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caseyotis wrote:My partner and I collaborate to cover all 100 families/30 orders, and we didn't know all of the families. There were definitely some rough patches, like Orthoptera and some Coleoptera and Hemiptera IDs. But we knew the orders, definitely, and most of the families.
I definitely had trouble with Orthoptera, and I'm afraid I don't really have many good tips for that. >.> Sorry.

I don't really know why I am having a hard time with Orthoptera families... probably the spellings.
For invites, I didn't really have the best partner, but I have a better one now. I think we will collaborate on the list as well.

SOnerd wrote:

caseyotis wrote:My partner and I collaborate to cover all 100 families/30 orders, and we didn't know all of the families. There were definitely some rough patches, like Orthoptera and some Coleoptera and Hemiptera IDs. But we knew the orders, definitely, and most of the families.
I definitely had trouble with Orthoptera, and I'm afraid I don't really have many good tips for that. >.> Sorry.

I don't really know why I am having a hard time with Orthoptera families... probably the spellings.
For invites, I didn't really have the best partner, but I have a better one now. I think we will collaborate on the list as well.

They are very similar in spelling and characteristics, yeah. I'm sure you'll be able to tell them apart sooner or later. And if I may offer an odd suggestion; you may want to familiarize yourself with some Google Images. I remember seeing some images that I had already seen while studying. It might not be all that useful, but it will also help you differentiate between families.

I wish you luck.

caseyotis wrote: They are very similar in spelling and characteristics, yeah. I'm sure you'll be able to tell them apart sooner or later. And if I may offer an odd suggestion; you may want to familiarize yourself with some Google Images. I remember seeing some images that I had already seen while studying. It might not be all that useful, but it will also help you differentiate between families.

I wish you luck.

Thanks!
I haven't had as hard of a time IDing the Orthoptera as I have had spelling the names.... I think I'll look on Google Images some

Well, you can take the list in with you.

caseyotis wrote:Well, you can take the list in with you.

I already have a notes page (packed to the rim) and a field guide. Am I also allowed the list?

SOnerd wrote:

caseyotis wrote:Well, you can take the list in with you.

I already have a notes page (packed to the rim) and a field guide. Am I also allowed the list?

The list has to be included on your single page, so no. However, I'm sure you can fit the family names on there somewhere (and if you can't, you might want to pencil them into your field guide).

caseyotis wrote:

SOnerd wrote:

caseyotis wrote:Well, you can take the list in with you.

I already have a notes page (packed to the rim) and a field guide. Am I also allowed the list?

The list has to be included on your single page, so no. However, I'm sure you can fit the family names on there somewhere (and if you can't, you might want to pencil them into your field guide).

What I did was make a table with the Order names in caps, the family names lowercase for the first column, the common name for the second column, the page number in the guide the third column, and space for notes and stuff the last fourth column. 130 rows in all to fit all the orders and families.

Also, I highly suggest highlighting the bugs which are in the families on the list. I have the NWF and it works beautifully, especially for a bug I have no idea what it is but I know it's in an order(an order that has several families like Coleoptera or something) so I flip through the whole order, looking for similar bugs and highlighted names.

ceg7654 wrote: What I did was make a table with the Order names in caps, the family names lowercase for the first column, the common name for the second column, the page number in the guide the third column, and space for notes and stuff the last fourth column. 130 rows in all to fit all the orders and families.

Also, I highly suggest highlighting the bugs which are in the families on the list. I have the NWF and it works beautifully, especially for a bug I have no idea what it is but I know it's in an order(an order that has several families like Coleoptera or something) so I flip through the whole order, looking for similar bugs and highlighted names.

Yeah I am going to highlight important info in my field guide about each family/order. I actually have an entire side of my notes dedicated to the list, with info about the families.

Hey guys! I was wondering what orders' families people have noticed get tested more often than others. Also, besides using the field guide, what are people doing to efficiently recognize which family in the order a certain insect is? One more thing. How are you formatting your cheat sheets? Thanks!

jasontang wrote:Hey guys! I was wondering what orders' families people have noticed get tested more often than others. Also, besides using the field guide, what are people doing to efficiently recognize which family in the order a certain insect is? One more thing. How are you formatting your cheat sheets? Thanks!

I have noticed that Dactylopiidae has been on literally every test I've taken (4 tests). Probably because they are weird looking and most kids get confused by them. It was just ID, no actual facts. Also, one of my tests had a lot about grasshoppers and cicadas.

To ID, I would suggest using the tester (http://scioly.org/users/balsa/public/Sc ... index.html) to help with identification. It helps a ton. Practice makes perfect. I have used my cheat sheet a lot to help me learn (see below)

For my notes, one side is dedicated entirely to information about all 100 families. I usually put on defining characteristics, size, human impact, and diet. For the ones that need it, I put info about the larval forms and life cycle.
The other side is for info about 30 families, the same stuff as above. Also it has types of legs, wings, antennae.... and anatomical diagrams.