles 68
LAL5:LLATE: As applied to antennae,

bearing flattened plates. (See Fig.

29G)
Lamelllcorn beetles 59
Lampyrldae 48, 62
Langurla trlfasclata 68
LARVA, -AE: The second stage In an

Insect's development; follows egg

stage. (See Fig. 5) 30
Laslus nlger amerlcana 45
Lepyronla quadrangular is 85
Leaf beetles 73
Leaf -cutter bees 41, 114
Leaf hoppers 23, 40, 85
LEAF MriSR: An Insect feeding be-
tween the epidermal layers of a

leaf.
Lepldoptera 40, 47
Lepidosaphes ulml 86
Leplsma saccharina 47
Leptinotarsa declmllneata 1
Lepyronla quadrangular is 85
Lestes uncatus 51
Lethocerus amerlcanus 82
Llbellula lactuosa 52
Libellula pulchella 43
Llbellulldae 52
Light traps (See Fig. 9)
Limnephilus rhombic us 41
Llpeurus heterographus 46
Llposcells dlvlnatorl'us Mull. 45
LIGULA: Central sclerlte or plate

of labium borne upon the mentum.

(See Fig. 31)
LOBE: Any prominent rounded process

on a margin.
LOCALITY LABEL: To show where and

when caught. 29
Locustidae 53
Locusts 53, 83
Long-headed flies 102
Longhorned woodborlng beetles 72
Long-legged flies 102
Lucanidae 60
Lucldota atra 62
Lucilia caesar 106
Luna moth 94
Lycaenldae 91
Lycidae 62
Lygaeidae 49, 80
Lygus pratensls 78
Lymantrlidae 96

MAGGOTS: The legless larvae of files.

Magic icada septendecim 83

MALE: Commonly designated by the

symbol cT (Mars' arrow)
Mallophaga 46
MANDIBLE: The lateral upper Jaw of

a biting insect.
Mantldae 54
Mantlspa interrupta 87

I.:antlspldae 87

MARGINAL: Of, belonging to, or near
the margin; edge.

MARGINED, -ATED: Bounded by an elevat-
ed attenuated margin; when the margin
is edged by a flat border.

Maxilla (See Fig. 31)

I.IAXILLARY PALPI: The first pair of
palpi; borne on the maxilla. (See
Fig. 31)

May beetles 59

May flies 42

Meadow-browns 89

Mealy bugs 86

Measuring worms 95

Mecoptera 43

Megalodacne fasclata 72

Megachlle mendica 41

Megachllldae 41, 114

Megarhyssa lunator 110

Melandryldae 69, 71

Melandryld bark beetles 69, 71

Melanolestes picipes 81

Melanoplus dlfferentalls 54

I.Ielittia satyrinlformls 92

Meloidae 70

Melophagus ovlnus 97

Melyridae 63

Membracldae 84

Li:;i'JTU]:1: A labial sclerlte bearing
the movable parts; attached to and
sometimes fused with the submentum;
In Coleoptera, what Is usually call-
ed the mentum Is the sub-mentum.
(See Fig. 32)

ISSOSTERNUlu-A: The under side of the
mesothorax. (See Fig. 31)

MESOTHORAX: The middle portion of the
thorax. Bears the middle pair of
legs and the first pair of wings.
(See Fig. 31)

Metamorphosis 5

Metallic iVoodborers 67

l^TASCUTELLUl^: Fold back of and
under scutellum of flies. (See Fig,
221)

METASTERNUI.:-A: The under side of the
metathorax. (See Fig. 31)

LUTATHORAX: The hind portion of the
thorax. Bears the hind legs and
second pair of wings; variably dis-
tinct; sometimes closely united with
the mesothorax and sometimes appear-
ing as a portion of the abdomen.
(See Fig. 31)

retopildae 106

Microcentrum rhorabl folium 53

Midges 99

Mllk^.veed butterflies 90

Mills, Harlow B. 48

MM: Millimeter. (There are approxi-
mately 25 mm. to an inch). (See page
116)

Mlnuten nadeln 27

Mlrldae 78

Mole cricket 53

Molting 4

Monarch butterflies 90

Monocrepldlus vespertlnus 67

Mordella oculata 71

Mordellldae 71

136

Mormon flies 42

Moths 24, 28, 40

Mosquito 97

Mounting Insects 8, 23

MOUTH-PARTS: A collective name In-
cluding labrum, mandibles, maxillae,
labium and appendages. (See Fig. 251)

Figure 251. ''outh-parts of Insects A, Femiptera;
3, Honey bee; C, Butterfly; D, fosquito; E, Grass-
hopper, a, antenna; b, mandible; c, sucking tube)
d, labial palp; e, maxillary palp; f, labium;
g, maxilla; i labrum.

