THIS SLIDE GIVES IMPORTANT DIAGNOSTIC FEATURES OF THE INSECT ORDER LIKE NEUROPTERA,TRICHOPTERA ,AND MECOPTERA. AND THIS ALSO INCLUDE LIFE CYCLE AND METAMORPHOSIS CHARACTERS OF THE ORDER MECOPTERA AND TRICHOPTERA.ITS GIVES A BRIEF DISCUSSION WITH SOME PICTURES

1. SASNA.P.S
Biology ,Habits & Diagnostic
Features Of The Following Order :
Neuroptera , Mecoptera ,Trichoptera

2. NEUROPTERA (SMALL TO RATHER LARGE SOFT BODIED INSECTS)
 This Order Includes A Varied ,Though Inter Related
Assemblage Of Holometabolous Carnivorous Insects More
Commonly Known As Antlions, Lacewings, Snake Flies,
Alderflies,and Dobsonflies.
 There Are 2 Sub Divisions :- 1.Megaloptera
(Alderflies&snakeflies)
2. Planipennia (Lacewings
&Antlions)
 This Order Is Characterised By The Nature Of Their Wings
Which Are Membranous & Sub Equal ( Primitive Venation
).
 Many Accessory Veins ,Costal Veinlets And Rs Generally
Pectinately Branched, @ Rest They Are Held Over The

3. Neuroptera
Number of Species
Common names
Distinguishing characteristics
Other features
Typical habitats
Hexapod Orders
5000
Lacewings, antlions
Variable
-numerous crossveins in wing
-larvae with incomplete gut
Neuro - nerve, ptera - wing
-most primitive endopterygote
-predaceous larvae

4.  The Wing-coupling Apparatus Is Of Jugo - Frenate
Type,though Small ,Usually Reduced And With Distinct
Bristles , A Frenulum .
 Hindwings With Large Anal Fold
 The Tarsi Have 5 Segments And Abdomen 10 Segments.
Abdomen Without Cerci
Long Ovipositor In The Females,enabling Them To Insert
The Eggs With In Slits In Bark.
Mouthparts Are Of Mandibulate, Biting Type, With More
Strongly Developed Mandibles In The Males And Maxillary
And Palps, 5 & 3 Segmented Usually.
 Elongate ,Filliform ,Many Segmented Antennae

5.  The Females Lay Their Eggs (200-250) On Leaves Or Stem
Or Other Objects Near Water In Compact Masses
 Larvae Carnivorous ,Of A Modified Campodeiform Type
With Biting Or Suctorial Mouth Parts.
 The Mouth Part Of Larvae Need Special Mention ,Larvae
Are Highly Destructive To Injurious Insects Like Aphids,the
Other Soft Bodied Insects
 Seizing Them Using Long Armed Sickle Like Mandible
 At The Side Of The Abdomen Larvae Bear 7 Pairs Of 5
Segmented Tracheal Gills.
 Some Species A Median Terminal Filament Also
Functioning As A Gill

6.  There Are Also Silk Producing Organs ,The Free Ends
Of Some Malpigian Tubules Becoming Connecterd With
The Intestine An Dproducing Silk Like Substance Is Last
Instar.
 Pupae Exarate , Decticous :Wings With Complete
Tracheation.
Internal Anatomy
 The Internal Anatomy Of The Order Has Been Very
Inadequately Investigated .
 There Are 2 Pairs Of Thoracic And 8 Pairs Of
Abdominal Spiracles.
 Ventral Nerve Cord Consists Of 3 Thoracic And
Generally 7 Abdominal Ganglia .

7.  The Digestive System Is Provided With A Median
Dorsal Food Reservoir .
 A Peritrophic Membrane Is Present .
 Number Of Malpigian Tubule Is 8.
 The Ovary Consist Of A Variable Number Of Usually
Polytrophic Ovarioles

8. ORDER :MECOPTERA
(SCORPION FLIES).

9. Mecoptera
Number of Species
Common names
Distinguishing characteristics
Other features
Typical habitats
Hexapod Orders
600
Scorpionflies, hanging flies
Forests
-mouthparts on a snout
Mecos - long, ptera - wing
-swollen terminal segment with ‘stinger’

10.  Terrestrial Insect,undergoing Transformations In The Soil
Carnivorous,with Elongate Beak Like Head .Frequently
Shady Places And Are Often Met With In Herbage Or Rarely
Under Stones
 Distribution Mostly Sub Trophic & Temperate ,Some Of
Them Are Cosmopolitan
 This Small Order Comprises Of Less Than 400 Species
Great Number Of Which Belongs To The Genera Panorpa &
Bittacus.
 Many Species Have The Terminal Segments Of The
Abdomen Raised In The Manner Of Scorpion (Scorpion Flies)
 The Bittacidae Are Very Slender Tipula Like Insect With
Prehensile Tarsi

