Family Termitidae - termites
1. Head: Mandibles are highly specialized and vary by caste (workers for chewing, soldiers for defense); Fontanelle (frontal gland
pore) is usually present; Lacks the "basal suture" found in lower termites; No ocelli in most workers/soldiers.
2. Thorax: Workers and soldiers are wingless; Reproductives have two pairs of similar, membranous wings with simplified venation;
Pronotum is narrow and saddle-shaped.
3. Sexual Dimorphism: Highly eusocial; Distinct castes (King, Queen, Soldiers, Workers); Queens can become physogastric
(abdomen expands massively for egg production).
4. Life Cycle: Hemimetabolous (egg, nymph, adult); Includes a complex social structure; Some species build massive mounds,
others nest in soil or wood.
5. Misc Anatomy: Generally soft-bodied and pale (except reproductives); Lack symbiotic protozoa in the gut (use bacteria instead);
Ranging from 5–15mm (non-queens).
6. Human Impact: Massive economic impact; Major structural pests of buildings; Ecologically vital for soil aeration and nutrient
cycling.
7. Habitat: Predominantly tropical and subtropical; Mound builders in savannas, subterranean nesters in forests and grasslands.
8. Diet: Cellulose-based; Feed on grass, dung, wood, and soil organic matter.
9. Explanation of Name: From Latin termes, meaning "woodworm" or "white ant."
10. Audubon Plate Numbers: 424, 425, 426 (Related Termite entries).
Family Blattidae - household roaches
1. Head: Large, shield-like pronotum covers much of the head; Long, filiform (thread-like) antennae; Mouthparts are generalized
chewing type; Compound eyes are large.
2. Thorax: Adults typically have two pairs of wings, though some females may have reduced wings; Legs are heavily spined and
adapted for rapid running (cursorial).
3. Sexual Dimorphism: Males often have longer wings than females; Females possess a specialized genital chamber for carrying
an ootheca (egg case).
4. Life Cycle: Hemimetabolous; Females drop or glue oothecae in hidden crevices; Nymphs undergo several molts (instars) before
reaching maturity.
5. Misc Anatomy: Sizes vary, often 25–50mm; Common species like the American Cockroach (Periplaneta americana) are
reddish-brown; Cerci (pair of appendages at the end of the abdomen) are prominent.
6. Human Impact: Significant household pests; Can transmit pathogens (Salmonella, E. coli) and trigger asthma/allergies.
7. Habitat: Cosmopolitan; Thrive in warm, damp environments like basements, sewers, and kitchens.
8. Diet: Omnivorous scavengers; Feed on food scraps, glue, leather, and decaying organic matter.
9. Explanation of Name: From Latin blatta, meaning "insect that shuns the light."
10. Audubon Plate Numbers: 393, 394, 395.
Family Cryptocercidae - Brown Hooded Roaches
larvae
2,048 × 1,540
1. Head: Heavily sclerotized and "hooded" by the pronotum; Eyes are reduced or absent (adapted for life inside wood); Strong,
wood-chewing mandibles.
2. Thorax: Entirely wingless (apterous) in both sexes; Body is heavily armored and flattened.
3. Sexual Dimorphism: Minimal; Males and females look very similar, both being wingless and dark brown.
4. Life Cycle: Subsocial; They live in family groups within logs; Parents provide care for nymphs, who take several years to reach
maturity.
5. Misc Anatomy: Deep reddish-brown to black; 25–30mm; Uniquely host the same symbiotic gut protozoa as lower termites
(showing a close evolutionary link).
6. Human Impact: Very low; Non-pests; Important for forest ecology and the study of insect evolution.
7. Habitat: Temperate forests; Found exclusively inside decaying logs (specifically "white-rot" logs).
8. Diet: Xylophagous; Feed exclusively on the wood they live in.
9. Explanation of Name: From Greek kryptos (hidden) and kerkos (tail), referring to the hidden cerci.
10. Audubon Plate Numbers: 392 (Specific to Cryptocercus punctulatus).
Order Embioptera - webspinners
1. Head: Chewing mouthparts; Antennae are long and filiform (thread-like); Large, kidney-shaped compound eyes in males, smaller
in females; No ocelli (simple eyes).
