Paleoptera: Ephemeroptera and Odonata
III. Insect Classification
Entognatha
Ectognatha
Pterygota
Neoptera
Endopterygota
(complete metamorphosis)
Polyphyletic
Paleoptera
I.
Ephemeroptera: Mayflies
A. Morphology
- Most have two pairs of wings, with the hind wings greatly reduced in
size in some groups (even absent). The wings are held upright; and
the wings have many veins.
Paleoptera
I.
Ephemeroptera: Mayflies
A. Morphology
- The abdomen has 10 segments and is fairly long, with 2 caudal
filaments (the cerci) or 3 (like larvae).
Paleoptera
I.
Ephemeroptera: Mayflies
A. Morphology
- The forelegs are often long, as well;
particularly in the male where they can be as
long as the body. In some families, pairs of
legs may be vestigial.
Paleoptera
I.
Ephemeroptera: Mayflies
A. Morphology
B. Basic Biology
- aquatic larvae – feed on algae and detritus
- larvae have leaf-like gills on abdominal segments
Paleoptera
I.
Ephemeroptera: Mayflies
A. Morphology
B. Basic Biology
- aquatic larvae – feed on algae and detritus
- larvae have leaf-like gills on abdominal segments
- larvae usually with three caudal appendages
Paleoptera
I.
Ephemeroptera: Mayflies
A. Morphology
B. Basic Biology
- aquatic larvae – feed on algae and detritus
- larvae have leaf-like gills on abdominal segments
- larvae usually with three caudal appendages
- larvae may take 1-2 years to develop, usually longer at higher latitudes
Paleoptera
I.
Ephemeroptera: Mayflies
A. Morphology
B. Basic Biology
- molting occurs on surface of the water
- subabult (subimago) flies to shoreline
Subadult has hairs along wing
margins
Paleoptera
I.
Ephemeroptera: Mayflies
A. Morphology
B. Basic Biology
- molting occurs on surface of the water
- subabult (subimago) flies to shoreline
- mayflies are UNIQUE in that they are the only insects to molt once as winged adults;
this usually occurs the next day, and it lives as a reproductive adult for 1-2 days at most.
Paleoptera
I.
Ephemeroptera: Mayflies
A. Morphology
B. Basic Biology
- molting occurs on surface of the water
- subabult (subimago) flies to shoreline
- mayflies are UNIQUE in that they are the only insects to molt once as winged adults;
this usually occurs the next day, and it lives as a reproductive adult for 1-2 days at most.
- adults lack mouthparts and do not feed
Paleoptera
I.
Ephemeroptera: Mayflies
A. Morphology
B. Basic Biology
- males of many species form swarms; females enter and pairs fly off; mating in flight
with oviposition shortly thereafter
Paleoptera
I.
Ephemeroptera: Mayflies
A. Morphology
B. Basic Biology
- males of many species form swarms; females enter and pairs fly off; mating in flight
with oviposition shortly thereafter
- swarms off the great lakes (Erie in particular were HUGE, but lake pollution has
reduced their abundances) … bodies piled up to 1.2 m Illinois (1953)
swarms
Paleoptera
I.
Ephemeroptera: Mayflies
A. Morphology
B. Basic Biology
- eggs laid on surface of water
Paleoptera
I.
Ephemeroptera: Mayflies
A. Morphology
B. Basic Biology
- Eaten by fish and terrestrial animals; important link in aquatic food chains
Paleoptera
I.
Ephemeroptera: Mayflies
A. Morphology
B. Basic Biology
- Eaten by fish and terrestrial animals; important link in aquatic food chains
- sensitive to pollutants (soft bodies?) – many are indicator taxa of clean water
(EPT score = abundance and diversity of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and
Trichoptera)
Paleoptera
I.
Ephemeroptera: Mayflies
A. Morphology
B. Basic Biology
C. Major Families
Paleoptera
I.
Ephemeroptera: Mayflies
A. Morphology
B. Basic Biology
C. Major Families
1. Baetidae (135 species):
adults small (front wings 2-12 mm and elongate-oval)
hind wings very small or absent, and the only family with small hind
wings and only 2 caudal filaments.
Eyes turbinate
Baetidae
Paleoptera
I.
Ephemeroptera: Mayflies
A. Morphology
B. Basic Biology
C. Major Families
1. Baetidae:
2. Ephemerellidae
3. Heptageniidae (127):
sprawling nymphs; flattened
adults with 2 caudal filaments
Paleoptera
I.
Ephemeroptera: Mayflies
A. Morphology
B. Basic Biology
C. Major Families
1. Baetidae:
2. Ephemerellidae
3. Heptageniidae
4. Leptophlebiidae (66):
3 caudal filaments
Wing (4-14mm) have strongly bent Cu-P vein and no free veinlets
Forked gills on larval abdomen
Paleoptera
I.
Ephemeroptera: Mayflies
A. Morphology
B. Basic Biology
C. Major Families
1. Baetidae:
2. Ephemerellidae
3. Heptageniidae
4. Leptophlebiidae
5. Ephemeridae (13)
medium to large (wings 10-25mm); larvae tusked
Hexagenia limbata
2006 hatch on radar
Paleoptera
I.
