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Principal Families of Insects With Emphasis

On Parasitoids, Predators & Their Hosts ^1/

(Contacts)

This section is designed to acquaint students with the diversity existent among insects with emphasis on beneficial groups, and to facilitate preliminary identification. Some destructive groups are included for their association with beneficial ones. Adherence to all protocols noted for using information from referenced websites is required. Synonymies may include earlier records that are frequently ignored in later publications. Insect families are often assigned to different taxonomic categories although their names remain relatively constant. The various links include general information on the different insect groups. The many specialists who have contributed to this section may acquaint students with those insects that are vital to ecological stability and which might serve as potential candidates for biological pest control. Please see <Entomology> and <Insect Orders> for more details on each family. The latest family classification arrangements for each order are noted below as <Latest ID>. Diagnostic keys to important insect groups may be found at <Keys>. Future taxonomic changes will require agreement among specialists.

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Illustrations of Beneficial Groups Community Instruction Entomology

Insect Morphology Terminology List of Indexes

COLEOPTERA "Beetles" Characteristics [Latest ID] Anobiidae <Habits>; <Adults> <Juveniles> Anthicidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Anthribidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Bostrichidae -- Benefit doubtful Brentidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Bruchidae -- Benefit doubtful Buprestidae -- Benefit doubtful Cantharidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Carabidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Cerambycidae -- Benefit doubtful Chrysomelidae -- Benefit doubtful Cicindelidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Cleridae Habits; Adults Juveniles Coccinellidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Colydiidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Cucujidae (Passandridae) Habits; Adults, Juveniles Cupedidae -- Benefit doubtful Curculionidae -- Benefit doubtful Dascillidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Dermestidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Drilidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Dytiscidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Ectrephidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Elateridae Habits; Adults Juveniles Eucnemidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Gyrinidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Haliplidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Helodidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Histeridae Habits; Adults Juveniles Hydrophilidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Hydroscaphidae -- Benefit doubtful Hygrobiidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Lampyridae Habits; Adults Juveniles Lathridiidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Leptinidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Lycidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Melandryidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Meloidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Melyridae (Malachiidae) Habits; Adults Juveniles Micromalthidae -- Benefit doubtful Mordellidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Mycetophagidae Adults Juveniles Nitidulidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Ostomatidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Ostomidae -- Benefit doubtful Paussidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Phalacridae Habits; Adults Juveniles Phengodidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Pselaphidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Pythidae (= Salpingidae) Habits; Adults Juveniles Rhipiceridae Habits; Adults Juveniles Rhipiphoridae Habits; Adults Juveniles Rhizophagidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Rhysodidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Scarabaeidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Scolytidae -- Benefit doubtful Silphidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Sphaeriusidae (Sphaeridae) Staphylinidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Latest ID Tenebrionidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Throscidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Trogidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Trogossitidae Ostomidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Misc. Families General Habitss DERMAPTERA "Earwigs" Habits; Adults Juveniles [Latest ID] DIPTERA "Flies" Characteristics; Juveniles [Latest ID] Nematocera = "long antennae" Bibionidae Blepharoceridae Habits; Adults Juveniles Ceratopogonidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Cecidomyiidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Chironomidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Culicidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Limnobiidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Mycetophilidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Orphnephilidae (Thaumaleidae) Habits; Adults Juveniles Psychodidae Simulidae Thaumaleidae (Orphenephilidae) Tipulidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Brachycera - "short antennae, large flies & eyes" Acroceridae Habits; Adults Juveniles Agromyzidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Anthomyiidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Apioceridae Habits; Adults Juveniles Asilidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Braulidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Bombyliidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Calliphoridae Habits; Adults Juveniles Chamaemyidae (Ochthiphilidae) Habits; Adults Juveniles Chloropidae (Oscinidae) Habits; Adults Juveniles Conopidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Cyrtidae (Acroceridae) Habits; Adults Juveniles Dolichopodidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Drosophilidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Empididae Habits; Adults Juveniles Hippobosidae Lonchaeidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Milichiidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Muscidae Mydaidae (Mydidae) Habits; Adults Juveniles Nemestrinidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Odiniidae Oestridae (Gastrophilidae) Otitidae (Ortalidae, Ulidiidae) Habits; Adults Juveniles Phoridae Habits; Adults Juveniles Pipunculidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Pyrgotidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Rhagionidae (Leptidae) Habits; Adults Juveniles Sarcophagidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Scatophagidae (Cordyluridae) Habits; Adults Juveniles Scenopinidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Stratiomyiidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Syrphidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Tabanidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Tachinidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Tephritidae Therevidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Misc. Orthorrhapha Habits; Adults Juveniles EMBIOPTERA "Web Spinners" Characteristics [Latest ID] HEMIPTERA "True Bugs" Characteristics [Latest ID Land Forms (foliage, dwelings, nests, etc.) Anthocoridae Habits; Adults Juveniles Cimicidae Coreidae Enicocephalidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Gelastocoridae Habits; Adults Juveniles Lygaeidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Miridae Habits; Adults Juveniles Nabidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Pentatomidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Phymatidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Reduviidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Termitaphididae Tingidae Non-Land Forms (swamps, streams, shores) Belostomatidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Berytidae (Neididae) Corixidae Gerridae Habits; Adults Juveniles Mesoveliidae Naucoridae Habits; Adults Juveniles Nepidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Nerthridae (Galgulidae) Notonectidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Ochteridae Habits; Adults Juveniles Saldidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Vellidae Habits; Adults Juveniles HOMOPTERA "Plant Lice," "Scales" Characteristics [Latest ID] Aphidae Cercopidae Cicadellidae Cicadidae Membracidae Phylloxeridae EPHEMEROPTERA "Short Lived" Characteristics [Latest ID] HYMENOPTERA "Bees/Wasps" Characteristics [Latest ID] Symphyta (Chalastogastra)--sawflies horntails (Sawflies, mostly phytophagous) Characteristics Orussoidea Orussidae Overview; Adults Juveniles Tenthredinoidea Tenthredinidae Overview; Adults Juveniles Apocrita (Clistogastra, Petiolata)=parasitic/predatory Apocrita Aculeata (Stinging Hymenoptera) Apoidea Overview Andrenidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Anthophoridae (Nomadidae) Habits; Adults Juveniles Apidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Halictidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Colletidae (= Hylaeidae) Habits; Adults Juveniles Ctenoplectridae Habits; Adults Juveniles Eumenidae <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles> Fideliidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Hylaeidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Megachilidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Melittidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Nomadidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Oxaeidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Stelidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Stenotritidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Sphecidae (Sphecoidea) Habits; Adults Juveniles Subfamilies of Sphecidae Ampulicinae Habits; Adults Juveniles Astatinae Habits; Adults Juveniles Bembicinae Habits; Adults Juveniles Cercerinae Habits; Adults Juveniles Crabroninae Habits; Adults Juveniles Larrinae Habits; Adults Juveniles Mellininae Habits Adults Juveniles Nyssoninae Habits; Adults Juveniles Pemphredoninae Habits; Adults Juveniles Philanthinae Habits; Adults Juveniles Pseninae Habits; Adults Juveniles Sphecinae Habits; Adults Juveniles Stizinae Habits; Adults Juveniles Trypoxylinae Habits; Adults Juveniles Chrysidoidea ( = Bethyloidea) Overview Bethylidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Chrysididae Habits; Adults Juveniles (+ Cleptidae Habits); Adults Juveniles Dryinidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Embolemidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Plumariidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Sclerogibbidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Scolebythidae Habits; Adults Juveniles

