SASNA.P.S

Biology ,Habits & Diagnostic Features Of The Following Order : Neuroptera , Mecoptera ,Trichoptera

NEUROPTERA (SMALL TO RATHER LARGE SOFT BODIED INSECTS) This Order Includes A Varied ,Though Inter Related

Assemblage Of Holometabolous Carnivorous Insects More Commonly Known As Antlions, Lacewings, Snake Flies, Alderflies,and Dobsonflies.

There Are 2 Sub Divisions :- 1.Megaloptera (Alderflies&snakeflies)

2. Planipennia (Lacewings &Antlions)

This Order Is Characterised By The Nature Of Their Wings Which Are Membranous & Sub Equal ( Primitive Venation ).

Many Accessory Veins ,Costal Veinlets And Rs Generally Pectinately Branched, @ Rest They Are Held Over The Abdomen.

Neuroptera

Number of Species

Common names

Distinguishing characteristics

Other features

Typical habitats

Hexapod Orders

5000

Lacewings, antlions

Variable

-numerous crossveins in wing-larvae with incomplete gut

Neuro - nerve, ptera - wing

-most primitive endopterygote-predaceous larvae

The Wing-coupling Apparatus Is Of Jugo - Frenate Type,though Small ,Usually Reduced And With Distinct Bristles , A Frenulum .

Hindwings With Large Anal Fold

The Tarsi Have 5 Segments And Abdomen 10 Segments. Abdomen Without Cerci

Long Ovipositor In The Females,enabling Them To Insert The Eggs With In Slits In Bark.

Mouthparts Are Of Mandibulate, Biting Type, With More Strongly Developed Mandibles In The Males And Maxillary And Palps, 5 & 3 Segmented Usually.

Elongate ,Filliform ,Many Segmented Antennae

The Females Lay Their Eggs (200-250) On Leaves Or Stem Or Other Objects Near Water In Compact Masses

Larvae Carnivorous ,Of A Modified Campodeiform Type With Biting Or Suctorial Mouth Parts.

The Mouth Part Of Larvae Need Special Mention ,Larvae Are Highly Destructive To Injurious Insects Like Aphids,the Other Soft Bodied Insects

Seizing Them Using Long Armed Sickle Like Mandible

At The Side Of The Abdomen Larvae Bear 7 Pairs Of 5 Segmented Tracheal Gills.

Some Species A Median Terminal Filament Also Functioning As A Gill

There Are Also Silk Producing Organs ,The Free Ends Of Some Malpigian Tubules Becoming Connecterd With The Intestine An Dproducing Silk Like Substance Is Last Instar.

Pupae Exarate , Decticous :Wings With Complete Tracheation.

Internal Anatomy The Internal Anatomy Of The Order Has Been Very Inadequately Investigated .

There Are 2 Pairs Of Thoracic And 8 Pairs Of Abdominal Spiracles.

Ventral Nerve Cord Consists Of 3 Thoracic And Generally 7 Abdominal Ganglia .

The Digestive System Is Provided With A Median Dorsal Food Reservoir .

A Peritrophic Membrane Is Present .

Number Of Malpigian Tubule Is 8.

The Ovary Consist Of A Variable Number Of Usually Polytrophic Ovarioles

ORDER :MECOPTERA (SCORPION

FLIES).

Mecoptera

Number of Species

Common names

Distinguishing characteristics

Other features

Typical habitats

Hexapod Orders

600

Scorpionflies, hanging flies

Forests

-mouthparts on a snout

Mecos - long, ptera - wing

-swollen terminal segment with ‘stinger’

Terrestrial Insect,undergoing Transformations In The Soil

Carnivorous,with Elongate Beak Like Head .Frequently Shady Places And Are Often Met With In Herbage Or Rarely Under Stones

Distribution Mostly Sub Trophic & Temperate ,Some Of Them Are Cosmopolitan

This Small Order Comprises Of Less Than 400 Species Great Number Of Which Belongs To The Genera Panorpa & Bittacus.

Many Species Have The Terminal Segments Of The Abdomen Raised In The Manner Of Scorpion (Scorpion Flies)

The Bittacidae Are Very Slender Tipula Like Insect With Prehensile Tarsi

panorpidae

bittacidae

Distinguishing feature

The Hypognathous Head The Anterior Region Prololnged In To A Rostrum ,Which Is Formed By The Elongation Of Part Of Head Capsule Together With The Clypeus ,Labrum ,Maxillae.

