Holometabola (Endopterygota)




Holometabola synapomorphies:
Metamorphosis
Ocelli lacking in pre-adults
Number of stemmata (eye units) does not grow during different larval stages
Larval eyes disintegrate and the adult forms new ones
Larvae in pupa inactive
Larvae lacking wings

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Diptera synapomorphies:
Halteres instead of hind wings
Sucking mouth
Mesothorax increased in size

Nematocera (paraphyletic group) have long legs and long antennae, whereas Brachycera (monophyletic group) have short antennae.

Diptera - Brachycera
Fly
Maggots

Diptera - Nematocera
Mosquito
 Mosquito larvae

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Mecoptera
Scorpionfly
Synapomorphy:
Clypeus and subgenae increased in length

Mecoptera - Siphonaptera
Flee
Synapomorphies:
Sucking mouth
Lacks wings
Body flattened laterally

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Strepsiptera
Twisted-wing parasite
Synapomorphies:
Males: Halteres instead of front wings, special antennae and big ommatidia.
Females: Endoparasites with simple morphology.

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Coleoptera


Coleoptera synapomorphy:
Elytra (sheath wings)

 Beetle larvae

Coleoptera - Polyphaga
Stag beetle
Ladybug

Coleoptera - Adephaga
Ground beetle

Coleoptera - Myxophaga
Bog beetle

Coleoptera - Archostemata
Tenomerga mucida

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Neuropteridae synapomorphies:
Special ovipositor muscles
Specializations at wingbases

Neuropteridae - Neuroptera
Lacewing
Antlion
Synapomorphies:
Larvae have sucking mouth
Wings with many ribs
Long simple antennae

Neuropteridae - Raphidioptera
Snakefly
Synapomorphies:
Prothorax increased in size
Long ovipositor

Neuropteridae - Megaloptera
Alderfly
 Hellgrammite
Synapomorpy:
Larvae with gills

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Amphiesmenoptera


Amphiesmenoptera synapomorphies:
Females heterogametic
Wings with many setae
Wings can connect with jugum (overlapping lobe)
Larvae can produce silk
Many chromosomes

Amphiesmenoptera - Trichoptera
Caddisfly
Caddisfly larvae
Trichoptera synapomorphies:
Aquatic larvae
Haustellum (sucking organ)
Eggs in gelatinous mass

Lepidoptera synapomorphies:
Setae modified, scale-like
Reduced number of ocelli
Adult females lack cerci

 Caterpillar

Amphiesmenoptera - Lepidoptera - Zeugloptera
Archaic moth

Amphiesmenoptera - Lepidoptera - Aglossata
Agathiphaga queenslandensis

Amphiesmenoptera - Lepidoptera - Heterobathmiina
Heterobathmia

Amphiesmenoptera - Lepidoptera - Glossata
Butterfly

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Hymenoptera synapomorphies:
Haplodiploid sex-determination system
Hamulus (hook-like setae on the anterior margin of the hind wing which interlock with the recurved posterior edge of the fore wing)
Maxillae + Labium forms a tongue
Propodeum fused together with thorax
Front wings/mesothorax bigger than hind wings/metathorax

Apocrita differs from Symphyta by having a so called wasp waist. This is clearly visible on the wasp and the ant, but not so much on the bumblebee.

Hymenoptera - Symphyta
Sawfly
 Sawfly larvae

Hymenoptera - Apocrita
Bumblebee
Ant
Wasp
 Bee larvae