Entomology B/C

[silverheart7]

For the larvae on Odonata, do need to know the larvae for each individual family or just what the larvae of dragonflies generally look like?

Ha, that was my earlier question.
I'm going to assume that we'll need to know the difference between damselflies and dragonflies, at least, on the regional level. Maybe not even that.

This website should be helpful: http://www.waterbugkey.vcsu.edu/php/fam ... &o=Odonata

[caseyotis]

For the larvae on Odonata, do need to know the larvae for each individual family or just what the larvae of dragonflies generally look like?

Ha, that was my earlier question.
I'm going to assume that we'll need to know the difference between damselflies and dragonflies, at least, on the regional level. Maybe not even that.

This website should be helpful: http://www.waterbugkey.vcsu.edu/php/fam ... &o=Odonata

Ooh, thanks!

[JudyR]

I noticed that there are quite a few Insect common names misspelled or totally different from the names listed in the Audubon Insect and Spider Field Guide. For example on the Official Insect list Item 52. Coccinellidae-lady-bird-beetles (ladybugs). The field guide doesn't have "lady-bird-beetles" anywhere. Item 32. Dactylopiidae-Scale (twig or leaf)??? In the Field Guide it says they are "cochineal bugs". How are the judges going to grade this? And how will we know how they are grading it??? "Any arbitrations questions will defer to this (referring to said book) resource for the correct answer." The problems is, if we put cochineal bug but the judges mark us wrong thinking it should be Scale Bug, how will our Coaches know to even question this? Any thoughts? There are other examples of this on the list, but you get the idea... THANK YOU!!!

[silverheart7]

I noticed that there are quite a few Insect common names misspelled or totally different from the names listed in the Audubon Insect and Spider Field Guide. For example on the Official Insect list Item 52. Coccinellidae-lady-bird-beetles (ladybugs). The field guide doesn't have "lady-bird-beetles" anywhere. Item 32. Dactylopiidae-Scale (twig or leaf)??? In the Field Guide it says they are "cochineal bugs". How are the judges going to grade this? And how will we know how they are grading it??? "Any arbitrations questions will defer to this (referring to said book) resource for the correct answer." The problems is, if we put cochineal bug but the judges mark us wrong thinking it should be Scale Bug, how will our Coaches know to even question this? Any thoughts? There are other examples of this on the list, but you get the idea... THANK YOU!!!

Generally, we are asked for scientific classifications instead of common names, because the same name can indicate two completely different families according to region or resource. Unfortunately, you can still be asked about common names, but that should ordinarily not be the case.

[ettobrutus]

Recently, Collembola (springtales) have been declassified as insects, because they have internal mouthpieces. While they are obviously still "bugs," they no longer fall under the category of insect, and therefore should not be in an event called entomology (the study of insects). Should I study them anyway?
Technically, A, B, and C of the official 2014 entomology list are incorrect.
What should I do?

[henceagrin36]

Recently, Collembola (springtales) have been declassified as insects, because they have internal mouthpieces. While they are obviously still "bugs," they no longer fall under the category of insect, and therefore should not be in an event called entomology (the study of insects). Should I study them anyway?
Technically, A, B, and C of the official 2014 entomology list are incorrect.
What should I do?

You still have to study them. You are right about Protura, Collembola, and Diplura, but there is nothing we can do as of now. The Audubon guide has not been updated for a decade or two (it's pretty old), but since the event is going off of Audubon, you still have to study them no matter what. Tests are based off the rules, and the rules are based off of Audubon.
Those three orders are not the only ones. There have been lots of changes to the taxonomy of insects. There have been families that Audubon considers as separate that have reclassified as the same family in newer guides. There are superfamilies instead of the families Audubon has listed. A lot has been changed.
Unfortunately, we still have to go off the old classification, so study the old classification system Audubon uses instead of the updated classification.
Hope that helps.

[3starBlueberry]

How are you guys approaching the whole tabbing/navigating situation? Coming from Rocks, Ento tabbing seems like an awfully daunting task.

The Audubon guide is really confusing to use since pictures and info are separate. I can see why people would use it since it's the official insect guide for scioly, but I think other guides are a lot easier to use, like the National Wildlife Federation guide. If you do want to use Audubon though it would probably make sense to just tab the pictures section for easier identification in competition.

I recommend just making tabs that work for you and practicing, practicing, practicing. Eventually, you'll know where the bugs are without even needing to check the tabs, if you do it enough.

great ideas. not really sure how it is in other states, but in New York, a clarification was posted a few weeks back about tabbing. it says, and I quote,

Entomology - B & C Division (11/19/13): Students may write in their field guide only. Information on post-its or pages glued into the guide will not be acceptable.

I hope that this gets to everyone who needs to see it, because it would be absolutely HORRIBLE to have to take out all of your tabs on competition day!

[SuperAJ]

So I was doing TPS and I saw a leaf footed bug. Soon it climbed into the hot water bath for the thermo part and passed on. When I proceeded to take the ento test, it turned out that a live specimen had gone missing...

[caseyotis]

great ideas. not really sure how it is in other states, but in New York, a clarification was posted a few weeks back about tabbing. it says, and I quote,

Entomology - B & C Division (11/19/13): Students may write in their field guide only. Information on post-its or pages glued into the guide will not be acceptable.

I hope that this gets to everyone who needs to see it, because it would be absolutely HORRIBLE to have to take out all of your tabs on competition day!

I think this is perfectly reasonable. The 3-word limit on tabs would stay, though. Right? Three words is more than enough.

[silverheart7]

I think this is perfectly reasonable. The 3-word limit on tabs would stay, though. Right? Three words is more than enough.

Yes, because it states in the rules that the resource may be "annotated and tabbed," and New York hasn't directly contradicted that rule.