Insect Identification by Master Gardener Ronda Anson
Continuing Education Class for Master Gardeners
On July 12, 2012, Ronda Anson provided an outstanding 2 1/2 hour Continuing Education program for Master Gardeners at the Kemper Center classroom on insect Order identification and comparison. As anticipated, it was another superb presentation with 25 to 30 attendees. Ronda provided excellent handouts of her PowerPoint presentation and an insect Order comparison chart. The chart provides information and identifiers as to each of the insect Orders’ life cycle from larvae to adult.
At the outset of insect identification, Ronda provided a list of facts to remember:
- Adults do not grow (except in girth)
- Only adults fly
- How adults hold their wings when at rest is a key identifier
- Wing textures is a key identifier
- Some larvae have partially grown wings, called wingbuds
- Only insects that undergo gradual metamorphosis have wingbuds
- Larval skin must be molted for growth to occur:
- Color can change between instars (stages between molts).
Ronda took the attendees through the various insects Orders starting with Hemiptera and True bugs within such order. Many facts were provided including the identification of the insect that is born pregnant and gives birth a few hours after being born! (You must ask Ronda for the answer if you weren’t present J)
Article and Photos by Denny Green