Vespoidea Overview Bradynobaenidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Eumenidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Formicidae Habits; Adults Juveniles [formerly Formicoidea (Overview] Methocidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Mutillidae <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles> Pompilidae (Psammocharidae) Habits; Adults Juveniles [formerly Tiphioidea Overview] Rhopalosomidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Scoliidae Habits; Adults Juveniles [formerly as Scolioidea Overview] [formerly Pompiloidea Overview] Sierolomorphidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Tiphiidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Sapygidae Habits; Adults Juveniles [formerly Mutillidae Habits; Adults Juveniles] [formerly Thynnidae Habits; Adults Juveniles] Vespidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Apocrita Parasitica (nonstinging Hymenoptera) Ceraphronoidea Overivew Calliceratidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Ceraphronidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Megaspilidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Chalcidoidea Overview; General References Agaonidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Aphelinidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Chalcididae Habits; Adults Juveniles Elasmidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Encyrtidae Habits; Adults-1 Adults-2; Juveniles Eucharitidae (Eucharidae) Habits; Adults Juveniles Eulophidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Eupelmidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Eurytomidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Leucospidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Mymaridae Habits; Adults Juveniles Ormyridae Habits; Adults Juveniles Perilampidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Pteromalidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Subfamilies of Pteromalidae Asaphinae Habits; Adults Juveniles Austrosystasinae Habits; Adults Juveniles Austroterobiinae) Habits; Adults Juveniles Brachyscelidiphaginae Habits; Adults Juveniles Ceinae Habits; Adults Juveniles Cerocephalinae Habits; Adults Juveniles Chromeurytominae Habits; Adults Juveniles Cleonyminae Habits; Adults Juveniles Coelocybinae Habits; Adults Juveniles Colotrechinae Habits; Adults Juveniles Cratominae Habits; Adults Juveniles Diparinae Habits; Adults Juveniles Ditropinotellinae Habits; Adults Juveniles Elatoidinae Habits; Adults Juveniles Erotolepsiinae Habits; Adults Juveniles Eunotinae Habits; Adults Juveniles Eutrichosomatinae Habits; Adults Juveniles Herbertinae Habits; Adults Juveniles Keiraninae Habits; Adults Juveniles Leptofoeninae Habits; Adults Juveniles Louriciinae Habits; Adults Juveniles Macromesinae Habits; Adults Juveniles Miscogasterinae Habits; Adults Juveniles Nefoeninae Habits; Adults Juveniles Neodiparinae Habits; Adults Juveniles Ormocerinae Habits; Adults Juveniles Panstenoninae Habits; Adults Juveniles Parasaphodinae Habits; Adults Juveniles Pireninae Habits; Adults Juveniles Pteromalinae Habits; Adults Juveniles Spalangiinae Habits; Adults Juveniles Storeyinae Habits; Adults Juveniles Rotoitidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Signiphoridae Habits; Adults Juveniles Tanaostigmatidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Tetracampidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Torymidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Trichogrammatidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Cynipoidea Overview Austrocynipidae Cynipidae Habits; Adults Juveniles (Charipinae) Habits; Adults Juveniles (Cynipinae) Habits; Adults Juveniles (Eucoilinae) Habits; Adults Juveniles Figitidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Ibaliidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Liopteridae Habits; Adults Juveniles Evanioidea Overview Aulacidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Evaniidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Gasteruptiidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Ichneumonoidea Overview Apozygidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Braconidae Habits; Adults-1 #2 #3; Juveniles Aphidiinae Habits; Adults Juveniles Ichneumonidae Habits; Adults-1 #2 #3; Juveniles Agriotypinae Habits; Adults Juveniles Paxylommatidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Megalyroidea Overview Megalyridae Habits; Adults Juveniles Mymarommatoidea (or Serphitoidea) Mymerommatidae (Callimomidae) Habits; Adults Juveniles Platygastroidea Platygastridae (Platygasteridae) Habits Adults Juveniles Scelionidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Proctotrupoidea Overview Austroniidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Diapriidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Heloridae Habits; Adults Juveniles [formerly Mesoserphidae Habits; Adults Juveniles] Mesoserphidae Monomachidae Habits; Adults Juveniles [formerly Monoserphidae Habits; Adults