Insect Orders
Free AppAbout Insect Orders
Insects make up the vast bulk of species diversity on the planet. Many millions of insect species exist and entomologists have divided them into a manageable number of units called Orders. The members of each insect Order have arisen from a common ancestor, share similar structural characteristics and have certain biological attributes in common.
Not all insect Orders are equal in species number; some Orders have just a few hundred species while others have more than 100,000 species. The range of structural characteristics and biological features tends to be broader in the more species-rich Orders.
Predictions about the biology, behaviour and ecology of an insect can be made once you know its Order. But how can you know the Order to which an insect belongs? Insects can be identified in various ways. Comparing a specimen with a book of illustrations of identified insects is one way. Using a printed key is another way. This Lucid based key combines the advantages of these methods and adds a new dimension of simplicity and power to the process of identification.
This simple identification key is designed to identify most common adult insects to Order in Australia. The key has been designed for use by advanced secondary students, beginning undergraduates and others interested in entomology. We have written the key so that students will learn about the structure and biology of insects while identifying them. We have included three groups of arthropods in this key (Protura, Collembola and Diplura) that are closely related to insects.
How can you tell if an insect is an adult and can be identified using this key? That is a simple question without a simple answer. If your insect has fully-developed, functional wings then it is an adult. However, some adult insects have reduced, non-functional wings and others have no wings at all. In these cases the adult forms have fully developed genitalia at the apex of the abdomen.
The 'Key to Insect Orders' was created at the University of Queensland, Department of Entomology. The Key has been based on the simplified keys to insect Orders found in Collecting, Preserving and Classifying Insects by E.C. Dahms, G.B. Monteith and S. Monteith (Queensland Museum, 1979), Worms to Wasps by M.S. Harvey and A.L. Yen (Oxford University Press, 1989) and A Field Guide to Insects in Australia by P. Zborowski and R. Storey (Reed Books, 1995).
This app is powered by Lucid Mobile.
Not all insect Orders are equal in species number; some Orders have just a few hundred species while others have more than 100,000 species. The range of structural characteristics and biological features tends to be broader in the more species-rich Orders.
Predictions about the biology, behaviour and ecology of an insect can be made once you know its Order. But how can you know the Order to which an insect belongs? Insects can be identified in various ways. Comparing a specimen with a book of illustrations of identified insects is one way. Using a printed key is another way. This Lucid based key combines the advantages of these methods and adds a new dimension of simplicity and power to the process of identification.
This simple identification key is designed to identify most common adult insects to Order in Australia. The key has been designed for use by advanced secondary students, beginning undergraduates and others interested in entomology. We have written the key so that students will learn about the structure and biology of insects while identifying them. We have included three groups of arthropods in this key (Protura, Collembola and Diplura) that are closely related to insects.
How can you tell if an insect is an adult and can be identified using this key? That is a simple question without a simple answer. If your insect has fully-developed, functional wings then it is an adult. However, some adult insects have reduced, non-functional wings and others have no wings at all. In these cases the adult forms have fully developed genitalia at the apex of the abdomen.
The 'Key to Insect Orders' was created at the University of Queensland, Department of Entomology. The Key has been based on the simplified keys to insect Orders found in Collecting, Preserving and Classifying Insects by E.C. Dahms, G.B. Monteith and S. Monteith (Queensland Museum, 1979), Worms to Wasps by M.S. Harvey and A.L. Yen (Oxford University Press, 1989) and A Field Guide to Insects in Australia by P. Zborowski and R. Storey (Reed Books, 1995).
This app is powered by Lucid Mobile.
All Application Badges
Free
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Android
4.0+
4.0+
Bug
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Android app
App History & Updates
What's Changed
Fixed bug relating to searching or filtering of Orders
Fixed bug relating to searching or filtering of Orders
More downloads Insect Orders reached 50 000 - 100 000 downloads
Version update Insect Orders was updated to version 1.0.9
More downloads Insect Orders reached 10 000 - 50 000 downloads
What are users saying about Insect Orders
Y
by Y####:
by Y####:
Its really helping on my studies
U
by U####:
by U####:
Not user friendly at all. You practically have to be an entomologist to be able to identify insects using this app.
M
by M####:
by M####:
Very helpful app for my insect class. Totally loving it :D
X
by X####:
by X####:
I selected criteria until only one order remained but I could not figure out how to see the results.
X
by X####:
by X####:
Paulino
X
by X####:
by X####:
Its good
X
by X####:
by X####:
good app for insects ide.....
S
by S####:
by S####:
It's like playing 20 Questions with a field guide (on and off the field). You're limited to hexapods but it's called Insect Orders so obviously no complaints there. Fantastic, I love it.
C
by C####:
by C####:
Did not do what it says it does. It has you input physical features of the insect yet it doesn't work when I click find best. It was a waste of time and alot more still needs to be done to make this app good.
C
by C####:
by C####:
Answered as many as I could see positively and it came up with 2 choices. Neither was even the same type of bug.
A
by A####:
by A####:
This is the useful entomology application.
V
by V####:
by V####:
Awesome
T
by T####:
by T####:
Good
C
by C####:
by C####:
Cooooooooool
Q
by Q####:
by Q####:
I can't figure out how to make a selection or use any of the tools. I was able to swipe and see pictures. I was hoping to be able to use this to help identify bugs for a classroom bug collection assignment. I wish there was a tutorial.
Z
by Z####:
by Z####:
A very nice app recommended for entomology students
E
by E####:
by E####:
Its my favourite topic since I'm a bio-engineer who needs more information . I could make my own bugs.
Q
by Q####:
by Q####:
It can take specific enough input to narrow a bug down to its shoe size and ssn, but only gives you the order. Most enthusiast level observers can do that much visually. Would like a more specific app.
Q
by Q####:
by Q####:
Superb.
Z
by Z####:
by Z####:
Amazing app! But to be honest, if you're a die-hard entomologist, you'll learn the names of orders (and so on) just out of curiosity anyway! Thanks for making this app a real thing though! Absolutely adore it!
Z
by Z####:
by Z####:
So far, it has been a good reference tool. But I couldn't select the features to be used for identification even after tweaking around the settings and trying different gestures. Definitely needs a tutorial.
G
by G####:
by G####:
A very nice app recommended for entomology students
Z
by Z####:
by Z####:
Nice app
Y
by Y####:
by Y####:
Its my favourite topic since I'm a biologist who needs more info
H
by H####:
by H####:
We can learn about insect
E
by E####:
by E####:
Good app though
E
by E####:
by E####:
Good
Z
by Z####:
by Z####:
Love
E
by E####:
by E####:
Nice app Very useful
M
by M####:
by M####:
Not for identifying insects
N
by N####:
by N####:
Dickson
B
by B####:
by B####:
Very easy to use and no prior knowledge of insect anatomy would necessarily be needed as full illustrations are given. Brilliant for working out what kind of insect you have in your possession but you'd have to be able to get it under a mag lamp to answer some of the identification questions.
C
by C####:
by C####:
I'm a little confused on how to make a selection on a feature. A tutorial would be nice.
W
by W####:
by W####:
I need something more specific
H
by H####:
by H####:
This is good for entomologist but not best somtime
E
by E####:
by E####:
This is just simply awesome!! It gives you good informastion.
C
by C####:
by C####:
Helps identify insects.
C
by C####:
by C####:
In agriculture
C
by C####:
by C####:
Useful and informative, but where's Raphidioptera?
by U####:
Poop it take like 5 to 10 minutes to find 1 bug