2. Thorax: Unique, greatly swollen basal segment of the front tarsi containing silk glands; Males of most species have two pairs of
flexible, smoky-colored wings that stiffen with blood pressure for flight; Females are always wingless (apterous); Legs are short with
thick femora for scurrying backward or forward.
3. Abdomen: Ten segments; Ends in a pair of two-segmented cerci; Cerci are highly sensitive to touch, allowing the insect to
navigate backward through silk tunnels.
4. Sexual Dimorphism: Pronounced; Males usually have wings and asymmetrical cerci used for gripping during mating; Females
are wingless, larger, and retain a more "nymph-like" (larviform) appearance.
5. Life Cycle: Hemimetabolous (incomplete metamorphosis); Females exhibit maternal care, often staying with eggs and young
nymphs in the silk galleries to protect them.
6. Misc Anatomy: Body is elongated, cylindrical, and very flexible to facilitate movement in tight tunnels; Length typically ranges
from 5–20mm; Coloration is usually dull brown or black.
7. Human Impact: Not considered pests; Generally go unnoticed by humans due to their secretive lifestyle.
8. Habitat: Primarily tropical and subtropical regions; Live inside silken galleries spun on tree bark, under rocks, or in leaf litter;
Galleries provide protection from predators and maintain a humid microclimate.
9. Diet: Mostly herbivorous or detritivorous; Feed on moss, algae, lichen, and dead plant material (leaf litter).
10. Explanation of Name: "Embio" – lively, "ptera" – wings; refers to the fluttering or lively flight of the males.
11. Misc: They are the only insects that spin silk from glands located in their front feet; They can run backward through their tunnels
just as quickly as they can run forward.
Family Diapheromeridae - common walking sticks
1. Head: Small and square-shaped; Mandibulate (chewing) mouthparts; Long, filiform antennae that often exceed the length of the
front legs; Small compound eyes; Lacks ocelli.
2. Thorax: Extremely elongated, especially the mesothorax and metathorax; Wingless (apterous) in North American species; Legs
are long and slender, often held straight forward to mimic twigs; Able to regenerate lost limbs during molting (autotomy).
3. Abdomen: Ten segments; Long and cylindrical; Ends in small, unsegmented cerci; Males have a specialized subgenital plate for
mating.
4. Sexual Dimorphism: Pronounced; Males are significantly smaller and much thinner than females; Females are more robust to
accommodate egg production; Coloration may vary slightly between sexes to match specific bark or leaf types.
5. Life Cycle: Hemimetabolous; Females drop eggs singly from the canopy to the forest floor; Eggs often have a fatty attachment
(cap) called a capitulum that encourages ants to carry them underground, protecting them from predators.
6. Misc Anatomy: Sizes typically range from 60–100mm; Bodies are smooth and lack the heavy spines found in other walking stick
families; Capable of slow, swaying movements to mimic a branch in the wind.
7. Human Impact: Generally harmless; Can occasionally reach "outbreak" levels in forests, causing noticeable defoliation of oak
trees, but they are not considered a major economic threat.
8. Habitat: Deciduous forests, grasslands, and shrublands; Frequently found on the foliage of oak, hazel, and black walnut trees.
9. Diet: Strictly herbivorous; Feed on the leaves of various trees and shrubs.
10. Explanation of Name: From the Greek diapheron (different) and meros (part/limb), likely referring to the unique proportions of
their body segments.
11. Misc: They are masters of crypsis (camouflage); Some species are parthenogenetic, meaning females can produce viable eggs
without mating with a male.
Family Scutelleridae - metallic shield bugs
1. Head: Small, triangular, and often partially obscured by the pronotum; features piercing-sucking mouthparts (rostrum) for
plant feeding; antennae are 5-segmented; compound eyes are prominent, accompanied by two ocelli.
2. Thorax: Characterized by an exceptionally large, rounded scutellum that extends to the tip of the abdomen, completely
covering the wings; the pronotum is broad and often has rounded or slightly pointed lateral angles.
3. Sexual Dimorphism: Minimal; males and females are generally similar in appearance and brilliant coloration, though
females are often slightly larger and more robust.