Well Developed Compound Eye ,With 3 Ocelli

A Pair Of Filliform Antennae With 16-20 Segments In Bittacus & 40-50 In Panorpa

The Mouth Part Are Mandibulate ,The Mandibles Elongate ,Apically Toothed ,Maxillae Is Well Developed With All Parts Well Differentiated

The Lacinia & Galea Large & Hairy .Palp Is 5 Segmentated

Labium Has A Elongated Sub Mentum

Ligula Is Absent And Palpi 3 Segmented

Mouth part on a snout

The Prothorax Is Small ,Its Largest Region Being The Notum .

Meso And Meta Thorax Are Well Developed .

Legs Long Elongate Coxae Placed Close Together And Generally Adapted For Walking .5 Segmented And Paired Claws.

The Wings Are Membranous ,Almost Sub Equal And Held Horizontally In Response .In Many Species They Are Conspicuosly Spotted Or Banded.

The Venation Is Primitive ,Almost All The Main Veins And Their Branches And Cross Veins Are Present .

Anal Region Invariably Small And Reduced

The Abdomen Has 10 Segments But There Appear Tobe An 11 Segment In The Female

The Hind Margin Of The 9th Sternum Is Prolonged In To Deeply Cleft Process , & The 2 Arms Are Styliform.

The 9th Tergum Is Prolonged In To A Sub Quadrate Plate .

A Pair Of 2 Segmented Claspers Are Present In Between The Tergal And Sternal Process

A Sperm Pump Occur In Mecoptera

The 10th Segment Is Inconspicuous And A Pair Of A Short Cerci.

Internal anatomy The Alimentary Canal Is An Almost Straight Tube ,The Only Convolution Region Occur In The Hind Gut .

The Oesophagus Has 2 Dilations Serving As A Sort Of Pumbing Apparatus

Salivary Gland Are Tubular And The Malpighian Tubes 6 In Number

The Nervous System Consist Of The Usual Cephalic Centers ,3 Thoracic And 6-8 (Males),5-7 (Females),abdominal Ganglia

Respiratory System Is Well Developed There Are 2 Pairs Of Thoracic And 6 -8 Pairs Of Abdominal Spiracles .

The Reproductive System In The Male Consist Of A Pair Of Testes ,Each Composed Of 3-4 Follicles Arranged Side By Side In Longitudinal Axis .

Vasa Defferentia Is Highly Convoluted ,Forming A Kind Of Epididymis At The Posterior End Of The Testis

The 2 Vasa Deferentia Open Seperately Into A Large Median Vesicula Seminalis Which Also Receives A Pair Of Accessory Glands

Each Ovary Consist Of 7-19 Polytrophic Ovarioles ,The Number Varied Among Species.

Two Oviduct Unite To Form A Common Canal Which Open In To A Kind Of Genital Pouch

Latter It Also Receives The Opening Of The Duct That Leading From A Small Pyriform Spermatheca And That Of The Duct Of A Pair Of Colleterial Glands .

The Genital Pouch Communicates With The Exterior On The 9th Abdominal Segment

Life history and metamorphosis The Eggs Of Several Species Have Been Obtained By Confining The Adults Vessels Containing Damp Soil.

The First Stage Larva Is Yellowish Grey With The Head Testaceous ,It Is Eruciform Resemblance To Catterpillar.

The Head Is Rather Large With Prominent 3 Segmented Antennae

Mandibles Are Sharply Toothed ,Maxillae Is Divided Corresponding Galea And Lacinia.

Maxillary Palpi 3 Segmented, Thorax Bear 3pairs Of Legs With 4 Segments

Abdomen 10 Segmented,8 Somites Carry A Pair Of Abdominal Feet

the first 9 abdominal shields carry a pair of annulated processes

10th segment bear a single median process of retractile lobed vesicle on ventral side.

Nine pairs of spiracle are present .

After the first ecdysis the annulated process is dissapear except those of the last three segment .

Pupation takesplace in an earthern cavity below ground.the pupa is of exarate type and capable of movement when disturbed

When about to pupate,constructs a vertical tube leading near to the surface

Eggs dropped on ground (Panorpidae, Bittacidae) or laid in moss (Boreidae)

Hatch & 4 larvae instars

4th instar larva – digs earthen cell and becomes quiescent (few weeks to several months)

Generalized Mecopteran Life Cycle

pupaemating

Mating Behaviour in Scorpionflies

Male

Captures a prey item and offers it as a nuptial gift

Secretes salivary mass onto leaves

Forced copulation

Involve pheromones

ORDER:TRICHOPTERA(CADDIS FLIES)

The Trichoptera Include The Case Worms Or Caddis Flies.Which Are Moth Like ,Mostly Nocturnal Insects With Weak Powers Of Flight (Their Flight Is Short And Uncetain Duration) Found In The Vicinity Of Water .