11. panorpidae
bittacidae

12. Distinguishing feature

13. The Hypognathous Head The Anterior Region
Prololnged In To A Rostrum ,Which Is Formed By The
Elongation Of Part Of Head Capsule Together With The
Clypeus ,Labrum ,Maxillae.
Well Developed Compound Eye ,With 3 Ocelli
A Pair Of Filliform Antennae With 16-20 Segments In
Bittacus & 40-50 In Panorpa
The Mouth Part Are Mandibulate ,The Mandibles
Elongate ,Apically Toothed ,Maxillae Is Well Developed
With All Parts Well Differentiated
The Lacinia & Galea Large & Hairy .Palp Is 5
Segmentated
Labium Has A Elongated Sub Mentum

14. Mouth part on a
snout

15.  The Prothorax Is Small ,Its Largest Region Being The
Notum .
 Meso And Meta Thorax Are Well Developed .
 Legs Long Elongate Coxae Placed Close Together And
Generally Adapted For Walking .5 Segmented And
Paired Claws.
 The Wings Are Membranous ,Almost Sub Equal And
Held Horizontally In Response .In Many Species They
Are Conspicuosly Spotted Or Banded.
 The Venation Is Primitive ,Almost All The Main Veins
And Their Branches And Cross Veins Are Present .
 Anal Region Invariably Small And Reduced

16.  The Abdomen Has 10 Segments But There Appear Tobe
An 11 Segment In The Female
The Hind Margin Of The 9th Sternum Is Prolonged In To
Deeply Cleft Process , & The 2 Arms Are Styliform.
 The 9th Tergum Is Prolonged In To A Sub Quadrate
Plate .
A Pair Of 2 Segmented Claspers Are Present In
Between The Tergal And Sternal Process
A Sperm Pump Occur In Mecoptera
The 10th Segment Is Inconspicuous And A Pair Of A
Short Cerci.

17.  The Alimentary Canal Is An Almost Straight Tube ,The
Only Convolution Region Occur In The Hind Gut .
The Oesophagus Has 2 Dilations Serving As A Sort Of
Pumbing Apparatus
Salivary Gland Are Tubular And The Malpighian Tubes 6
In Number
The Nervous System Consist Of The Usual Cephalic
Centers ,3 Thoracic And 6-8 (Males),5-7
(Females),abdominal Ganglia

18.  Respiratory System Is Well Developed There Are 2 Pairs
Of Thoracic And 6 -8 Pairs Of Abdominal Spiracles .
The Reproductive System In The Male Consist Of A Pair Of
Testes ,Each Composed Of 3-4 Follicles Arranged Side By
Side In Longitudinal Axis .
Vasa Defferentia Is Highly Convoluted ,Forming A Kind Of
Epididymis At The Posterior End Of The Testis
The 2 Vasa Deferentia Open Seperately Into A Large Median
Vesicula Seminalis Which Also Receives A Pair Of
Accessory Glands
Each Ovary Consist Of 7-19 Polytrophic Ovarioles ,The
Number Varied Among Species.

19.  Two Oviduct Unite To Form A Common
Canal Which Open In To A Kind Of
Genital Pouch
Latter It Also Receives The Opening Of
The Duct That Leading From A Small
Pyriform Spermatheca And That Of The
Duct Of A Pair Of Colleterial Glands .
The Genital Pouch Communicates With
The Exterior On The 9th Abdominal
Segment

20.  The Eggs Of Several Species Have Been Obtained By
Confining The Adults Vessels Containing Damp Soil.
The First Stage Larva Is Yellowish Grey With The Head
Testaceous ,It Is Eruciform Resemblance To Catterpillar.
 The Head Is Rather Large With Prominent 3 Segmented
Antennae
Mandibles Are Sharply Toothed ,Maxillae Is Divided
Corresponding Galea And Lacinia.
Maxillary Palpi 3 Segmented, Thorax Bear 3pairs Of
Legs With 4 Segments
Abdomen 10 Segmented,8 Somites Carry A Pair Of
Abdominal Feet

21.  the first 9 abdominal shields carry a pair of annulated
processes
10th segment bear a single median process of retractile
lobed vesicle on ventral side.
Nine pairs of spiracle are present .
After the first ecdysis the annulated process is dissapear
except those of the last three segment .
Pupation takesplace in an earthern cavity below
ground.the pupa is of exarate type and capable of
movement when disturbed
When about to pupate,constructs a vertical tube leading
near to the surface

22. Eggs dropped on ground
(Panorpidae, Bittacidae)
or laid in moss
(Boreidae)
Hatch & 4
larvae instars
4th instar larva –
digs earthen cell
and becomes
quiescent (few
weeks to several
months)
Generalized
Mecopteran
Life Cycle
pupae
mating

23. Mating Behaviour in
Scorpionflies
Male
Captures a prey item and
offers it as a nuptial gift
Secretes salivary mass onto
leaves
Forced copulation
Involve
pheromones

