TERRESTRIAL ARTHROPOD COLLECTION
PRE-AP BIOLOGY
Purpose:
Arthropods are the most abundant organisms on Earth.
Within the phylum Arthropoda there is great variety.
Your job is to investigate the diversity of the arthopods that
can be found locally and illustrate this with a small collection.
Students will move further into their investigations by
classifying animals. It is a natural progression through the
biological sciences where it is an excellent opportunity for
students to be in the field.
Objectives:
(8) Science concepts. The student knows that taxonomy is a
branching classification based on the shared characteristics of
organisms and can change as new discoveries are made. The student
is expected to:
(A) define taxonomy and recognize the importance of a
standardized taxonomic system to the scientific community;
(B) categorize organisms using a hierarchical classification
system based on similarities and differences shared among
groups
(1) Scientific processes. The student, for at least 40% of
instructional time, conducts laboratory and field investigations
using safe, environmentally appropriate, and ethical practices.
The student is expected to:(A) demonstrate safe practices during
laboratory and field investigations; and
(2) Scientific processes. The student uses scientific methods and
equipment during laboratory and field investigations. The student
is expected to:
(E) plan and implement descriptive, comparative, and
experimental investigations, including asking questions,
formulating testable hypotheses, and selecting equipment
and technology;
(F) collect and organize qualitative and quantitative data and
make measurements with accuracy and precision using tools such as
..... dissection equipment, meter sticks, and models, diagrams,
or samples of biological specimens or structures;
Materials:
 Shoebox (or
equivalent sized
box) w/
transparent top
(cover with
Saran Wrap)
 Styrofoam (to
fit bottom)
 Fine straight
pins (no colored
balls on top)



3X5 notecard
(for labels
& triangles)
Jar with
tightfitting lid
Cotton balls


Acetone nail
polish
remover
Glue
Optional:
 Flashlight
 Insect ID
guide


Handlens
Insect
net/drop
cloth
References:
Taxonomic key (attached)
Taxonomy Guides (reference books/internet resources) such as:
www.Insectidentification.org/insect-key.asp ;
http://nature.berkeley.edu/citybugs/studentcorner/MakeABugCollection/MakeABugCo
llection.htm
Procedure:
In general, you are going to 1) collect and kill the arthropod, 2) correctly
preserve the arthropod until pinning, and 3) identify
the arthropod. Below is a summary to these steps.
1. Killing the Arthropod – To prepare a “kill”
chamber, glue a cotton ball to the lid of a small jar.
Partially dampen the cotton ball with nail polish
remover. Put the arthropod in the jar for several
hours. Do not allow the liquid to get on the specimen.
Freezing an insect does not guarantee it will stay dead.
2. Relaxing the Arthropod for Pinning – Preserved
specimens become dry and brittle. Before pinning them
you MUST relax them. This chamber works through
providing a humid environment. It is designed very similar to the kill
chamber, but with a damp paper towel or sponge inside. Make sure the paper
towel/sponge is not dripping wet, but damp enough to create a humid
environment. Do NOT leave the specimen in the chamber for more than 2 days
or it will begin to mold.
3. Pinning the Arthropod – pinning varies with the type of arthropod. In
general, you want to make sure that you do not damage the organism and that
it is securely attached to your display board. Some guidelines to follow
are:
- pins usually do NOT go in the middle of the body (see diagrams)
- butterflies and moths should have their wings spread out
flat
- specimens should be suspended on the pin, a little below
the head
- hold the specimen between the thumb and forefinger of one
hand and insert the pin with the other
- for very tiny insects, use elongated
triangles of cardboard and VERY SMALL
amounts of glue to attach the specimen to
the point of the cardboard, then pin the
cardboard (see illustration)
4. Identifying the Arthropod – use a reference
manual/guide to determine the classification
of the organism to the level of Order for
all acceptable organisms except millipedes and
centipedes. You are only required to go to the
level of Class for millipedes and centipedes. The
identification will go on a card placed below the
specimen.
Requirements of Collection:
Your collection must contain a minimum of 20 specimens, each correctly
preserved, pinned, and identified and displayed in alphabetical order according
to CLASS then ORDER. You should collect from a variety of classes/orders. All
specimens collected must be typically found in TEXAS. Use caution when
collecting venomous organisms.
Your collection MUST be turned in on ___________. LATE PROJECTS WILL NOT be
accepted!
Attached are examples of guides to the major divisions of terrestrial
arthropods. There are other versions, especially in the orders of insects. My
advice to you is “be consistent”. Try to stick with ONE classification system,
a copy of your chief reference should be noted. Be sure you can verify your
classification for me if I have a question!
