Insects belonging to the group of arthropods are the most diverse group of living creatures on Earth, in which more than a million species are described. And the total number of their varieties, together with those who do not yet have a description, according to scientists, is from 6 to 10 million. The size of the smallest insect - the firefly Dicopomorpha echmepterygis - 0.14 mm, the largest - the stick insect Phobaeticus serratipes - more than 55 cm.
It is necessary
7x magnifier or binocular microscope
Instructions
Step 1
To identify an insect, you need to know its basic signs. Its body consists of three parts - head, chest and abdomen. The eyes of insects are located on the head, equipped with a pair of antennae, on the underside of the chest there are three pairs of legs. All insects are six-legged. A pair or two pairs of wings are often attached to the upper side of the chest, which can be covered with hard chitinous elytra.
Step 2
Take a close look at the structure of the caught insect. Handle it very carefully during inspection so as not to damage the legs or wings. If the first sign - the head, chest and abdomen are present, pay attention to the head of the insect, its antennae, which serve as its organs of smell and touch.
Step 3
Antennae are an important feature when identifying an insect. They are: filamentous, clavate, fusiform, serrate, comb, lamellar, pinnate and geniculate. The types of legs differ in the same way. When describing an insect, use the definition of its limbs: walking, jumping, digging, swimming and grasping.
Step 4
To recognize an insect, use a special edition - an insect guide, consisting of the corresponding tables in which the insect species is classified according to the totality of its external signs. Using the tables, you can easily determine the insect's belonging to the order and family. The tables, however, take into account the signs of only large insects, the size of which exceeds 5 mm.
Step 5
Each table describes the characteristic features of a group of insects and their numbers are affixed. The numbers in brackets indicate the numbers under which the opposite signs are listed. For example, two groups: 1 (6) Wings or their buds are absent and 6 (1) Wings or their buds are present. Begin the definition by looking at the insect and moving from symptom to symptom. If there are no wings, look for its description in group 1, and then go to group 2, if there are any, in group 6 and then to the next item in the table.
Step 6
Sequentially choosing the presence or absence of one or another external sign, you will reach your final goal - you will read the description of the insect in Latin, and the name of the detachment or family will be written next to it in Russian. Follow the link to the page where there is a series of color drawings, and specify the specific name of the insect. If its shape, color and size coincide with the image in the atlas, the definition of the insect can be considered complete.
