Leaf Litter Insect Identification

Most pictures taken from Hope College Leaf Litter Arthropod Key online at: http://www.hope.edu/academic/biology/leaflitterarthropods/

Basic Insect Diagrams

Typical Insect: Typical Beetle:

Beetle Antennae Types (Capitate aka clubbed):

Phylum: Nematoda
Nematode worms - common Very long, thin, elongate body Unsegmented Pointed ends (except in hookworms see bottom picture which are too small to be seen with our scopes) Similar to some thin, shortlegged centipedes, but lack legs. Similar to many vermiform (worm-like) larval stages but usually thinner, more elongate, and distinguished by pointed ends.

Phylum: Onychophora
Velvet worms - uncommon

Long, thin, soft (velvety), unsegmented body Short, stocky/stubby legs Fairly long, soft antennae Theyre not uncommon in the leaf litter, but you dont capture them in either pitfall traps or Berlese samples very often.

Phylum: Mollusca Class: Gastropoda

Snails relatively common or Slugs (uncommon)

Snails are easily recognized by their hard shells. Fairly common in leaf-litter samples Ive never encountered slugs in either pitfall or Berlese samples, but they occur here

Phylum Arthropoda
From here on, all organisms are in the phylum Arthropoda. Characteristics of the Arthropoda: 1) Body segmented, w/ segments usually groupd in 2-3 rather distinct regions. 2) Paired, segmented appendages (between 3-400+ pairs) 3) Bilateral symmetry (in most cases) 4) Chitinous exoskeleton, which is periodically shed and renewed as he animal grows. 5) Body has more than two cell layers, tissues and organs. 6) Body cavity a true coelom. 7) Most possesses a through straight gut with an anus (in most cases). 8) Nervous system includes a brain and ganglia. 9) Possesses a respiratory system in the form of tracheae and spiracles (in most cases). 10) Possesses a open or lacunnar circulatory system with a simple heart, one or more arteries, and no veins, (in most cases). 11) Reproduction normally sexual and gonochoristic, but can be parthenogenetic. 12) Feed on everything. 13) Found everywhere.

Class: Arachnida Order: Araneae

Spiders - common

Spiders have two distinct body segments, eight legs, no chewing mouth parts, no wings, and no pincer-like front legs. Spiders will not be classified to family or to the groups used in visual arthropod surveys, as those groups (wolf spiders, salticids, orb weavers) are uncommon in the leaf litter

Class: Arachnida Order: Opiliones

Harvestmen, Daddy Long-Legs less common

Similar to spiders but look like they have one body section. Larger and longer legs than mites.

Class: Arachnida Order: Acari

Mites, Ticks very common

Eight fairly short legs Body not visibly segmented into thorax and abdomen; looks oval We classify two suborders of Acari: Oribatida and Ixodida (ticks). All others are classified simply as Acari

Class: Arachnida Order: Acari

Suborder Ixodida Ticks
Larger than most other Acari Flattened, oval bodies

Suborder Oribatida
Hard-bodied covered with wellsclerotized plates Often appear very round (both horizontally and vertically). Play important role in litter decomposition and soil fertility

Class: Arachnida Order: Pseudoscorpiones

Pseudoscorpions - common

Eight legs, plus two modified front legs with large pincers Segmented body Resemble scorpions due to the pincers, but lack the tail (and stinger), and have an oval, flattened body

Class: Malacostraca Order: Isopoda

Isopods (aka pillbugs, sowbugs, roly-polies) - common

Oval, dorsoventrally flattened body with platelike segments Fourteen legs Can roll into a ball

Class: Diplopoda
Millipedes - common

Millipedes have long, thin multisegmented bodies with two pairs of legs per segment. Millipedes are not classified to either order or family.

Class: Chilopoda
Centipedes fairly common

Centipedes have long, thin multisegmented bodies with one pair of legs per segment. Some look long and wormlike (like nematodes), but nematodes lack legs. Centipedes are not classified to either order or family.