You may collect more than one Arthropod from each of the following classes or
orders but not multiple of the same bug. For instance, you may have a
grasshopper and a cricket but not two grasshoppers. ****NO TARANTULAS******
You may NOT buy or purchase bugs.
** Tips for Early Collection and Storage- Place in plastic baggies, Pin on
board ahead of time, spray or shellac insects to preserve, freezing may cause
insect to break
Please see Rubric for specific details on identification labels and master
list. The final product will be a decorated box with a clear lid, a master list
attached to outside of box, 20 different insects in alphabetical order,
correctly pinned and identified on a id card under the bug.
** Please note that pictures are from previous years and criteria may have
changed.**
ARTHROPOD CLASSIFICATION
Class: Diplopoda – millipedes
Chilopoda - centipedes
Insecta – insects
Order: Orthoptera – grasshoppers, crickets,
Ephemeroptera – mayflies
Thysanura- silverfish, firebrats
Mantodea- mantids
Phasmida- Walking sticks
Diptera – flies and mosquitoes
Lepidoptera – butterflies and moths
Trichoptera – caddis flies
Hymenoptera – ants, wasps, and bees
Neuroptera – dobson flies, lacewings, and ant lions
Mecoptera - scorpionflies
Odonata – dragonflies and damselflies
Homoptera – cicadas, hoppers, aphids
Isoptera - termites
Plecoptera - stoneflies
Hemiptera – true bugs
Anoplura – human lice
Dermaptera - earwigs
Coleoptera - beetles
Siphonaptera – fleas
Blatteria- cockroaches
Malacostraca
Order: Isopoda (only) – pill bugs (aka rolly-pollies)
Arachnida
Order: Scorpiones – scorpions
Acari – mites
Araneae – spiders
GRADING RUBRIC
PROJECT 1: TERRESTRIAL ARTHROPOD COLLECTION
PRE-AP BIOLOGY
STUDENT NAME __________________________________ PERIOD _______
Display (25 points)
Box appropriately decorated w/see-thru lid
Name, class period, and due date on box
Insects neatly and appropriately/alpha order by class/order
Triangular cardboards cleanly cut and uniform
Identification labels typed in 6 to 8 point font or neatly written
Master list of specimens (10 points)
_______/10
_______/5
_______/5
_______/3
_______/2
_______/10
On 3 X 5 notecard
Glued neatly to outside of box
Teacher Discretion (5 points)
_______/5
Comments ___________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
COLLECTION – 3 points per specimen (60)
Collected 20 organisms (1 point/specimen)
Identification pinned under each insect (1 points/specimen)
*Classification: Phylum, Subphylum, Class, Order
*Date collected
*County, city & state where collected
*Specimens numbered to match master list
Technique (1 point/specimen)
*Specimens properly pinned
*Small or soft-bodied organisms on a
triangular cardboard in a vial
*Wings spread (where required)
*No missing/decaying body parts
*Pins straight up and down
Lowest Classification
1._______________________
2._______________________
3._______________________
4._______________________
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6._______________________
7._______________________
8._______________________
9._______________________
10._______________________
11._______________________
12._______________________
13._______________________
14._______________________
“Bug”
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ID Technique
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15._______________________
16._______________________
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20._______________________
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Collection Total ___________/60
Total Points _____________/100
1.
KEY TO INSECT ORDERS
A. Insects with wings………………………………………….……………………………….…………………………………………..……Go to 2
B.
Insects without wings or only rudimentary wings……………………………………………………..…………………….…………Go to 16
2.
A. Insects with only one pair of thin, usually transparent wings; second pair replaced with short, pinlike structures (flies, mosquitoes)Order Diptera
B.
Insects with two pairs of wings………………………………………………………………………………….…………………….….Go to 3
3.
A. Two pair of wings not alike in structure (not equal in thickness or transparency) (beetles, true bugs, grasshoppers)…………..Go to 4
B.
Two pairs of wings of similar structure (bees, butterflies, dragonflies)………………..…………………………………..…………Go to 7
4.
A. First pair of wings horny and meeting in a straight line down the back (beetles, earwigs)………………….…………………….…Go to 5
B.
First pair of wings not as in 4A………………………………………………………………….………….…………………………….Go to 6
5.
A. Tip of abdomen with a prominent pair of pincers (earwigs)……………………………..…………………………………………….……Order Dermaptera
B.
Tip of abdomen without pincers (beetles)…………………………………………….…………………………………………………...Order Coleoptera
6.
A. Front wings leathery at base, membranous and overlapping at tip; mouthparts for sucking (true bugs)…………….…………..…Order Hemipterea
B.
Front wings leathery with veins; hind wings folded lengthwise; mouthparts for chewing (crickets, katydids, grasshoppers).….Order Orthoptera
7.
