Entomology

Description
Entomology, which is similar to the Division B event Don't Bug Me, is an event in which competitors must be able to identify insects from 30 orders (div. B and C) and 100 families (div. C only). You should have a good amount of knowledge on general insect information. To do well in this event, make sure you go beyond the rules. On most tests, questions about behavior, structure, human impact, and any characteristics of certain insects may be asked.

What is an insect?
Before getting into the specifics of identifying insects you have to know what an insect is. An insect is an invertebrate with several distinguishing characteristics. These include: segmented bodies with paired, many jointed legs; 3 major body sections; 6 legs; and 2 antennae. After you have identified an organism as an insect you then must classify to its order (div. B and C) and family (div. C only).

Head
The head is the anterior oval-shaped body region that hold the antennae, eyes, and mouth parts.

Insects generally have two types of eyes, simple and compound eyes. Most have three simple eyes,also known as ocelli, located on the upper front part of the head. Several insects lack ocelli or only have two. Compound eyes are situated on the upper portion of an insects head and are composed of many facets. In some insects compound eyes occupy most of the head.

The antennae are usually located on the front of the head below the simple eyes. These are great for identification. Some of the types of antennae include aristate (are pouch-like with a bristle), capitate (ends in a club), clavate (saw-like), filiformis (threadlike), geniculate (elbowed), monoliform (beaded), pectinate (comb-like), plumose (feather-like shape), serrate (sawtooth shape), and setaceous (bristlelike). See for pictures.

The mouth parts of an insect are located on the ventral or anterior part of the head. The mouth part structures typically present are the labrum (upper lip), jaw-like mandibles, jaw-like maxillae, a labium (lower lip), and the hypopharynx which acts as a tongue. Mouth parts are generally sucking or chewing. Insects with chewing mouth parts have lateral moving mandibles and chew their food, while insects with sucking mouth parts have parts like a beak which is called the proboscis through which liquid is sucked.

Diagram of head:

Thorax
This is the middle section of the body and is divided into 3 segments called the prothorax, mesothorax, and metathorax. Each segment bears a pair of legs, and the mesothorax and metathorax usually bear a pair of wings if the insect is not wingless. Each of the thoracic segments bear 4 groups of sclerites, or platelike areas. These are the notum (dorsally), pleuron (there's one on each side), and sternum (ventrally). These segments are then divided into even smaller segments.

The wings are located dorsolaterally (they're near the top) on the mesothroax and/or the metathorax. The muscles that move wings are attached to the walls of the thorax most of the time. Insect wings vary in number, size, shape, texture, venation, and in position held at rest making them a great assist in identification. Most insect wings are membranous, though some are thickened or leathery. Some are covered in hair and others in scales. Most insects fold their wings over the abdomen at rest, but others hold them vertically over the body or hold them outstretched. Here's a picture of wing venation:

General Venation
See bottom of http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/course/ent425/tutorial/wings.html for more.

Abdomen
The abdomen typically consists of 11 segments, but the last segment is usually represented by appendages only. Many insects have fewer abdominal segments because of fusing of some insects. Each abdominal segment generally contains 2 sclerites (or hardened body wall plate), a dorsal tergum and ventral sternum. The terga usually extend down the sides of most segments and overlap the sterna. Most insects lack appendages on the abdomen other than at the posterior end. This appendages may be lacking or drawn into the body and hidden. When these terminal appendages are present, they usually consist of a pair of cerci, a median dorsal epiproct (appendage above anus), a pair of paraprocts (pair of lobes located below and on each side of anus), and genitalia. The anal opening is on the posterior end of the abdomen, right under the epiproct. The sexes in many groups can be identified by the genitalia at the end of the abdomen.

Insect Taxonomy

 * Kingdom: Animalia
 * Phylum: Arthropoda
 * Subphylum: Mandibulata
 * Superclass: Hexapoda
 * Class: Insecta

Binder Checklist
Make sure you have the following info. in your binder or known by memory: Definitely necessary:
 * Insect identification guide and sheets
 * Nymph identification sheets
 * Insect pictures (obviously)
 * Insect characteristics sheets
 * Human impact information
 * Basic insect information

Optional:
 * Entomology glossary (to be on the safe side)
 * Note Sheets (for quick finding if they have a section where you must answer questions about insects not already identified) for the following:
 * Vectors
 * Record-winning insects (largest, smallest, fastest fliers, most deadly, etc.)
 * Historical info. (safe side, horrible test making at state had at least five questions on this subject)
 * Invasive species

Resources
The following guides are highly recommended:
 * Peterson Field Guides: Insects - shows differences between different insects, has all insects on insect list
 * Audubon Field Guide to Insects and Spiders - has nice colored pictures and good bug descriptions, good for general insect knowledge
 * Smithsonian Handbooks: Insects - really nice pictures, great for nymphs and larva identification; I took this one as my field guide at competition only because I already had info from the Peterson field guide copied in my binder.

Good Links

 * http://soinc.org/events/dontbugmeC/index.htm
 * http://bugguide.net

Soon to come:
 * Human Impact Section
 * Dichotomous Key
 * Insect Behavior

Recommendations For Group Members
Both team members should have a strong background in Environmental Science (AP Level). the team should be prepared for both types of events (visual: power point/pictures, and live specimens), a lack of practice in either area can result in false identifications. the teams should have knowledge in using all types of microscopes. teams should spend a portion of their preparation, near various habitats (if available) such as marshes, swamps, forests, grassland, etc. to observe certain native species in a natural habitat (bring plenty of sunblock, & bug repellent)