54 Introduction

Introduction

In this lab, we will cover the neuropteroid orders, which consist of four relatively small orders and one enormous order. As always, I will emphasize those taxa found in northern BC. Your goal is to learn how to identify various common insects to order and/or family level using the keys in your text, online resources, other students, and me (when in doubt, ask an entomologist). The lab should take you approximately three hours to complete. A short quiz will be available when you have finished the lab, so that you can practice your identification skills.

The neuropteroids include five orders of insects:

• Neuroptera, including the lacewings, antlions, and mantisflies;
• Megaloptera, the alderflies, dobsonflies, and fishflies;
• Raphidioptera, the snakeflies;
• Strepsiptera, the twisted-winged parasites;
• and Coleoptera, the beetles

If your collection includes families not covered in the lab, they still need to be identified to family. If you need help with that, please let me know! If you are having difficulty seeing what the key asks for, or you aren’t sure what a photo shows, please ask, or arrange a time to visit the lab and observe the insects in person.