Class: Pauropoda
Pauropods uncommon Elongate, slender body with 11-12 segments and 9 pairs of legs Antennae with three apical branches Small head, no eyes Similar to Symphyla, Collembola, and Psocoptera, but distinguished by having 11-12 body segments, 9 pairs of legs, and unsegmented and branched antennae

Class: Symphyla
Symphylans rare Elongate, slender body with 15-22 segments and 10-12 pairs of legs Antennae slender with many segments Well-developed, distinct head, no eyes Similar to Collembola, and Psocoptera, but distinguished by having 15-22 body segments, 10-12 pairs of legs, and many-segmented antennae

Class: Hexapoda
Insects
From here on, all insects are in the Class Hexapoda. Characteristics of the Hexapoda: 1) Body with three distinct regions: head, thorax, and abdomen. 2) One pair of antennae (rarely no antennae). 3) One pair of mandibles. 4) One pair of maxillae. 5) Three pairs of legs, one on each thoracic segment (though a few insects are legless, and some larvae have additional leglike appendages). 6) No locomotor appendages on the abdomen of the adult (except in some primitive insects). 7) Legs composed of 6 segments. 8) Abdomen consisting of 11 segments.

Order: Protura
Proturans - rare

Tiny, whitish Conical head lacking both eyes and antennae Distinguished from similar Collembola & Diplura by lack of antennae

Order: Collembola
Springtails extremely common
Small, opaque to whitish, occasionally with bluishtinted eyes Variable in shape and size All have antennae, usually many-segmented and variable in length Eyes present Many have tail, some are two-pronged Often look round-headed; body often arched Distinguished from Protura and Diplura by presence of eyes, antennae with larger segments, springtail (when present)

Order: Diplura
Diplurans fairly common Small, opaque to whitish Have fairly long antennae, usually with many small segments Eyes absent Have two caudal filaments (tails) Distinguished from Protura by presence of antennae; from Collembola by absence of eyes Also somewhat similar to bristletails and silverfish (Thysanura and Microcoryphia), but have only 2 (vs. 3) pronged tails

Order: Microcoryphia
Jumping bristletails rare

Elongated, arched body covered in scales Long antennae Three-pronged tail, with middle segment longest Distinguished from silverfish (Thysanura) by more cylindrical body, arched body, large eyes

Order: Thysanura
Silverfish - uncommon

Elongated, flattened body covered in scales Long antennae Three-pronged tail, with middle segment longest Distinguished from jumping bristletails (Microcoryphia) by flattened body, small eyes

Order: Odonata
Dragonflies, Damselflies - uncommon

In the pitfall traps youll likely only find the nymphs Odonata nymphs typically have stocky bodies, fairly big heads, and three caudal filaments (=tails) Distinguished from bristletails and silverfish from stockier, unflattened body; lack of scales; three tail filaments are approximately the same length

Order: Orthoptera
Crickets, grasshoppers, katydids - Common

Crickets are very common in pitfall traps; grasshoppers and katydids are rarely encountered Two pairs of wings (sometimes reduced) Forewings narrower than the hind wings and hardened at the base. Mandibulate mouthparts, large compound eyes, Elongated, and sometimes thickened (in Gryllidae) hind legs, for jumping

Order: Orthoptera Family: Acrididae

Grasshoppers - uncommon

Short antennae (nearly always shorter than the body). The dorsal line of the body is usually parallel or flat/level (vs. arched in many Tettigonidae and Gryllidae)

Order: Orthoptera Family: Tettigoniidae

Long-horned grasshoppers / katydids - rare Very long antennae Often (but not always) have a curved, arched back Distinguished from grasshoppers by the length of their antennae, which may exceed their own body length, while grasshoppers' antennae are always relatively short. Distinguished from crickets by having rear legs without greatly thickened/enlarged femurs or spines

Order: Orthoptera Family: Gryllidae

Crickets very common

Thickened/enlarged rear femurs with spines. Antennae variable can be very long (like Tettigonidae) Often chunky-looking Sometimes have somewhat flattened bodies.

Order: Phasmatodea
Walking sticks - rare Robust body, legs half as long as the body, no longer than the body Distinguished from threadlegged bugs (Hemiptera:Reduviidae) and stilt bugs (Hemiptera:Berytidae) by thick body and legs, and segmented body. Distinguished from preying mantids (Mantodea) by lack of enlarged, praying front arms.

Order: Dermaptera
Earwigs uncommon

Pinchers are the best identifying characteristic Elongated, flattened body

Order: Isoptera
Termites - uncommon

Small, soft-bodied insects, usually pale or brown. Look meal-worm like. Live in tunnels of dirt often found on trees, branches, or vines and lianas.

Order: Blattodea
Cockroaches fairly common

Flattened, oval bodies with wings usually overlapping over the body. Often have spines on legs.

Order: Hemiptera
True bugs

Summary
Paired wings, folded over body Upper part of wings usually hardened; lower portion membranous Wings are typically parallel or overlapping. True bugs, cicadas, leafhoppers, planthoppers, aphids, whiteflies Hemiptera are fairly uncommon in leaf-litter samples; Cicadidae, Cicadellidae, Fulgoroidae, and Pentatomidae are the most likely families to be found.