4. Life Cycle: Hemimetabolous; eggs are typically laid in clusters on host plants; nymphs resemble adults in shape but lack
the fully developed, hardened scutellum and often display different color patterns.
5. Misc Anatomy: Sizes generally range from 5–20mm; body is highly convex and often displays vivid, iridescent "metallic"
structural colors including green, gold, and blue; unlike beetles, their wings are tucked entirely under the one-piece shield.
6. Human Impact: Mostly minor plant feeders, but a few species are significant agricultural pests of grain and fruit crops;
many are valued by collectors for their jewel-like appearance.
7. Habitat: Primarily found on trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants in diverse environments; most abundant in tropical and
subtropical regions.
8. Diet: Phytophagous; feed on seeds, fruits, and plant juices using their rostrum.
9. Explanation of Name: From the Latin scutellum, meaning "little shield," referring to the massive plate covering the dorsal
surface.
10. Audubon Plate Numbers: 118, 120 (Related to Shield Bug and Stink Bug entries).
Family Pseudococcidae - mealybug
1. Head: Small and often indistinctly separated from the thorax in females; Piercing-sucking mouthparts (rostrum) are used for
extracting plant sap; Antennae are typically 6- to 9-segmented; Eyes are reduced to simple lateral spots (ocelli).
Thorax: Females are entirely wingless (apterous) and maintain a nymph-like (neotenic) form; Males are tiny, gnat-like, and usually
possess one pair of wings but lack functional mouthparts; Legs are short but usually functional, though movement is very slow.
Sexual Dimorphism: Extreme; Females are oval-shaped, slow-moving, and covered in wax; Males are minute, winged, and
short-lived, existing only to find and fertilize females.
Life Cycle: Hemimetabolous; Females lay eggs in a cottony mass called an ovisac; First-instar nymphs, known as "crawlers," are
the primary mobile stage that disperses to new feeding sites on the plant.
Misc Anatomy: Ranging from 1–4mm; Body is soft and segmented but obscured by a white, powdery or cottony waxy secretion;
Often feature waxy filaments extending from the margin and rear of the body.
Human Impact: Major agricultural and greenhouse pests; Feeding causes stunted growth and leaf yellowing; They excrete
"honeydew," which promotes the growth of black sooty mold and attracts ants.
Habitat: Found in warm climates or indoor environments; They congregate on the stems, leaves, and roots of a vast range of
ornamental and crop plants.
Diet: Phytophagous; Feed exclusively on plant phloem sap.
Explanation of Name: From Greek pseudo (false) and the family name Coccidae; "Mealy" refers to the flour-like waxy powder
covering their bodies.
Audubon Plate Numbers: 304 (Related to Scale and Mealybug entries).
Family - Coccidae - soft scale insect
1. Head: Greatly reduced or absent in adult females; piercing-sucking mouthparts are located ventrally for feeding on plant
sap; antennae are significantly reduced or completely absent in mature stages; eyes are either missing or very simple
lateral spots.
2. Thorax: Females are wingless and sessile (immobile), lacking a distinct separation between the head, thorax, and
abdomen; males are rare, tiny, and gnat-like with one pair of wings but no functional mouthparts; legs are often lost or
non-functional in adult females.
3. Sexual Dimorphism: Extreme; females are large, immobile, and resemble a convex "scale" or bump on a plant; males
are mobile, winged, and short-lived, existing only to find a mate.
4. Life Cycle: Hemimetabolous; first-instar "crawlers" are the only mobile stage and disperse to find feeding sites; once a
female settles and molts, she typically stays in that spot for the remainder of her life.
5. Misc Anatomy: Sizes typically range from 2–6mm; the "scale" is actually the insect's own hardened, waxy body wall
(exoskeleton) rather than a separate removable cover; features a distinct "anal cleft" used to identify this family.
6. Human Impact: Significant agricultural pests; their feeding stunts plant growth and their copious excretion of "honeydew"
leads to the growth of black sooty mold; some species were historically used to produce commercial wax.
