List of insect orders

Insecta is a class of invertebrates that consists of around 30 individual orders.[1] Orders are the fifth taxonomic rank used to classify living organisms, below the rank of class, but above the rank of family.[2] With around 1 million insect species having been formally described and assigned a binomial name, insects are the most diverse group of animals, comprising approximately half of extant species on Earth. The total insect biodiversity has been estimated at around 6 million species.[3][4] The most diverse orders are Coleoptera (beetles), Hymenoptera (wasps, bees, ants and sawflies), Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths), Diptera (flies) and Hemiptera (true bugs).[5] Taxonomists disagree on the exact number of orders, with opinions ranging from 26 to 32 distinct extant orders.[6]

Insecta was originally divided into seven orders in 1758 by Carl Linnaeus in the 10th edition of Systema Naturae. Orders were primarily defined by the number and structure of wings, with other factors such as antennae being considered.[7] The classification of insects changes, with species regularly shifted around.[8] The most recent order described was the monotypic Mantophasmatodea.[8]

Historically insects were split into two informal groups, Paleoptera and Neoptera.[9] Insects that do not have the ability to fold their wings over their abdomen were sorted into Paleoptera, and ones that could (or had an ancestor that could) were sorted into Neoptera.[9]

Apterygota

Apterygota is a paraphyletic group containing two orders of primitive and wingless insects, historically united on the basis of morphology.[10] They are distributed globally.

Orders of Apterygota
Order[a] Common name(s) Description Number of species[b] Image
Archaeognatha
Börner, 1904 		Jumping bristletails The Archaeognatha are the most evolutionarily primitive taxa in insects.[12] Species are characterized by their elongated bodies and retractable mouthparts. They have an arched thorax and a small head.[12] Bodies are cylindrical and do not have any scales.[13] They are distributed globally and prefer woodland areas.[13] Their tails consist of three long structures and can use them to jump up to 12 inches.[14] 506.[11]
Zygentoma
Börner, 1904 		Silverfish and firebrats Species of Zygentoma are usually flat with two lengthy cerci (primitive sensory organs that can detect light).[15] The most widely distributed species is the silverfish (Lepisma saccharinum).[16] The thoraxes are wide, and the surface is covered in small dry scales.[17] Most live under bark or litter structures.[17] They are most common in humid environments, but some species have developed to withstand higher temperatures.[17] 554.[11]

Palaeoptera

Palaeoptera is an infraclass (the taxonomic rank directly below subclass) of insects with 2 existing orders.[18] Wings of Palaeoptera cannot be folded back when they are not being used and species undergo particularly significant changes during metamorphosis.[19]

Orders of Palaeoptera
Order Common name(s) Description Number of species Image
Ephemeroptera
Hyatt & Arms, 1890 		Mayflies Ephemeroptera are small aquatic insects found primarily in North America.[20] Females lay their eggs in water and do not feed during the adult stage. They spend almost their entire lives as larvae (sometimes up to a year), before growing into adults and living for one or two days.[20] 3,124.[11]
Odonata
Fabricius, 1793 		Dragonflies and damselflies Odonata consists primarily of dragonflies and damselflies. They are large, narrow insects characterised by clear wings and a long abdomen.[21] Species are brightly colored and up to four inches in length. They are aquatic and lay their eggs in or around bodies of water.[21] 6,042.[11]

Polyneoptera

Polyneoptera is a group of winged insects that possess mouths specialized for chewing, long antennae and 4 wings.[22][c] When stationary, their wings are typically folded over their body flat.[23] They are hemimetabolous, hatching as nymphs which gradually acquire their adult morphology through successive moults.[24] The exact relationship between orders is disputed among taxonomists, and some authorities classify Phasmatodea and Orthoptera in a single group called Orthopterida.[25]

Orders of Polyneoptera
Order Common name(s) Description Number of species Image
Blattodea
Wattenwyl, 1882 		Cockroaches and termites Blattodea is an order that contains cockroaches and termites.[26] They have oval bodies and short cerci. They are most common in tropical climates and can live as pests in human structures.[27] 8,643.[11]
Dermaptera
De Geer, 1773 		Earwigs Dermaptera are slender insects are slender with beaded antennae, a segmented body and pincer-like cerci.[28] 1,982.[11]
Embioptera
Lameere, 1900 		Webspinners Embioptera is an order of small insects with long, cylindrical bodies.[29] They have short legs and two cerci. Some males have two pairs of wings, and females have none.[29] 464.[11]
Grylloblattodea
Brues & Melander, 1932 		Ice crawlers Grylloblattodea is a rare group of insects found in Asia and North America.[30] Their bodies are adapted to survive in cold and mountain climates.[31] Grylloblattodea is sometimes ranked as a suborder of the order Notoptera, alongside Mantophasmatodea.[32] 542.[11]
Mantodea
Burmeister, 1838 		Mantises (or praying mantises) Mantodea is an order of insects that usually prey on other insects.[33] They exhibit a diverse range of colors and shapes, and are distributed worldwide.[33] 2,447.[11]
Mantophasmatodea
Zompro et al., 2002 		Gladiators or heelwalkers Mantophasmatodea is a monotypic order of wingless insects. It is the smallest insect order and was first described in 2002.[34] They are found exclusively in Southwest Africa. They have cylindrical bodies and tarsi segmented into five parts.[34] Mantophasmatodea is sometimes ranked as a suborder of Notoptera, alongside Grylloblattodea.[32] 23.[11]
Orthoptera
Latreille, 1793 		Grasshoppers, crickets, and locusts Orthoptera is an order of insects that consists of crickets, grasshoppers, and locusts.[35] Most individuals live for around one year and undergo simple metamorphosis with 3 stages.[35] 24,481.[11]
Phasmatodea
Jacobson & Bianchi, 1902 		Stick insects and leaf insects Phasmatodea is an order of large and slim insects, originating in the Australasian region.[36] Species have evolved their bodies to camouflage themselves among leaves and twigs.[36] They are dorso-ventrally flattened, and primarily concetrated in Asia and Australasia.[36] 3,100.[11]
Plecoptera
Burmeister, 1839 		Stoneflies Plecoptera is a small order of insects that is distributed globally.[37] It is most common in temperate climates. Species usually have small ocelli and dorso-ventrally flattened bodies.[38] 3,833.[11]
Zoraptera
Silvestri, 1913 		Angel insects Zoraptera is a small order primarily found in tropical regions.[39] Species are usually four millimeters or less and have two forms: dark, winged alates, with both eyes and ocelli, and pale, wingless, blind individuals.[40] 45.[11]

