Insects

1. Odonata
Odonata is an order of carnivorous insects, encompassing dragonflies and damselflies. The word dragonfly is also sometimes used to refer to all Odonata, but odonate is a more correct English name for the group as a whole.

1.1.

Dragonflies

1.1.1. Physical Features

Immatures:
Labial "mask" catching prey Body robust adapted for

Adults:
Antennae short and bristle-like Compound eyes large, often covering most of the head Four membranous wings with many veins and crossveins Base of hind wing broader than forewing One distinctively pigmented cell (stigma) on leading edge of wing Abdomen: long and slender

1.1.2. Damselflies

Immatures:
Labial "mask" adapted for catching prey Three leaf-like gills at rear of abdomen Body usually long and slender

Adults:
Antennae short and bristle-like Compound eyes large, often covering most of the head Four membraneous wings with many veins and crossveins Base of wings narrow, stalk-like One distinctively pigmented cell (stigma) on leading edge of wing Abdomen: long and slender Most dragonflies and damselflies are regarded as beneficial insects because they feed on small flying insects such as mosquitoes. They may also catch and eat honey bees -- then they are regarded as pests by the beekeepers.

1.1.3. Ecology and life cycle Odonates are aquatic or semi-aquatic as juveniles. Thus, adults are most often seen near bodies of water and are frequently described as aquatic insects. However, many species range far from water. They are carnivorous throughout their life, mostly feeding on smaller insects. Male Odonata have complex genitalia, different to those found in other

insects. These include grasping cerci for holding the female and a secondary set of copulatory organs on the abdomen in which the sperm are held after being produced by the primary genitals. To mate, the male grasps the female by the thorax or head and bends her abdomen so that her own genitalia can be grasped by the copulatory organs holding the sperm.

Eggs are laid in water or on vegetation near water or wet places, and hatch to produce pronymphs which live off the nutrients that were in the egg. They then develop into instars with approximately 9 14 molts that are (in most species) voracious predators on other aquatic organisms, including small fishes. The nymphs grow and molt, usually in dusk or dawn, into the flying teneral immature adults, whose color is not yet developed. These insects later transform into reproductive adults. Male odonates have a copulatory organ on the ventral side of abdominal segment 2 in which they store spermatozoa; they mate by holding the female's head (Anisoptera) or thorax (Zygoptera) with claspers located at the tip of the male abdomen; the female bends her abdomen forward to touch the male organ and receive sperm. This is called the "wheel" position.

2. Blattodea - Cockroaches

2.1.

Physical Features

Adults
Antennae filiform Mouthparts hypognathous mandibulate,

Immatures
Structurally similar to adults Developing wingpads often visible

 Pronotum shield like, covering much of thorax Front wings narrow, leathery (tegmina); hind wings fan-like Hind legs usually adapted for jumping (hind femur enlarged) Tarsi 3- or 4-segmented Cerci short, unsegmented 2.2. Economic Importance

on thorax

Orthoptera is generally regarded as a dominant group in most terrestrial habitats. These insects feed on all types of plants and often cause serious economic damage. Swarms of grasshoppers (locusts) regularly appear in parts of Africa, Asia, and North America and destroy crops over wide land areas. Mole crickets are major pests in lawns and golf courses in the southern United States. Several species of field crickets are reared commercially as fish bait. Cockroaches are scavengers that eat all kinds of materials including paper, clothing, and dead animals and plants. They are adapted to live in almost any environment and have been on earth longer than any other winged insect -- over 340 million years. Cockroaches like warm, humid, dark environments. They usually feed at night. Cockroaches have flattened bodies that make it easy for them to crawl into small spaces. Long antennae on the front of their heads help them feel their way around.

3. ORTHOPTERA
3.1. Grasshopper

3.1.1. Physical Features

Adults
Antennae filiform Mouthparts mandibulate, hypognathous Pronotum shield like, covering much of thorax Front wings narrow, leathery (tegmina); hind wings fan-like Hind legs usually adapted for jumping (hind femur enlarged) Tarsi 3- or 4-segmented Cerci short, unsegmented 3.1.2. Economic Importance
Orthoptera is generally regarded as a dominant group in most terrestrial habitats. These insects feed on all types of plants and often cause serious economic damage. Swarms of grasshoppers (locusts) regularly appear in parts of Africa, Asia, and North America and destroy crops over wide land areas. Mole crickets are major pests in lawns and golf courses in the southern United States. Several species of field crickets are reared commercially as fish bait.

Immatures

Structurally similar to adults Developing wingpads often visible on thorax

3.2.

Mantis

3.2.1. Physical Features

Adults:
Filiform antennae Head triangular with well-developed compound eyes Mouthparts mandibulate, hypognathous Prothorax elongate with large, spiny front legs adapted for catching prey Front wings thickened, more slender than hind wings Tarsi 5-segmented Cerci short, multi-segmented

Immatures:
Structurally similar to adults Developing wingpads often visible on thorax 3.2.2. Economic Importance Generally considered to be highly beneficial insects because they feed on other insects. Since they are cannibalistic and also feed on other beneficial insects, their value as biocontrol agents is probably rather limited.

3.3.