7. Habitat: Found worldwide on the twigs, branches, and leaves of various host plants; common in citrus groves,
greenhouses, and on ornamental trees.
8. Diet: Phytophagous; feed exclusively on plant phloem sap.
9. Explanation of Name: From the Greek kokkos, meaning "berry" or "grain," referring to the rounded, seed-like appearance
of the adult females.
10. Audubon Plate Numbers: 304 (General scale and mealybug entries).
Family Psephenidae - water penny beetles
Head: Small and often completely hidden beneath the broad, expanded pronotum; antennae are usually 11-segmented and vary
from filiform to pectinate or serrate; mouthparts are reduced in adults as they often do not feed.
Thorax: Adult pronotum is wide and shield-like, often concealing the head from above; larvae (the "water pennies") have a
drastically expanded and flattened thoracic and abdominal margin that creates a circular, suction-like disc.
Sexual Dimorphism: Males often have more elaborate, comb-like (pectinate) antennae compared to females to better detect
pheromones; females are generally larger and more robust.
Life Cycle: Holometabolous (complete metamorphosis); larvae are aquatic and specially adapted for high-flow environments;
pupation occurs in damp soil or under rocks near the water's edge; adults are short-lived and terrestrial.
Misc Anatomy: Larvae are extremely flat and disc-shaped, typically 3–10mm in diameter; adults are small, oval, and
brownish-black, ranging from 4–6mm; larvae use abdominal gills for respiration under water.
Human Impact: Not pests; they serve as excellent bioindicators of water quality, as they are sensitive to pollution and require clean,
well-oxygenated water.
Habitat: Larvae are found in lotic (running water) environments, clinging to the undersides of stones in swift-moving streams and
riffles; adults are found on nearby vegetation or rocks.
Diet: Larvae are "scrapers," feeding on periphyton (algae and diatoms) attached to submerged rocks; adults typically do not feed or
may consume small amounts of nectar.
Explanation of Name: From the Greek psephenos, meaning "dark" or "obscure," referring to their cryptic appearance; "Water
penny" refers to the larva's resemblance to a flat copper coin.
Audubon Plate Numbers: 162, 163 (Related to aquatic beetle entries).
Family Elmidae - rifle beetles
Head: Small and often partially retractable into the prothorax; antennae are usually slender and 11-segmented, though sometimes
shorter; mouthparts are of the chewing type, adapted for scraping surfaces.
Thorax: The pronotum is prominent and often features distinct longitudinal grooves or ridges; legs are notably long and equipped
with large, strong claws used for anchoring the insect to substrates in fast-moving water.
Sexual Dimorphism: Very minimal; males and females are generally similar in size and appearance, requiring microscopic
examination of genitalia for definitive sexing.
Life Cycle: Holometabolous; unique among beetles because both the larvae and the adults are typically aquatic; larvae possess
abdominal gills, while adults use a plastron (a thin layer of trapped air held by microscopic hairs) to breathe underwater indefinitely.
Misc Anatomy: Small beetles, usually ranging from 1–8mm; body is typically dull, dark, or brownish to blend in with rocky
substrates; the plastron gives the underside a silvery appearance when submerged.
Human Impact: Not pests; like water pennies, they are vital bioindicators of high water quality and high dissolved oxygen levels in
stream ecosystems.
Habitat: Found in "riffles" of clean, fast-flowing streams and rivers; they spend their entire lives clinging to rocks, gravel, or
submerged woody debris.
Diet: Both larvae and adults are collectors-gatherers or scrapers; they feed on periphyton, algae, and decaying organic matter
(detritus) found on the surface of submerged objects.
Explanation of Name: From the Greek elmis, meaning "worm" or "creeping thing," originally referring to the larval form; commonly
called "riffle beetles" due to their preferred fast-water habitat.
Audubon Plate Numbers: 160, 161 (Related to aquatic beetle entries).
Family Zopheridae - diabolical ironclad beetles
1. Head: Broad and often partially retracted into the prothorax; antennae are short with a 1- to 3-segmented club; mouthparts
are of the chewing type; eyes are typically small or occasionally absent.