Order: Hemiptera Family: Miridae

Plant and leaf bugs - uncommon
Flattened, often colorful, elongated. They have long legs and stand up erect above the leaf. Distinguished from assassin bugs (Hemiptera:Reduviidae) by narrow, elongated shape. Distinguished from cockroaches (Blattodea) by more cylindrical bodies; lack of spines on legs. Small terrestrial insects, usually ovalshaped and elongate, soft-bodied, less than 12mm in length.

Order: Hemiptera Family: Reduviidae

Elongate body. Front femurs generally thickened. Elytra hardened just at base; the majority of the wings are membranous. Distinguished from Miridae by more angular shape with broad shoulders), and just generally more robust appearance. Also sometimes not as colorful as Miridae Elongated head with a distinct narrow neck, long legs and a prominent segmented beak The tip of the proboscis fits into a groove in the prosternum to make a noise

Assassin bugs, ambush bugs, thread-legged bugs - uncommon

Thread- Legged Bug (right). Note thin body, very thin & long legs (usually longer than body), head held upright at angle

Order: Hemiptera Family: Berytidae

Stilt bugs - uncommon
The body is more robust than the thread-legged bug (Hemiptera:Reduviidae), with legs no longer than the body. Smaller and thinner-bodied than walking sticks (Phasmatodea). Usually has visible wings folded over the body, unlike either group. Slender, usually brownish 59mm. Legs and antennae long and slender Antennae 4 segmented Found on vegetation

Order: Hemiptera Family: Scutelleridae

Shield-backed bugs - uncommon Bodies are broad and oval, ~ as wide as long. Have long, fully-hardened elytra that completely cover abdomen More oval than stink bugs (Hemiptera:Pentatomidae). Elytra more hardened and body more oval than either Miridae or Reduviidae. Often brightly-colored; 8-10mm

Order: Hemiptera Family: Pentatomidae

Stink bugs - relatively uncommon More angular and flattened than shield bugs (Scutelleridae), Reduviidae, or Miridae. Elytra are hardened at the base, but the last ~1/4 of the wings are membranous (greater extent of hardened elytra than Miridae or Reduviidae). Shield-shaped body, triangular scutellum is usually as long as the corium of the forewing

Order: Hemiptera Family: Cicadidae

Cicadas relatively uncommon

Cicadas have large, cylindrical bodies with large eyes set widely apart on the head. Have membranous wings which are usually transparent and distinctly-veined. Very short antennae Usually 2-5 cm (but as long as 15 cm)

Order: Hemiptera Family: Membracidae

Tree-hoppers - uncommon

Similar to Cicadellidae and Fulgoroidae. Best distinguished by the laterally flattened shape with a projecting, often pointy pronotum (sometimes looks like a shark fin) Small jumping insects, 12mm or less Large pronotum usually prolonged backward over abdomen

Order: Hemiptera Family: Cicadellidae

Leafhoppers - relatively uncommon
Laterally flattened, wings held angled over body like a tent. Similar to Membracidae and (especially) Fulgoroidae. Best distinguished from Fulgoroidae by the triangular head shape (as viewed from above the nose follows the shape of lines drawn tangential to the eyes. See diagram below). Distinguished from Membracidae by lack of erect, pointy pronotum (may have pointy snout/proboscis). Also have antennae which attach in front of or above the eyes (versus below the eyes in Fulgoroidae) Hind tibia have spines (hard to see) Minute, plant-feeding insects, with piercing/sucking mouthparts Most less than 10mm and many are brightly colored

nose Note triangular head shape (right)

eye

eye

Order: Hemiptera Superfamily: Fulgoroidae

Plant-hoppers - relatively uncommon
Elongate and flattened with wings held vertically or dorsal/ventrally flattened with overlapping wings Similar to Membracidae and (especially) Cicadellidae. Best distinguished from Cicadellidae by the squared-off head shape (as viewed from above the snout is flattened relative to the angle of the eyes. See diagram below). Distinguished from Membracidae by lack of erect, pointy pronotum (may have pointy snout/proboscis) Also have antennae which attach below the eyes (versus in front of or above the eyes in Cicadellidae) Minute, plant-feeding insects, with piercing/sucking mouthparts Most less than 10mm and many are brightly colored Primary food of ruddy-tailed flycatcher!

nose

eye

eye

Order: Thysanoptera
Thrips relatively common

Tiny (usually 1-3mm) and very slender insects with fringed wings (not always visible) Usually brown to blackish, occasionally pale.