24. ORDER:TRICHOPTERA
(CADDIS FLIES)

25.  The Trichoptera Include The Case Worms Or Caddis
Flies.Which Are Moth Like ,Mostly Nocturnal Insects With
Weak Powers Of Flight (Their Flight Is Short And
Uncetain Duration) Found In The Vicinity Of Water .
The Case Bearing Larvae And The Pupae Are Aquatic
There Are Obscurely Coloured ,Generally Some Shade
Brown With Darker Markings
They Rest On Herbage, Trees, Or Stones.
Head Is Usually Small With Widely Seperated
Compound Eyes And 3 Ocelli
 Antennae Are Multi-articulate And Setaceous ,Held In
Front Of The Head When @ Rest

27. Casesof caddisflies....

28.  Mouth Part Are Of The Biting Or Chewing Type
,Mandibles Vestigial Or Absent ,Maxillae Single Lobed
With Elongate Palpi, Labium Better Developed Mentum,
Short Prementum, Small Median Glossa Or
Hypopharyngeal Haustellum Well Developed.
 Thorax : Prothorax Is Shortest And Mesothorax Is
Largest
The Legs Long & Slender Bear A Strong Coxae .And
Both Meso & Meta Thoracic Coxae Bear A Meron
The Tibiae Is Well Developed Spur And Spines ,Tarsi
Bear Claws And The Pulvili (Empodium)
The Wings Are Well Developed ,Hind Wing Generally
Larger .Longitudinal Veins Are Distinct And The Cross

29.  A Semi Transparent Whitish Spot Called Thyridium
Is A Characteristics Of The Wing.
 The Abdomen Is 10 Segmentated The Terminal
Segment In The Female Some Times Being Retractile
And Tubular ,Serving As A Ovipositor

30.  The Alimentary Canal Is Short With Paired Tubular
Salivary Glands And 6 Malpighian Tubules.
 A Crop Is Distinct ,Leading In To A Tubular ,Slightly
Coiled Intestine And A Short Hind Intestine Bearing An
Expanded Rectal Chamber With 6 – 30 Rectal Papillae .
Nervous System ,The Ventral Nerve Cord Bears 3
Thoracic And 6 Abdominal Ganglia
Numerous Polytrophic Ovarioles Present In The Ovaries
,With A Distinct Bursa Copulatrix In The 8th Segment
The Testes Are Paired ,Ovoid Structures And Accessory
Glands Open In To Vasa Deferentia,

31. Life History And Metamorphosis
 The Larvae Is Abound In Lakes & Streams And The Case
Making Habit Is Developed To A Large Degree They Are
Called Case Worms Or Caddis Flies
The Cases Of Varied Size & Shapes ,Straight To Coiled And
With Foreign Material Utilised In Their Construction Small
Stones Small Sticks And Twigs ,Bits Of Leaves, sand Grains)

32.  The Egg Lying Capacity Of The Female Ranges From 300-
1000 Eggs And They Laid On Stones Or Other Submerged
Objects
The Larvae Are Predatory ,Feeding On Small Insects Or
Other Organisms
Some Of The Larvae Weave A Fine Net Or Shelter To Trap
Small Organisms
 The Larvae Possess Sclerotised Head More Strongly
Developed Mouth Parts ,With Short Well Developed Legs
Adapted For Clinging, Crawling & Swimming ( Help From
Coming Out Of The Cases)
 Paired Prolegs Or Caudal Hook Are Present In The
Abdomen To Help In Or Fixing The Body Case

33.  Filamentous Tracheal Gills Are Pres Thent , Rarely Rectal
Blood Gills Are Present
The 1st Instar Gills Are Absent
Many Cases Bearing Larvae Possess Longitudinal Cuticular
Fold On The Either Side Of The Abdomen,set With Fine Hairs
Known As The Lateral Line
 Bibron’s Gland Is Present In Larvae For The Excretion .(It Is
A Accessory Gland ).
 Silk Gland Are Well Developed And Before Pupation The
Larva Spin A Cocoon , Which Is Ovoid And Made Of Silk,sand
,Debris, And Attached To Stones And Other Objects
 The Pupae Develop In The Cocoon ,Posses Strong
Mandible For Cut Their Way Out To Transform In To An Adult

35. CAMPODEOID TYPE ERUCIFORM TYPE
1. Compressed body not inclined at an
angle
1. Head inclined at a distinct angle .
2. Not making cases. 2.Portable cases.
3.With out a abdominal papillae 3.Presence of tracheal gills
4.Rarely with rectal gills .
 2 type of trichopterous
larva

36. Grazers/scrapers-feedonbiofilm ofdiatoms and algae comprising the
periphyton. Includes some mayflies (e.g., Stenonema) and some caddisflies.
Shredders-feeddirectly on CPOM,convertingit toFPOM. Includessome
stoneflies,caddisflies, and cranefly larvae.
Collectors
Filtering collectors-may build a net which theyeither pick clean or consume,
contentsand all. Includesmany caddisflies (e.g. Brachycentrusand
Hydropsyche.)
Gathering collectors-collect FPOMfrom aroundand underrocks as well as
from interstitial spaces. Includes,among others,mayflies suchas Baetisand
Ephemerella.
Predators-examples include most beetle larvae and most stonefly larvae.