A. Wings wholly or for the most part covered with scales; mouthparts formed for siphoning (moths, butterflies)……….……………Order Lepidoptera
B.
Wings transparent or thinly clothed with hairs (bees, mayflies, dragonflies)………………………………………………………....Go to 8
8.
A. Mouthparts for sucking attached to hind part of lower surface of head; wings when at rest are held like the halves of a roof
(cicadas, aphids, leafhoppers, treehoppers)…………………………………………………………………….……………………….Order Homoptera
B.
Mouthparts not as in 8A………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………Go to 9
9.
A. Body usually brown and slender; insect mothlike with slim antennae; no mouthparts evident except for a pair of slender palpi;
wings frequently hairy, usually broadest beyond the middle; wings held like halves of a roof over abdomen (caddisflies)…...Order Trichoptera
B.
Body and other characteristics not as in 9A…………………………………………………………………………….……………….Go to 10
10.
A. Wings with few or no cross veins (bees, thrips)………………………………………………………………………….…………….…Go to 11
B.
Wings with many cross veins (dragonflies, lacewings)……………………………………..…………………………….……………Go to 12
11.
A. Front wings the larger pair; hind wings frequently hooked to front wings; mouthparts for lapping, chewing, or sucking
(bees, wasps)………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………Order Hymenoptera
B.
Front wings the same size; wings very narrow; bristly hairs at margin (thrips)…………………………………………………….Order Thysanoptera
12.
A. Front pair of wings much larger than hind pair; wings held vertically above body; long, fragile-jointed tails behind (mayflies)Order Ephemeroptera
B.
Front pair of wings and other characteristics not as in 12 A…………………………….………………………………………..…Go to 13
13.
A. Antennae short and inconspicuous; long slender insects with long narrow wings (damselflies, dragonflies)…………………..Order Odonata
B.
Antennae longer and conspicuous……………………………………………………………………………………………………..Go to 14
14.
A. Abdomen usually with two short appendages; back wings much broader than front wings folded lengthwise (stoneflies)………Order Plecoptera
B.
Abdomen and characteristics not as in 14A………………………………….………………………………………………..………..Go to 15
15.
A. Wings equal in size with many distinct veins; tarsi five-jointed (antlions, lacewings)…………………………………………………Order Neuroptera
B.
Wings equal in size with indistinct veins; tarsi four-jointed; thorax in front of wings very short (termites)………………………..Order Isoptera
16.
A. Insects narrow-waisted, antlike (ants)……………………………………………………………………………………………….……Order Hymenoptera
B.
Insect not narrow-waisted but still antlike……………………………………………………………………………………………….Go to 17
17.
A. Bodies antlike but with wide waists, not flattened, light colored (termites)……………………………………………………………Order Isoptera
B.
Bodies not as in 17A………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…….Go to 18
18.
A. Insects small and plump, soft-bodies with small heads, two short tubes extending from back of abdomen; sucking mouthparts
(aphids)………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..Order Homoptera
B.
Insects not as in 18A…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………...Go to 19
19.
A. Body of insect small and narrow, flattened on the side; sucking mouthparts hind legs for jumping;five tarsal segments (fleas)Order Siphonaptera
B.
Body of insect not as in 19A…………………………………………………………….…………………………………………….…Go to 20
20.
A. Body covered thickly with scales; mouthparts for sucking are absent (butterflies, moths)…………………………………………Order Lepidoptera
B.
Body of insect not as in 20A…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….Go to 21
21.
A. Insect very delicate with chewing mouthparts and long, jointed, threadlike tails and antennae (bristletails, firebrats,silverfish)…Order Thysanura
B.
Insect not as in 21A………………………………………………………………………………………………………….………………Go to 22
22.
A. Insect delicate with chewing mouthparts; abdomen of six segments; underside of abdomen frequently has a long,
usually double appendage used for leaping (springtails)………………………………………………………………………………..Order Collembola
B.
Insect not as in 22A………………………………………………………………………………………………………….………………Go to 23
23.
A. Mouthparts for chewing……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…Go to 24
B.
Mouthparts for sucking………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………Go to 25
24.
A. Antennae threadlike; face directed forward and downward (crickets, roaches, grasshoppers, walkingsticks)……………………..Order Orthoptera
B.
Antennae beadlike, clublike or comblike, without prominent forceps at tip of abdomen (beetles)…………………………………Order Coleoptera
25.
A. Insect apparently legless, frequently covered with a waxy scale; insect usually tightly attached to plant leaves or stems (scale
insects)………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………Order Homoptera
B.
Insect with well developed legs with a sucking beak that arises at front of head and held between legs (true bugs)…………….Order Hemiptera