Juveniles] Pelecinidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Peradeniidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Proctorenyxidae Proctotrupidae Serphidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Roproniidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Serphidae (was Proctotrupidae) Habits; Adults Juveniles Vanhorniidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Stephenoidea Overview Stephanidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Trigonalyoidea Overview Trigonalyidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Neotropical Hymenoptera Paxylommatidae <Habits>; <Adults> Entedontidae <Habits>; <Adult images sought> Tetrastichidae <Habits>; <Adult images sought> Sclerogibbidae <Habits>; <Adults> Cleptidae <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles> Ampulicidae <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles> ISOPTERA "Termites" Characteristics [Latest ID] LEPIDOPTERA "Butterflies & Moths" Characteristics [Latest ID] Blastobasidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Chrysaugidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Cosmopterigidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Cyclotornidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Epipyropidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Heliodinidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Lycaenidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Noctuidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Oinophilidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Olethreutidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Phycitidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Psychidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Pyralidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Pyraustidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Tortricidae Habits; Adults Juveniles MALLOPHAGA "Bird Lice" Characteristics [Latest ID] MECOPTERA "Scorpion Flies" Characteristics; Adults Juveniles Latest ID] NEUROPTERA "Lacewings, Ant Lions etc." Characateristics [Latest ID] Apochrysidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Ascalaphidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Berothidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Chrysopidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Coniopterygidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Corydalidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Dilaridae Habits; Adults Juveniles Hemerobiidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Inocelliidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Ithonidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Mantispidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Myiodactylidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Myrmeleontidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Nemopteridae Habits; Adults Juveniles Nymphidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Osmylidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Polystoechotidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Psychopsidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Raphidiidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Sialidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Sisyridae Habits; Adults Juveniles Stilbopterygidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Sympherobiidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Trichomatidae Habits; Adults Juveniles ODONATA "Dragon Flies" Characteristics; Adults Juveniles [Latest ID] ORTHOPTERA "Grasshoppers, Crickets, etc." Characteristics; Adults Juveniles [Latest ID] Gryllacrididae Habits; Adults Juveniles Gryllidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Mantidae Habits; Adults Juveniles Tettigoniidae Habits; Adults Juveniles PHTHIRAPTERA "Sucking or True Lice" ANOPLURA Characteristics [Latest ID] PLECOPTERA Characteristics; Adults Juveniles [Latest ID] PSOCOPTERA "Book or Bark Lice" Corrodentia Characteristics, #2; Adults, #2; Juveniles, #2 [Latest ID] SIPHONAPTERA "Fleas" Characteristics [Latest ID] STREPSIPTERA "Twisted Wing Parasites" Characteristics; Adults Juveniles [Latest ID] THYSANOPTERA "Thrips" Characteristics; Adults Juveniles [Latest ID] THYSANURA "Bristletails, Firebrats" Characteristics; Adults Juveniles [Latest ID] TRICHOPTERA "Caddisflies" Characteristics; Adults Juveniles [Latest ID] ZORAPTERA "Zorapterans" Characteristics [Latest ID]

(For References, please refer to biology.ref.htm General References

[Additional references may be found at: MELVYL Library]

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Explanation of Included Drawings

Drawings of insects were inspired by those of prominent specialists to whom reference should be made

for greater detail. However, because artists often impart particular artistic patterns to their work, the outcome

may be stylized thereby altering the subject's appearance. Therefore, herein several examples are often included

and modifications have been made in order to clarify diagnostic characters.