Murgantla hlstrlonlca 77
Musca domestica 37
Muscldae 105, 106
Mutllldae 108
Myce tophi 11 dae 99
Klycetophlla punctata 99
Mylabrldae 73
I'lylabrls obtectus 73
Iv^rmeleonldae 88

N

Nab 1 dae 49, 78

Nab Is ferus 78

Nabls subcoleoptratus 49

Name label (See Fig. 24)

Names, scientific 1

Necrophorus 63

Negro bugs 76

Neldldae 79

Nepa 82

Nepldae 82

Nets 9

Neuroptera 44, 87

New York weevil 75

Natl dull dae 66

Noctuldae 96

NOCTURI'TAL: Species that fly or are

active by night.
NODUS: Errect scale on petiole of

ants. (See Fig. 54)

Notodontidae 94
Notonecta undulata 83
Notonectldae 83
Notoxus monodon 71
Nymphalldae 90
Nymphs (See Fig. 3) 90

OBSOLETE: Nearly or entirely

lost, Inconspicuous.
OBTUSE: Not sharply pointed.
OCCELUS-I: A simple eye, consisting

of a single convex or bead-like lens;

usually found on vertex: three is the

usual number. 33
Odonata 43, 50
Oecanthus niveus 53
Oestridae 105
Omoslta colon 66
omiVOROUS: Feeding on both plant and

animal matter.
Omophron tessellatum 57
Omophronidae 57
OPEN CELL: Wing cell extending to

margin of wing (See Fig. 248)
Oral vlbrissae 102
Orders 2

Orlus insidiosus 39
Orthoptera 48, 52
Oryzaephllus surinamensis 67
Osmia lignaria 114
Osphya varians 71
Ostomldae 66
Otitldae 104
Ovipositor 36
Owlet moths 96
Ox warble 105
Oxyptilus periscelldactylus 92

Packing Insects 21

Paederus llttorarius 61

Paleacrlta vernata 47

PALPI: A mouth feeler; sensory in
function.

•Palps (See Fig. 251)

Panchlora cubensis 54

Panorpa subfurcata 43

Papering butterflies 21

Papalionidae 89

Papillo polyxenes 89

Parcoblatta pennsylvanica 54

Passalidae 60

Passalus cornutus 60

PECTINATE: Comb-shaped, with even
branches like the teeth of a comb.
(See Fig. 29E)

Pelecinidae 110

Pelecinus polyturator 110

Peltodytes pedunculatus 59

Pentatomidae 77

Penthe obiquata 71

PETIOLE: Slender front part of ab-
domen connecting with thorax In
wasps, etc.

Phasmidae 54

Phorocera clarlpennis 105

Phylloxeridae 87

Phymata erosa fasclata 81

Phymatldae 80

PICEOUS: Pitchy black.

137

Pictured-vjlng files 104
PICTURED-WINGS: With dark marks or

designs.
Plerldae 91
Pier Is rapae 91
Pinching bug 60
Pinning block 25
Pinning boards 28, 29
Pinning Insects 23, 24
Pinning stand 25
Pins 23

PIT: Small indentation or depression.
Plant bugs 78
Plant hoppers 84
Plant louse 46, 87
Plathemls lydla 41
Platymetoplus acutus 85
Platysoma depressum 64
Platystomidae 75
Pleasing fungus beetles 67, 72
Plecoptera 43
Plum-moths 92
Points 26, 27
POllstes variatus 112
POST: Behind or after.
POSTERIOR: End of Insect opposite

head.
Powderpost beetles 65
Pra.ylng mantis 54
PREDACIOUS: Preying upon other

insects.
Primitive ^^/eevlls 75
PROCESS: A prolongation of the sur-
face, margin, or an appendage; any

prominent portion of the body not

otherwise definable.
PROLEG: The fleshy unjointed abdo-
minal legs of caterpillars and

certain sarfly larvae. 6, 40
Promachus vertebratus 100
Promlnents 94

PRONOTUM: The upper or dorsal sur-
face of the prothorax. (See Fig. 31)

Proslmullum pecaurum 98

PR03TERI:AL suture: The division line
betv/een the presternum and the
plates on the side of the thorax.