Order: Psocoptera
Psocids, plant lice relatively common

Very small (<6mm) Prominent head with bulging, usually bluetinted or dark eyes Long slender antennae Relatively narrow necklike prothorax When present, the wings are membranous (two pairs) and usually held tent-like over the abdomen

Order: Coleoptera
Beetles- very common

Summmary
Coleoptera have four wings, with the outer two (known as elytra) typically hardened and the inner two membranous. In most families the elytra cover most or all of the body, but in some families (e.g., Staphylinidae) parts of the body and/or inner wings exposed.
What to look for when determining family: Shape (round, oval, or elongate; flattened vs. cylindrical body) Size (width) of pronotum relative to body and head Presence/absence of beaked snout Whether body and/or elytra are hardened vs. relatively soft Whether head is visible or hidden beneath pronotum Color
NOTE: Im including here mostly those families which Ive actually encountered in pitfall or Berlese samples, and have removed many slides for foliage-dwelling beetles which are commonly found in visual arthropod surveys. But this list isnt complete refer to the other insect Powerpoint and the Study of Insects book whenever you encounter something not in this slideshow.

Order: Coleoptera Family: Anthribidae

Fungus Weevils - uncommon

Elongate-oval with short, broad beak and antennae not elbowed Some have slender antennae which may be longer than the body, sim. to Cerambycidae Elytra always cover entire abdomen Small to large (0.530mm, usu. <10mm)

Order: Coleoptera Family: Archeocrypticidae

Cryptic Fungus Beetles - uncommon

Very similar to Tenebrionidae Differs in having lateral posterior extensions of the prosternal process that partially closes the procoxal cavities (where legs insert to body - see diagram to right, and on p. 374 of Study of Insects)

Order: Coleoptera Family: Brentidae

Long beaked snout rare

Long beaked snout extending mostly forward (at most slightly down, vs. Curculionidae which has distinctly downward-curving beak) Also known as straight-snouted weevils.

Order: Coleoptera Family: Carabidae

Ground & tiger beetles common Often black and shiny or metallic; occasionally colorful Antennae filiform (threadlike), inserted between mandibles and eyes. Head at eyes is nearly always narrower than pronotum, which in turn is narrower than the body. Often found on the ground, though occasionally on plants. Most similar to Scarabaeidae (which have clubbed antennae) and Tenebrionidae (which have a pronotum which is nearly as wide as the body).

Order: Coleoptera Family: Cerambycidae

Long-horned beetles rare

Best distinguished from any other beetle by the extremely long, filiform (threadlike) antennae, which are often as long as or longer than the beetle's body (no other beetle family has antennae longer than ~1/2 of the body length) Distinguished from Anthribidae with long antennae by lack of a beak

Order: Coleoptera Family: Ceratocanthidae

Pill scarab beetles uncommon Small (5-6mm), round, and blackish Best distinguished by the middle and hind tibiae, which are greatly dilated (flattened) with rows of spines along entire length Often draw in legs and roll into a ball (like a pillbug) sometimes seen in this shape in pitfall or Berlese samples Distinguished from Leiodidae, Microsporidae, and Phalacridae by larger size, heavily dilated tibiae

Order: Coleoptera Family: Chrysomelidae

Leaf beetles rare in leaf litter samples
Body is elongate, to very slightly oval (not as much as either Coccinellidae or Erotylidae) Often colorful, with filiform antennae (shorter than the body) Best distinguished from other colorful beetles (e.g., Coccinellidae and Erotylidae) by elongate shape, a pronotum which is narrower and distinct from the body, and a protruding head. Distinguished from Cerambycidae by shorter antennae. Distinguished from soft-bodied beetles (Cantharidae, Lampyridae, Meloidae, Oedemeridae) by hardened body and elytra.

Order: Coleoptera Family: Coccinellidae

Lady bugs uncommon in leaf litter samples
Body is typically very oval Pronotum is nearly as wide as the body and often appears fused directly to the body Colorful, often with dot or stripe patterns, with short antennae Most similar to Erotylidae, which has similar color and pattern and a similar fused pronotum, but Coccinellidae is more oval Distinguished from Chrysomelidae by oval shape, pronotum nearly as wide as the body and appearing fused to the body Distinguished from soft-bodied beetles (Cantharidae, Lampyridae, Meloidae, Oedemeridae) by hardened body and elytra.