Ephemeroptera: Mayflies
II.
Odonata: Dragonflies
A. Morphology
All are fairly large and have 4 wings; in damselflies the wings are held over the back at rest, in
dragonflies to the side.
Paleoptera
I.
Ephemeroptera: Mayflies
II.
Odonata: Dragonflies
A. Morphology
Small antennae, large eyes
Paleoptera
I.
Ephemeroptera: Mayflies
II.
Odonata: Dragonflies
A. Morphology
Prothorax small; thoracic segments tipped forward for grasping prey in flight
Paleoptera
I.
Ephemeroptera: Mayflies
II.
Odonata: Dragonflies
A. Morphology
Abdomen long; male cerci short and modified to grasp females behind pronotum.
Paleoptera
I.
Ephemeroptera: Mayflies
II.
Odonata: Dragonflies
A. Morphology
B. Basic Biology
- Larvae predaceous; have jointed, ‘elbowed’ mentum
Paleoptera
I.
Ephemeroptera: Mayflies
II.
Odonata: Dragonflies
A. Morphology
B. Basic Biology
- Larvae predaceous; have jointed, ‘elbowed’ mentum
- External Gills in Zygoptera (Damsels), Anal Gills in Anisoptera (dragons)
Paleoptera
I.
Ephemeroptera: Mayflies
II.
Odonata: Dragonflies
A. Morphology
B. Basic Biology
- Larvae predaceous; have jointed, ‘elbowed’ mentum
- External Gills in Zygoptera (Damsels), Anal Gills in Anisoptera (dragons)
- may live as larvae for 1 year, 2 years, or 10 years depending on species and latitude.
Paleoptera
I.
Ephemeroptera: Mayflies
II.
Odonata: Dragonflies
A. Morphology
B. Basic Biology
- Larvae emerge from water; adults emerge from larval skin
video
Paleoptera
I.
Ephemeroptera: Mayflies
II.
Odonata: Dragonflies
A. Morphology
B. Basic Biology
- Larvae emerge from water; adults emerge from larval skin
- “teneral” until wings harden
Paleoptera
I.
Ephemeroptera: Mayflies
II.
Odonata: Dragonflies
A. Morphology
B. Basic Biology
Males have two sets of sex organs – one at end make sperm, that is transferred to the
penis at front of abdomen
Paleoptera
I.
Ephemeroptera: Mayflies
II.
Odonata: Dragonflies
A. Morphology
B. Basic Biology
males grasp females behind prothorax – “in tandem”
Paleoptera
I.
Ephemeroptera: Mayflies
II.
Odonata: Dragonflies
A. Morphology
B. Basic Biology
female reaches up and under, contacting her genitalia with penis of male – “in wheel”
Paleoptera
I.
Ephemeroptera: Mayflies
II.
Odonata: Dragonflies
A. Morphology
B. Basic Biology
female stores sperm in ‘spermatheca’ – last sperm in is used, so selection has favored
mate guarding by males, who guard females until she lays her eggs; sometimes staying in
tandem.
Paleoptera
I.
Ephemeroptera: Mayflies
II.
Odonata: Dragonflies
A. Morphology
B. Basic Biology
C. Classification
Suborder Zygoptera: Damselflies
1. Calopterygidae (8):
Larvae with long antennae and long legs;
Adults are largest damsels, and most have darkening in wing
C. Classification
Suborder Zygoptera: Damselflies
1. Calopterygidae
2. Lestidae (18): Spreadwings
- Larvae with very narrow labium
- adults with hanging wings
C. Classification
Suborder Zygoptera: Damselflies
1. Calopterygidae
2. Lestidae
3. Coenagrionidae (93): Pond Damsels
All the Rest!
C. Classification
Suborder Zygoptera: Damselflies
Suborder Anisoptera: Dragonflies
1. Aeshnidae (38): Darners
Large; eyes meet along dorsal seam; triangles same
C. Classification
Suborder Zygoptera: Damselflies
Suborder Anisoptera: Dragonflies
1. Aeshnidae
2. Cordulegastridae (8): Biddies
- Eyes meet at one point; triangles same
C. Classification
Suborder Zygoptera: Damselflies
Suborder Anisoptera: Dragonflies
1. Aeshnidae
2. Cordulegastridae
3. Gomphidae (93): Clubtails
- Eyes separate; triangles same
C. Classification
Suborder Zygoptera: Damselflies
Suborder Anisoptera: Dragonflies
1. Aeshnidae
2. Cordulegastridae
3. Gomphidae (93): Clubtails
4. Libellulidae (93): Skimmers
Triangles different; : toe in hind wing anal loop
C. Classification
Suborder Zygoptera: Damselflies
Suborder Anisoptera: Dragonflies
1. Aeshnidae
2. Cordulegastridae
3. Gomphidae
4. Libellulidae
5. Corduliidae (50): Emeralds
Triangles differ; leg but no toe
C. Classification
Suborder Zygoptera: Damselflies
Suborder Anisoptera: Dragonflies
1. Aeshnidae
2. Cordulegastridae
3. Gomphidae
4. Libellulidae
5. Corduliidae
6. Macromiidae (10): Cruisers
Triangles differ; anal loop rounded – no leg