2. Thorax: The pronotum is extremely thick and heavily sclerotized; the elytra (wing covers) are fused together, making it
impossible for the beetle to fly; the exoskeleton is one of the toughest in the insect world, capable of withstanding
immense pressure.
3. Sexual Dimorphism: Minimal; males and females are very similar in appearance, though females may be slightly larger;
both sexes lack functional hind wings.
4. Life Cycle: Holometabolous; larvae are typically found in dead wood or under bark; adults are exceptionally long-lived,
sometimes surviving for several years due to their nearly impenetrable armor.
5. Misc Anatomy: Sizes range from 10–30mm; the body is typically dull black or gray with a rough, "warty" texture; the legs
are short and robust, often tucked into grooves on the underside when the beetle "plays dead."
6. Human Impact: Not pests; they are of significant interest to materials scientists and engineers who study the "zipper-like"
sutures of their exoskeleton for inspiration in aerospace and mechanical design.
7. Habitat: Found in arid regions, woodlands, and forests; they are typically located under bark or on the surface of
fungi-covered logs.
8. Diet: Mycophagous or detritivorous; adults and larvae feed on fungi, decaying wood, and organic matter.
9. Explanation of Name: From the Greek zopheros, meaning "dusky" or "gloomy," referring to their dark coloration;
"Ironclad" refers to the extreme hardness of their shell.
10. Audubon Plate Numbers: 211, 212 (Related to darkling and ironclad beetle entries)
Family Cucujidae - flat bark beetles
Head: Large, broad, and visible from above; antennae are 11-segmented and can be filiform or moniliform; mandibles are prominent
and project forward; compound eyes are usually large and situated at the base of the head.
Thorax: The body is extremely compressed dorsoventrally (top-to-bottom); the pronotum is distinct and often has serrated or
smooth lateral margins; legs are short with 5-segmented tarsi.
Sexual Dimorphism: Subtle; in some species, males have larger or more curved mandibles than females; males of certain genera
may have a different tarsal formula than females.
Life Cycle: Holometabolous; larvae are also extremely flat, allowing them to move through the narrow spaces beneath bark;
pupation typically occurs in the same environment.
Misc Anatomy: Generally small to medium-sized, ranging from 6–25mm; many species, such as the Red Flat Bark Beetle, are a
striking bright red, while others are dull brown or black.
Human Impact: Not pests; they are beneficial forest insects that contribute to the decomposition process, though they are
sometimes mistaken for wood-boring pests.
Habitat: Found exclusively in the tight crevices under the bark of dead or dying trees.
Diet: Predominantly predaceous as larvae, feeding on other small insects and mites; adults may be predaceous or feed on fungal
spores and plant sap.
Explanation of Name: From the Tupi (indigenous Brazilian) word cucujo, which was historically used to describe various beetles.
Audubon Plate Numbers: 175, 176 (Related to flat bark beetle entries).
Family Oestridae - botflies
1. Head: Large and broad with very small, reduced antennae; mouthparts are vestigial or entirely absent in adults as they do
not feed; the face often appears "swollen" or inflated.
2. Thorax: Large and robust with a coating of fine hairs, often giving the fly a bee-like appearance; the calypters (lobes at
the base of the wings) are usually very large and prominent.
3. Sexual Dimorphism: Males often have larger compound eyes that are closer together (holoptic) than those of females;
females possess specialized ovipositors or behavior for attaching eggs or larvae to a host or a vector insect.
4. Life Cycle: Holometabolous with a highly specialized parasitic larval stage; larvae (maggots) develop inside the living
tissue, gut, or nasal cavities of mammals; mature larvae drop from the host to pupate in the soil.
5. Misc Anatomy: Adults are medium to large flies, typically 10–25mm; larvae are thick, cylindrical, and often covered in
rows of stout spines used to anchor themselves within the host's tissue.
6. Human Impact: Significant veterinary and medical importance; they cause "myiasis" (infestation of living tissue) in
livestock and occasionally humans, leading to pain, secondary infections, and economic loss in the leather and meat
industries.
7. Habitat: Adults are found near host populations, often in open pastures, forests, or high-altitude "hilltopping" sites where
males congregate to find mates.