Mosquito / Fly

3.3.1. Physical Features

Immatures:
Culiciform Head capsule present with chewing mouthparts Legs absent Vermiform (maggots) Without legs or a distinct head capsule Mouthparts reduced; only present as mouth hooks

Adults:
Antennae filiform, stylate, or aristate Mouthparts suctorial (haustellate) Mesothorax larger than pro- or metathorax One pair of wings (front); hind wings reduced (halteres) Tarsi 5-segmented

3.3.2. Economic Importance The Diptera probably have a greater economic impact on humans than any other group of insects. Some flies are pests of agricultural plants, others transmit diseases to humans and domestic animals. On the other hand, many flies are beneficial -- particularly those that pollinate flowering plants, assist in the decomposition of organic matter, or serve as biocontrol agents of insect pests.

4.
4.1.

Hemiptera (True Bug)

Physical Features

Adults:
Antennae slender with 4-5 segments Proboscis 3-4 segmented, arising from front of head and curving below body when not in use Pronotum usually large, trapezoidal or rounded Triangular scutellum present behind pronotum Front wings with basal half leathery and apical half membranous (hemelytra). Wings lie flat on the back at rest, forming an "X". Tarsi 2- or 3-segmented

Immatures:
Structurally similar to adults Always lacking wings

4.1.1. Economic Importance Plant feeding bugs are important pests of many crop plants. They may cause localized injury to plant tissues, they may weaken plants by removing sap, and they may also transmit plant pathogens. Predatory species of Heteroptera are generally regarded as beneficial insects, but those that feed on blood may

transmit human diseases. Chagas disease, for example, is transmitted to humans by conenose bugs (genus Triatoma, family Reduviidae). Although bed bugs (family Cimicidae) can inflict annoying bites, there is little evidence that they regularly transmit any human or animal pathogen.

5. Lepidoptera

5.1.

Physical Features

Immatures
Eruciform (caterpillar-like) Head capsule well-developed, with chewing mouthparts Abdomen with up to 5 pairs of prolegs

Adults
Mouthparts form a coiled tube (proboscis) beneath the head Antennal type: Butterflies: knobbed or hooked at tip Moths: thread-like, spindle-

shaped, or comb-like Front wings large, triangular; hind wings large, fan-shaped Body and wings covered with small, overlapping scales

5.2. Economic Importance Although many Lepidoptera are valued for their beauty, and a few are useful in commerce (e.g., the silkworm, Bombyx mori), the larvae of these insects are probably more destructive to agricultural crops and forest trees than any other group of insects.

Birds
1. Laughing Dove
The species is usually seen in pairs or small parties and only rarely in larger groups. Larger groups are formed especially when drinking at waterholes in arid regions. Small numbers assemble on trees near waterholes before flying to the water's edge where they are able to suck up water like other members of the pigeon family. Laughing Doves eat the fallen seeds, mainly of grasses, other vegetable matter and small ground insects such as termites and beetles. They are fairly terrestrial, foraging on the ground in grasslands and cultivation. Their flight is quick and direct with the regular beats and an occasional sharp flick of the wings which are characteristic of pigeons in general

2. Rufous Treepie
The Rufous Treepie is an arboreal omnivore feeding almost completely in trees on fruits, seeds, invertebrates, small reptiles and the eggs and young of birds; it has also been known to take flesh from recently killed carcasses. It is an agile forager, clinging and clambering through the branches and sometimes joining mixed hunting parties along with species such as drongos and babblers. It has been observed feeding on ecto-parasites of wild deer. Like many other corvids they are known to cache

food. They have been considered to be beneficial to palm cultivation in southern India due to their foraging on the grubs of the destructive weevil Rhynchophorus ferrugineus. They are known to feed on the fruits of Trichosanthes palmata which are toxic to mammals. The breeding season in India is April to June. The nest is built in trees and bushes and is usually a shallow platform. There are usually 3-5 eggs laid.

3.

Spotted owls

Spotted owls are primarily nocturnal hunters and eat flying squirrels, wood rats, mice and other small rodents. They are also known to eat birds, insects and reptiles.

4. White-browed Scrubwrens
White-browed Scrubwrens feed mostly on insects and other small arthropods. Occasionally, they eat some seeds

5. Ashy Prinia
The Ashy Prinia builds its nest close to the ground in a shrub or tall grass and lays 35 eggs. The usual nest is placed low in a bush and consists of leaves stitched together with webs, lined with hair The diet of the lapwing includes a range of insects, snails and other invertebrates, mostly picked from the ground. They may also feed on some grains. They feed mainly during the day but they may also feed at night. They may sometimes make use of the legs to disturb insect prey.

6. Red Watt led

The diet of the lapwing includes a range of insects, snails and other invertebrates, mostly picked from the ground. They may also feed on some grains. They feed mainly during the day but they may also feed at night. They may sometimes make use of the legs to disturb insect prey.

Conservation Overview:
the loss of grasslands has been have been impacted by conversion to agriculture, development, and invasive plant species. In some areas, past grazing has impacted grasslands, affecting plant composition and structure. Also, non-native species were historically seeded for livestock forage in some grasslands, decreasing the abundance and diversity of native plants. However, grazing practices become more sustainable over time, and carefully managed grazing can help maintain grassland structure where prescribed fire is not practical or desired. Disruption of historical fire regimes has allowed for shrubs or trees to encroach, replacing grasslands with forest. In addition, some foothill grasslands have been converted to forests through tree planting