PROSTER.VJM: The fore-breast; the
sclerlte between the fore-legs. (See
Fig. 123)

PROSTRATE: Lay In:; dovm; flat v/lth
surface.

Protective coloration 6

Protoparce sexta 93

PROTHORAX: The forv;ard portion of
the thorax, bears the anterior legs
but no wings; '.vhen free, as In Cole-
optera. Is usually referred to as
the "thorax." (See Fig. 32)

Psammocharidae 111

Psammocharus america-ius 111

Pseudolucanus capreolus 60

Psylla pyrlcola 86

Pterophorldae 92

Ptlnldae 64

Ptinur brunneus 64

PUBESCENCE: Soft, fine, chort, erect
hair or down.

PULVILLUS,-I: Soft pad-like struc-
tures between tarsal claws.

PWJJTATE: Set with impressed points
or punctures.

PUK'CTURJD: Same as punctate.

Pupa (See Fig. 4)

PYGIDim': The last dorsal segment of
abdomen left exposed by the elytra
(beetles). (See Figs. 109 and 138)

Pyralidldae 93

?yrausta nub 11 alls 93

Pyrochroldae 70

QUADRATE: Square or nearly so,
QUIESCEIIT: Kot active.

RADIUS: Third vein of Insect wing.

Ranatra fuse a 82

Record card 115

RECin^EI.T: Lying down.

Reduvlidae 81

Reduvlus personatus 81

Reference books 7

REFLEXED: Angularly bent backward; a

surface turned in upon Itself.
Relaxing specimens 22, 30
Reticulltermes flavlpes 44, 45
Rhagoletis congulata 104
Rhamphomyia rava 101
Rhodites rosae 109
Rhynchophora 55
Roaches 39, 48
Rove beetles 61
Royal moths 94
Ruby spot 50

RUDII\I]NTARY: Undeveloped.
RLTOUS: Brick red.
RUGOSE: Wrinkled.

San Jose scale 49

Saturniidae 94

Satyr idae 90

Sawflies 107

Scale insects 48, 86

SCALES: Broad flattened hairs.

SCAPE: The long basal joint of a
geniculate antenna. (See Fig. 29H)

Scaphidildae 61

Scaphldium quadrlguttatum 61

Scarabaeidae 59

Sceliphron coementarium 112

Sciapus slpho 102

Scientific name 1

SCLERITE: Any piece of the body wall
bounded by rutures. 56

Scolopp sulcipes 84

Scolia biclncta 112

Scolildae lir.

Scolytldae 74

Scolytus rugulorus 74

Scorpion flies 43

Scutelleridae 76

SCUTELLUM: The triangular piece be-
tween the base of the elytra. Parti-
cularly large on some liemiptera.

Seed weevils 73

SEGMENT: A ring or division bounded
by incisions or sutures.

Separator 14

SE;\RATE: Saw-toothed.

Shield-backed bugs 76

Shlring fungus beetles 61

138

Slalidcie 87

Silk-worm moths 94

Silpha amerlcana 63

Sllphldae 63

Silverf Ish 47

Slmulildae 98

Slphonaptera 47

Slrlcldae 106

Skimmers 52

Skin beetles 60, 65

Skippers 89

Small fruit flies 103

Smith, Ov/en J. 69

Smoky moths 93

Snout beetles 55

Soldier beetles 62

Soldier flies 99

Sod web -worms 93

Spamopollus fulvus 101

SPECIES: An aggregation of Indivi-
duals alike in appearance and struc-
ture, mating freely and producing
young which mate freely and produce
fertile offspring. 1

Specold wasps 112

Sphecldae 112

Spiders 16

Spider wasps 111

Sphingldae 93

Sphinx moths 40, 93

Spiracles 36

Spittle insects 85

Spreading wings 28

Spring tails 48

SPUR: A short, stiff , generally blunt
process and usually not articulated
at its base.