Paraneoptera

Paraneoptera is a superorder of insects that undergo an incomplete metamorphosis (usually missing the pupa stage).[41] Many species are agricultural pests, damaging the plants that they feed on.[42] The lifespan of species in Paraneoptera are short, with some lasting 6 weeks or less.[43]

Orders of Paraneoptera
Order Common name(s) Description Number of species Image
Hemiptera
Linnaeus, 1758 		True bugs Hemiptera have piercing mouthparts that are used to suck from their food, with species exhibiting a cone or beak shaped structure.[44] 104,165.[11]
Psocodea
Hennig, 1966 		Barklice, booklice, and parasitic lice Psocodea is a group of small insects with soft bodies.[45] It consists primarily of lice, and species are dorso-ventrally flattened across their bodies.[45] 5,732.[11]
Thysanoptera
Haliday, 1836 		Thrips Thysanoptera are small winged insects that feed on plants.[46] They are usually no more than two millimeters in length and are attracted to bright colors.[46] 6,091.[11]

Holometabola

Holometabola is a group of insects that are characterized by complete metamorphosis (insects that go through egg, larva, pupa and adult stages).[47] The orders Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, Diptera and Lepidoptera contain the greatest number of species in this group (more than 99%).[47]

Orders of Holometabola
Order Common name(s) Description Number of species Image
Coleoptera
Linnaeus, 1758 		Beetles Coleoptera is the largest order of insects, and contains a fourth of all extant animals.[48] Species have three parts (a head, thorax, and abdomen) and a set of compound eyes. Most species can fly, while some species in desert regions have lost the ability.[48] 392,415.[11]
Diptera
Linnaeus, 1758 		Flies Diptera is a large, globally distributed order of insects.[49] Species have one set of wings[d] and a pair of organs called halteres to help with balance.[50] 160,591.[11]
Hymenoptera
Linnaeus, 1758 		Bees, wasps, ants and sawflies Hymenoptera is a large order of insects that primarily consists of bees, wasps, and ants.[51] 6,000 to 7,000 new species are described each year. Hymenoptera play a significant role in plant pollination and the development of crops.[51] 155,517.[11]
Lepidoptera
Linnaeus, 1758 		Butterflies and moths Lepidoptera consists of butterflies and moths.[52] They exist on all continents except Antarctica and have a diverse range of colors and sizes.[52] 158,570.[11]
Mecoptera
Packard, 1886 		Scorpionflies Mecoptera is an order of insects primarily distributed in Australasian and Neotropical areas.[53] They range in length from two millimeters to 35 millimeters. The families Panorpidae and Bitticidae contain the majority of extant species.[53] 769.[11]
Megaloptera
Latreille, 1802 		Alderflies, dobsonflies, fishflies Megaloptera is a small order of insects commonly found in aquatic areas. The adults have long, segmented antennae and are usually winged.[54] Species undergo all four stages of metamorphosis during development.[54] 380.[11]
Neuroptera
Linnaeus, 1758 		Lacewings Neuroptera is an order of insects distributed globally. They have two pairs of wings and long antennae.[55] 5,937.[11]
Raphidioptera
Handlirsch, 1908 		Snakeflies Raphidioptera is an order of predatory insects with elongated prothoraxes. Some taxonomists have grouped Raphidioptera together with the related Megaloptera.[56] 271.[11]
Siphonaptera
Latreille, 1825 		Fleas Siphonaptera is an order of blood-sucking insects that are globally distributed. They are most prevalent in temperate climates.[57] Siphonaptera primarily feed on mammals, although some species feed on birds as well.[58] 2,086.[11]
Strepsiptera
Kirby, 1813 		Twisted-wing parasites Strepsiptera is an order of obligate endoparasites (insects that feed on the inside of their host) found worldwide. Males only have functional hindwings, as the forewings have been modified into halteres, while females are wingless. Females also do not have any legs, and only possess antennae, mouthparts, and simple eyes.[59] 624.[11]
Trichoptera
Kirby, 1813 		Caddisflies Trichoptera is an order of insects found in freshwater areas.[60] 15,233.[11]

Notes

  1. ^ The author citation (last name and year of the person(s) who originally described the order) is listed under the order name.
  2. ^ The exact number of species changes as new ones are described; the figures described are based on a 2013 report by Zhi-Qiang Zhang.[11]
  3. ^ Some species in Phasmatodea, Dermaptera and Zoraptera are secondarily wingless having lost their wings during evolution.[22]
  4. ^ Some parasitic species in alpine regions have lost their wings through evolution.[50]

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Bibliography

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