8. Diet: Adults do not feed and live only long enough to mate and reproduce; larvae are endoparasitic, feeding on the fluids,
mucous, or tissue of their mammalian hosts.
9. Explanation of Name: From the Greek oistros, meaning "gadfly" or "sting," which also evolved to mean a "strong
impulse" or "frenzy" (referring to the behavior of cattle fleeing from the flies).
10. Audubon Plate Numbers: 525, 526 (Related to botfly and warble fly entries).
Family Geometridae - geometer moths
Head: Small to medium-sized with relatively large compound eyes; antennae are usually filiform (thread-like) in females and often
bipectinate (comb-like) in males to detect pheromones; mouthparts consist of a well-developed proboscis for drinking nectar
Thorax: Slender and less robust than many other moth families; wings are broad and often held flat against the substrate at rest; the
hind wings frequently possess a pattern that continues from the forewings, providing effective camouflage.
Sexual Dimorphism: Common; males often have plumose or feathered antennae; in several species, females are flightless and
have greatly reduced or entirely absent wings (brachypterous or apterous).
Life Cycle: Holometabolous; larvae are the famous "inchworms" or "measuring worms"; they move with a characteristic looping gait
because they lack the middle three pairs of abdominal prolegs; pupation typically occurs in a light cocoon in leaf litter or
underground.
Misc Anatomy: Adults are medium-sized with wingspans typically ranging from 15–50mm; larvae often mimic twigs in color and
texture, standing stiff and straight to avoid detection by predators; tympanal organs (hearing organs) are located at the base of the
abdomen.
Human Impact: Most species are harmless, but some, such as the Cankerworm or Winter Moth, are significant forest and orchard
pests capable of large-scale defoliation.
Habitat: Found in a vast array of environments worldwide, including forests, meadows, and gardens; they are most diverse in
temperate and tropical woodland regions.
Diet: Adults feed on nectar from flowers; larvae (inchworms) are primarily phytophagous, feeding on the leaves of a wide variety of
trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants.
Explanation of Name: From the Greek geometra, meaning "earth-measurer," referring to the looping movement of the larvae which
appears as if they are measuring the ground as they walk.
Audubon Plate Numbers: 585, 586, 587, 588, 589, 590, 591, 592 (Extensive section on Geometer moths).
Family Lasiocampidae - tent caterpillar/Lappeth Moth
Head: Small and often retracted into the thorax; antennae are bipectinate (comb-like) in both sexes, but much broader in males for
detecting female pheromones; mouthparts are vestigial or entirely absent in adults as they do not feed.
Thorax: Thick, robust, and densely covered in long, hair-like scales, giving the moth a furry appearance; wings are broad, with the
hind wings lacking a frenulum (the bristle that couples wings together), instead using an expanded humeral area to overlap with the
forewing.
Sexual Dimorphism: Pronounced; females are generally much larger and heavier than males with thicker abdomens for egg
production; males are smaller, more active fliers, and possess significantly larger, feathery antennae.
Life Cycle: Holometabolous; eggs are laid in distinctive shiny, brown masses that encircle twigs; larvae are gregarious and, in many
species, build large, communal silken "tents" in the crotches of tree branches for protection and thermoregulation; pupation occurs in
a tough, silken cocoon often incorporated with larval hairs.
Misc Anatomy: Adults are medium-sized moths with wingspans typically 25–75mm; larvae are brightly colored and covered in fine
hairs (setae) that can cause skin irritation in humans; adults are usually shades of brown, gray, or yellowish-tan.
Human Impact: Significant forest and orchard pests; "outbreak" years can lead to the complete defoliation of host trees over large
areas, though healthy trees usually survive and regrow leaves later in the season.
Habitat: Found in forests, woodlands, and orchards; common throughout North America, particularly where deciduous host trees
like cherry, apple, and oak are prevalent.
Diet: Adults do not feed; larvae are highly polyphagous, feeding on the foliage of a wide variety of trees and shrubs.
Explanation of Name: From the Greek lasio (shaggy/hairy) and kampa (caterpillar), referring to the very hairy nature of the larvae;
"Tent caterpillar" refers to the silken structures built by the larvae.