Squamae (See Fig. 214)

Squash bugs 80

Squash-vina borer 92

Staphylinidae 61

Stag beetles 60

Stagomantis Carolina 54

Stem-sawflies 107

STERi-IU]»I,-A: The breast; middle por-
tion of the undersurface of thorax.
(See Fig. 32)

STIGI^^A: An opaque thickened spot
sometimes on front margin of wing.

Stilt bugs 79

Stings 16

Stink bug 77

Stomoxys calci trans 105

Stone flies 43

S toner, Dayton 77

Strataomyla melginii 100

Stratiomyidae 99

STRIA, -AE: A longitudinal depressed
line or furrow, frequently punctured,
extending from base to apex of
elytra.

STRIATE, -ED: Marked with parallel,
fine, impressed lines.

SUB-: As a prefix, means that the
main term is not entirely applicable,
but must be understood as modified
in some way.

SUB-CYLirn)RICAL: Not quite cylin-
drical.

SUB-DEPRESSED: Partially depressed.

SUB-ERECT: Nearly erect.

SUB-FAIILY: The next subordinate
classification unit below family.

SUB-IiUTvIERAL SPOTS: Spots located near
the humerus or shoulder.

Sucking lice 46

Sugaring for moths 13

Survey 115

SUTURE: A seam or impressed line in-
dicating the division of distinct
parts of the body wall; in beetles,
the line of Junction of elytra.

Swallow-tails 89

Syrphldae 101

Syrphus ribesll 101

Tabanidae 100

Tabanus lasiophthalmus 100

Tachlnidae 104

Tarsal segments 35

TARSUS-I: The foot; the Jointed ap-
pendage attached at the apex of the
tibia, bearing claws and pulvilll.
(See Fig. 30)

Telephanus velox 69

Tenebrionldae 68

Tenebroides mauritanlca 66

Tenthredinidae 107

Termites 44, 45

Tettlgonildae 52

THORAX: Second region of the insect
body; between head and abdomen; the
dorsal covering of the prothorax is
sometimes taken to mean thorax. 33,34

Thrips 42

Thysanoptera 42

Thysanura 47

TIBIA: Second large joint of leg;
articulates with the femur. (See
Fig. 30)

Tiger beetles 57

Tiger moths 95

Tinea pellionella 92

Tlneldae 92

Tingitidae 77

Tlpula angustipennls 97

Tipulldae 97

TOIvIENTOSE: Covered with fine hair,
so matted together that the particu-
lar hairs cannot be separated.

TOOTH: A short pointed process from
an appendage or margin.

TRACHEAL GILLS: Filmy respiratory
organs of aquatic larvae and nymphs.

Traps 12

Tray label 115

Treehoppers 23, 40, &1-

Tremex columba 107

Trichoptera 40

Trochanter 35

Trogldae 60

Tropaea luna 94

Trox monachus 60

True bugs 24, 39, 49

Trupaneidae 104

Tularaemia 100

Tussock moths 96

Typical snout beetles 76

Typocerus velutlna 73
U

Ulolodes macleayana hageni 88

139

Coital va^irx.

vSt*,

Fig. 252. Winj; of Fly
(Tabeuius) showing two methods of naming the cells and veins.

Variegated mud-loving beetles 72
VARIETY: A division of a species,
Velvet ants 46, 108
VEINS: Supporting structures In

wings,
Vespa maculata 42
Vlbrlssae (See Fig. 212)
Vespldae 111

w

Walking stick 39, 48, 54

Wasps 38, 41, 111

Water beetles 57, 58, 59, 60

Waterboatmen 82

Water scorpions 82

Water strlders 78

Weevils 55

'Wheat midge 98

l^/hlrllglg beetles 58

White ants 44, 45

White files 86

Wlckhajn, H.F. 39

Widow 52

Wings, see figures on this

page.
Wood-satyr 90
WORKER: Commonly designated by the

symbol "^ .

Zygaenldae 93
Zygoptera 50

Fig. 253. Wings of Ichneumonidae
showing distinguishing cells.

Fig. 254. Wings of Braconidae
sho"-i.np: distinguishing cell.

That's ^„^

TmaT;^1

140

■ w

a:

^

p-

^

^

^1-'