Order: Coleoptera Family: Curculionidae

Weevils one of the most common families we encounter
Curculionidae are distinguished from all other beetles by having distinct beaks which curve downwards from the head Brentidae also have beaks, but they extend forwards from the head in a relatively straight line Also have geniculate (bent) antennae with small clubs; beyond that curculionids have considerable diversity of coloration, shape, and size, with adult lengths ranging from 1 mm to 40 mm. Bark beetles (subfamily Scolytinae) are INCREDIBLY common in pitfall traps (theyre attracted to ethanol). Enter Scolytinae in the Notes field for these beetles. See next slide

Order: Coleoptera Family: Curculionidae Subfamily: Scolytinae

VERY common

Bark beetles subfamily Scolytinae are abundant in virtually every pitfall sample Very blocky to me they look like little teddy bears Have short, bent, clubbed antennae and short, stout beaks, and are light to dark brown in color; usually 2-3mm long

Order: Coleoptera Family: Erotylidae

Pleasing Fungus Beetles uncommon
Usually very similar to lady bugs (Coccinellidae) in color, pattern, and having a pronotum which is nearly as wide as the body and appears fused to the body, but the body is more elongate vs. oval. Distinguished from Chrysomelidae by somewhat more rounded shape, pronotum nearly as wide as the body and appearing fused to the body Distinguished from soft-bodied beetles (Cantharidae, Lampyridae, Meloidae, Oedemeridae) by hardened body and elytra. Important structural characters include their clubbed antenna, Body shape usually is elongateoval or egg-shaped.

Order: Coleoptera Family: Histeridae

Clown or hister beetles uncommon
Oval body, usually shiny black, red or bluish. Elytra are slightly shorter than the body, exposing one or two abdominal segments (similar to Staphylinidae, which are more elongate and have even shorter elytra). Some have very flattened bodies Legs are very short, sometimes are tucked under body and not visible Looks leathery Distinguished from the similarlooking Scarabaeidae by the short elytra

Order: Coleoptera Family: Leiodidae

Round Fungus Beetles uncommon Oval to round in shape Small (1.5-6.5mm), convex, shiny, brown to black beetles with capitate (slightly clubbed) antennae Many species roll into a ball when disturbed (like pillbugs or Ceratocanthidae) Distinguished from Ceratocanthidae and Microsporidae by normal (not flattened and spiny) middle and hind legs; from Phalacridae by capitate, vs. distinctly clubbed, antennae

Order: Coleoptera Family: Lucanidae

Stag Beetles uncommon

Often called pinchingbugs because of large mandibles of the males Mandibles half as long as the body in some species Similar to Scarabaeidae, but terminal antennomeres not held as tightly together

Order: Coleoptera Family: Microsporidae

Minute Bog Beetles uncommon

Tiny (<1mm), oval, convex, shining, blackish body Have large, prominent head and capitate (clubbed) antennae Distinguished from Leiodidae and Phalacridae by smaller size, more distinctly capitate (slighty clubbed) antennae, dilated (flattened) tibiae

Order: Coleoptera Family: Passalidae

Bess beetle, patent leather beetle - uncommon
Bright black with a shiny patent leather-look Elongate body with parallel sides C-shaped antennae with enlarged end Prothorax and body same width, but separated by narrow waist. Distinguished from Scarabeidae by narrow waist, lack of distinctly clubbed antennae Distinguished from Tenebrionidae by narrow waist, C-shaped antennae with enlarged end Distinguished from Cerambycidae by short antennae Distinguished from Chrysomelidae by narrow waist, and pronotum and body of similar width

Order: Coleoptera Family: Phalacridae

Shining Flower Beetles - uncommon Small (1-3mm), oval-round, shining, convex beetles Clubbed antennae Usually brownish to black Distinguished from Microsporidae by larger size and unflattened tibiae; from Ceratocanthidae by unflattened tibiae; from Leiodidae by more distinctly clubbed antennae and lack of ability to roll into a ball

Order: Coleoptera Family: Ptiliidae

Feather-winged Beetles, Horseshoe Crab Beetles relatively common Small (0.5-3mm), oval body Elytra short, exposing several abdominal segments Hind wings have fringe of hairs which often extend out beyond the elytra Antennae have whorls of long hair Horseshoe Crab beetles look very much like their namesake Distinguished from Staphylinidae, which also have short elytra, by fringed wings, whorls of hairs on narrow antennae