The Case Bearing Larvae And The Pupae Are Aquatic

There Are Obscurely Coloured ,Generally Some Shade Brown With Darker Markings

They Rest On Herbage, Trees, Or Stones.

Head Is Usually Small With Widely Seperated Compound Eyes And 3 Ocelli

Antennae Are Multi-articulate And Setaceous ,Held In Front Of The Head When @ Rest

Cases of caddis flies....

Mouth Part Are Of The Biting Or Chewing Type ,Mandibles Vestigial Or Absent ,Maxillae Single Lobed With Elongate Palpi, Labium Better Developed Mentum, Short Prementum, Small Median Glossa Or Hypopharyngeal Haustellum Well Developed.

Thorax : Prothorax Is Shortest And Mesothorax Is Largest

The Legs Long & Slender Bear A Strong Coxae .And Both Meso & Meta Thoracic Coxae Bear A Meron

The Tibiae Is Well Developed Spur And Spines ,Tarsi Bear Claws And The Pulvili (Empodium)

The Wings Are Well Developed ,Hind Wing Generally Larger .Longitudinal Veins Are Distinct And The Cross Veins Are Reduced In Number

A Semi Transparent Whitish Spot Called Thyridium Is A Characteristics Of The Wing.

The Abdomen Is 10 Segmentated The Terminal Segment In The Female Some Times Being Retractile And Tubular ,Serving As A Ovipositor

Internal anatomy The Alimentary Canal Is Short With Paired Tubular Salivary Glands And 6 Malpighian Tubules.

A Crop Is Distinct ,Leading In To A Tubular ,Slightly Coiled Intestine And A Short Hind Intestine Bearing An Expanded Rectal Chamber With 6 – 30 Rectal Papillae .

Nervous System ,The Ventral Nerve Cord Bears 3 Thoracic And 6 Abdominal Ganglia

Numerous Polytrophic Ovarioles Present In The Ovaries ,With A Distinct Bursa Copulatrix In The 8th Segment

The Testes Are Paired ,Ovoid Structures And Accessory Glands Open In To Vasa Deferentia,

Life History And Metamorphosis The Larvae Is Abound In Lakes & Streams And The Case Making Habit Is Developed To A Large Degree They Are Called Case Worms Or Caddis Flies

The Cases Of Varied Size & Shapes ,Straight To Coiled And With Foreign Material Utilised In Their Construction Small Stones Small Sticks And Twigs ,Bits Of Leaves, sand Grains)

The Egg Lying Capacity Of The Female Ranges From 300-1000 Eggs And They Laid On Stones Or Other Submerged Objects

The Larvae Are Predatory ,Feeding On Small Insects Or Other Organisms

Some Of The Larvae Weave A Fine Net Or Shelter To Trap Small Organisms

The Larvae Possess Sclerotised Head More Strongly Developed Mouth Parts ,With Short Well Developed Legs Adapted For Clinging, Crawling & Swimming ( Help From Coming Out Of The Cases)

Paired Prolegs Or Caudal Hook Are Present In The Abdomen To Help In Or Fixing The Body Case

Filamentous Tracheal Gills Are Pres Thent , Rarely Rectal Blood Gills Are Present

The 1st Instar Gills Are Absent

Many Cases Bearing Larvae Possess Longitudinal Cuticular Fold On The Either Side Of The Abdomen,set With Fine Hairs Known As The Lateral Line

Bibron’s Gland Is Present In Larvae For The Excretion .(It Is A Accessory Gland ).

Silk Gland Are Well Developed And Before Pupation The Larva Spin A Cocoon , Which Is Ovoid And Made Of Silk,sand ,Debris, And Attached To Stones And Other Objects

The Pupae Develop In The Cocoon ,Posses Strong Mandible For Cut Their Way Out To Transform In To An Adult

CAMPODEOID TYPE ERUCIFORM TYPE 1. Compressed body not inclined at an angle

1. Head inclined at a distinct angle .

2. Not making cases. 2.Portable cases.

3.With out a abdominal papillae 3.Presence of tracheal gills

4.Rarely with rectal gills .

2 type of trichopterous larva

Grazers/scrapers-feed on biofilm of diatoms and algae comprising the periphyton. Includes some mayflies (e.g., Stenonema) and some caddisflies.Shredders-feed directly on CPOM, converting it to FPOM. Includes some stoneflies, caddisflies, and cranefly larvae.Collectors

Filtering collectors-may build a net which they either pick clean or consume, contents and all. Includes many caddisflies (e.g. Brachycentrus and Hydropsyche.)Gathering collectors-collect FPOM from around and under rocks as well as from interstitial spaces. Includes, among others, mayflies such as Baetis and Ephemerella.

Predators-examples include most beetle larvae and most stonefly larvae.

Ecological roles

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