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Common names: insects
Probability of encounter: high
Quarantine importance: high.
Similarity to mites:
small size and obscure segmentation in some (e.g. scale insect crawlers).
Insects can usually be distinguished from mites by their antennae, compound
eyes, wings, or clear segmentation.
Morphology
Normal adult length: usually >3 mm (range 0.6 - >100 mm)
Body tagmata: head, thorax, abdomen
Eyes: various - absent, compound, ocelli
Antennae: present, variously formed
Mouthparts: mandible, maxillae, labium, labrum, maxillary and labial
palps usually distinct
Legs: 3 thoracic pairs
Distinguishing features: wings (when present); hexapod thorax, head
with antennae, compound eyes.
Comments: Insects have a head with antennae (and often compound eyes); a thorax with 3 pairs of legs (and often 1-2 pairs of wings); and an abdomen that usually lacks styli, but may have an ovipositor.
Diversity: lots
References
Tree of Life - http://tolweb.org/tree?group=Insecta&contgroup=Hexapoda