Order: Coleoptera Family: Scarabaeidae

Scarab beetles, dung beetles, horned beetles, golden beetles uncommon in leaf litter samples Oval but somewhat elongate body; pronotum nearly as wide as body Clubbed antennae Often jewel colored or metallic Large, often has horns (e.g., rhinoceros beetle) or other protuberances More common on the ground or wood than on plants Distinguished from Carabidae and Tenebrionidae by clubbed antennae

Order: Coleoptera Family: Silphidae

Carrion Beetles uncommon

Relatively large (335mm) with soft and somewhat flattened bodies and clubbed antennae Most common species are black with yellow or orange on the pronotum

Order: Coleoptera Family: Staphylinidae

Rove beetles very common
Distinguished from all other beetle families by having very short elytra which expose much of the abdomen (usually >2 segments) Histeridae and Nitulidae also have shortened elytra which expose 1-2 abdominal segments, but Staphylinidae have much shorter elytra, which are usually not much longer than their combined width Slender, elongate body typical though some rove beetles can be ovoid in shape. Colors range from yellow to reddish-brown to brown to black. Antennae typically filiform, with moderate clubbing in some genera. Some types of rove beetles superficially resemble earwigs (Dermaptera), but lack pincers. Often raise tip of abdomen when running, like a scorpion

Order: Coleoptera Family: Tenebrionidae

Darkling beetles very common

Black or brown, with filiform antennae Pronotum is nearly as wide as elytra Usually on forest floor (common in leaf litter) Many produce odorous chemicals Distinguished from Carabidae by having a pronotum which is nearly as wide as the elytra; from Scarabaeidae by filiform antennae

Order: Coleoptera Family: Trogossitidae

Bark-gnawing Beetles relatively common

Elongate, medium to large (2.6-20mm); most brown to black, but some are bluish or greenish Distinguished by narrow waist, pronotum separated widely from the base of the elytra

Order: Coleoptera Family: Zopheridae

Ironclad Beetles uncommon

Fairly large, with extremely hard shell, which is often bumpy Head much narrower than the pronotum Short, stout antennae Open procoxal cavity (where legs insert to body - see diagram to right, and on p. 374 of Study of Insects)

Order: Neuroptera Families: Ascalaphidae and Myrmeleontidae

Owlfly and Antlion larvae relatively uncommon Larvae of these two families are found occasionally in Berlese samples, rarely in pitfall traps Very distinctive nothing looks like them Ascalaphidae has long protrusions around the edge of the body; Myrmeleontidae only has hairs protruding from the edge of the body Other Neuroptera, e.g., dobsonflies and lacewings, also occur here but are rarely found in litter samples
Myrmeleontidae Ascalaphidae

Order: Hymenoptera Families: Formicidae (ants) or <blank>

Ants, sawflies, wasps, bees

Winged forms distinguished from Diptera by presence of two pairs of wings; narrow waist; and distinct separation between thorax and abdomen. We only classify ants (family: Formicidae) to family level all other Hymenoptera are not identified to family. Family: Formicidae (ants) =>

Order: Lepidoptera
Moths, butterflies Caterpillars are relatively common, pupae uncommon, eggs/adults rare

We classify Lepidoptera by life stage: egg, caterpillar, pupae, or adult.

Order: Mecoptera
Scorpionflies, Hangingflies - uncommon

Mid-sized (9-25mm), slender-bodied insects with long beak below head Four long, narrow wings with dense venation End of abdomen often with curved, bulbous appendage in males, which looks like scorpions stinger

Order: Diptera
Flies - common One pair of wings Thorax and abdomen are usually fused and approximately the same width Also have a pair of halteres, derived from the hind wings, on the metathorax (often hard to see). Most similar to Hymenoptera, but can be distinguished by the presence of only two wings, and the absence of a narrow waist separating the thorax and abdomen.

Insect Larvae
Orders: All (enter as Larvae) Common
Insect larvae are incredibly variable can look like caterpillars, maggots, worms, or grubs With a few rare exceptions (e.g., Neuroptera larvae) I dont attempt to identify order or family of larvae just record as larvae In the family column, enter the type or form of the larvae: vermiform (maggotor worm-like), scarabeiform (grub-like), elateriform (long and thin), campodeiform (grublike with bristletails), or eruciform (caterpillarlike) see diagrams on p. 47 in Study of Insects Be careful to distinguish nematodes, millipedes, and other adult insects which may appear superficially larvaelike

A: Campodeiform; B: Scarabeiform; C: Vermiform; D: Eruciform; E: Elateriform