Audubon Plate Numbers: 565, 566, 567, 568 (Related to Tent Caterpillar and Lappet Moth entries).
Family Noctuidae - owlet moths
1. Head: Broad with large, prominent compound eyes that often reflect light in the dark (the "glow"); antennae are typically
filiform (thread-like) in both sexes, though some males have slightly serrated antennae; possesses a well-developed,
coiled proboscis for feeding on nectar and other fluids.
2. Thorax: Strong and heavily muscled, facilitating rapid and powerful flight; often covered in dense, "furry" scales; many
species have a distinct tuft of scales on the dorsal surface; wings are held in a roof-like position over the body when at
rest.
3. Sexual Dimorphism: Usually subtle; males and females often share similar drab, cryptic coloration; males of some
species have slightly more complex antennae or specialized scent brushes (hair pencils) on the abdomen to release
pheromones.
4. Life Cycle: Holometabolous; eggs are often laid on the foliage of host plants; larvae (many of which are known as
"cutworms" or "armyworms") typically hide in soil or leaf litter during the day and feed at night; pupation usually occurs in
the soil within a smooth-walled chamber.
5. Misc Anatomy: A massive and diverse family with wingspans typically ranging from 20–60mm; forewings are usually
cryptically colored in mottled browns and grays to mimic bark or dead leaves, while hind wings may be plain or brightly
colored; possess highly developed tympanal (hearing) organs on the metathorax to detect bat echolocation.
6. Human Impact: Contains some of the most destructive agricultural pests in the world, including the Corn Earworm, Fall
Armyworm, and various cutworms that sever the stems of young seedlings at the soil line.
7. Habitat: Found in virtually every terrestrial habitat, from deserts and tundras to tropical rainforests and urban gardens;
they are strictly nocturnal and are frequently attracted to artificial lights.
8. Diet: Adults feed on nectar, rotting fruit, and sometimes tree sap; larvae are primarily phytophagous, consuming leaves,
stems, flowers, or fruits of a vast range of plants.
9. Explanation of Name: From the Latin noctua, meaning "owl" or "night-owl," referring to their nocturnal habits and the way
their eyes glow when caught in light.
10. Audubon Plate Numbers: 593, 594, 595, 596, 597, 598, 599, 600, 601, 602, 603, 604, 605, 606 (Very large section
representing the family's diversity).
Family Braconidae - braconid wasps
1. Head: Generally rounded with large compound eyes and three prominent ocelli; antennae are long, filiform (thread-like),
and typically have 16 or more segments; mouthparts are adapted for chewing and lapping nectar.
2. Thorax: Compact and robust; the mesosoma (thorax + first abdominal segment) is fused; wings have characteristic
venation, specifically lacking the "2m-cu" crossvein found in the closely related Ichneumonidae, resulting in fewer closed
cells in the forewing.
3. Sexual Dimorphism: Females possess a visible, often very long ovipositor used to pierce hosts or reach larvae deep
within wood; males lack this structure and are generally smaller with slightly more slender bodies.
4. Life Cycle: Holometabolous; primarily parasitoids; eggs are laid on or inside a host (usually other insect larvae); the
wasp larvae consume the host's tissues, eventually killing it; many species spin small, white silken cocoons on the outside
of the host's body before emerging as adults.
5. Misc Anatomy: Small to medium-sized wasps, usually ranging from 2–15mm; body color varies widely from black and
brown to bright orange or yellow; abdomen is often slender and may be slightly curved.
6. Human Impact: Extremely beneficial in agriculture and forestry; they act as powerful biological control agents against
many pests, including aphids, caterpillars, and beetles.
7. Habitat: Ubiquitous in terrestrial environments including gardens, forests, and agricultural fields; adults are most active
during the day and are often found on flowers.
8. Diet: Adults feed on nectar, honeydew, and pollen; larvae are carnivorous parasitoids, feeding exclusively on their insect
hosts.
9. Explanation of Name: From the genus Bracon, which originates from the Greek brakhun, meaning "short," potentially
referring to the shortened appearance of certain body segments in early described species.
10. Audubon Plate Numbers: 545, 546 (Related to Parasitic Wasp entries).