Introduction - Stored Grain Pest Management Pest Management for ...

IdentificationAll adult insects have two physical characteristics in common. They have three pairs ofjointed legs, and they have three body regions -- the head, thorax, and abdomen (Figure1.1).Head - The head includes the antennae, eyes, and mouthparts. Antennae vary in size andshape and can aid in identifying some pest insects. Insects have compound eyes made upof many individual eyes. These compound eyes enable insects to detect motion, but theyprobably cannot see clear images. Mouthparts are also used to identify insects. The fourgeneral types of mouthparts are:Chewing - Cockroaches, ants, beetles, caterpillars, and grasshoppers,Piercing/sucking - stable flies, sucking lice, bed bugs, mosquitoes, true bugs, and aphidsSponging - flesh flies, blow flies, and house fliesSiphoning - butterflies and mothsThorax - The thorax contains the three pairs of legs and (if present) the wings. Thevarious sizes, shapes, and textures of wings and the pattern of the veins are also used to