ACE Insect Taxonomy & Classification 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The family Muscidae, which includes the house fly (Musca domestica), belongs to which order?
- Hemiptera
- Coleoptera
- Diptera (Correct answer)
- Blattodea
Correct answer: Diptera
House flies belong to the family Muscidae within the order Diptera (true flies), characterized by two functional wings and halteres.
Question 2: Aphids, scale insects, and whiteflies are all classified within which insect order?
- Thysanoptera
- Hemiptera (Correct answer)
- Psocoptera
- Diptera
Correct answer: Hemiptera
Aphids, scales, whiteflies, and true bugs all belong to Hemiptera, characterized by piercing-sucking mouthparts and, in many subgroups, partially hardened forewings (hemelytra).
Question 3: What is the correct scientific name format for a species, following the rules of binomial nomenclature?
- GENUS SPECIES (both capitalized)
- Genus species (genus capitalized, species lowercase) (Correct answer)
- genus Species (species capitalized)
- genus species (both lowercase)
Correct answer: Genus species (genus capitalized, species lowercase)
Binomial nomenclature requires the genus to be capitalized and the species epithet to be lowercase, both written in italics (e.g., Musca domestica).
Question 4: The German cockroach has the scientific name Blattella germanica. To which family does it belong?
- Blattidae
- Ectobiidae (Correct answer)
- Cryptocercidae
- Blaberidae
Correct answer: Ectobiidae
Blattella germanica (German cockroach) belongs to the family Ectobiidae (formerly Blattellidae), which includes small-sized cockroaches found in domestic settings.
Question 5: Which taxonomic tool uses a series of paired, contrasting statements to lead the user step-by-step to an identification?
- Morphological matrix
- Dichotomous key (Correct answer)
- Phylogenetic tree
- Cladogram
Correct answer: Dichotomous key
A dichotomous key presents a series of paired choices (couplets), each leading to another couplet or to a final identification, guiding the user through observable characteristics.
Question 6: In modern classification, termites (formerly order Isoptera) are now placed within which order?
- Orthoptera
- Blattodea (Correct answer)
- Neuroptera
- Mantodea
Correct answer: Blattodea
Molecular phylogenetics has confirmed that termites are highly derived social cockroaches and are now classified within the order Blattodea rather than as a separate order.
Question 7: Which order contains fleas, which are wingless ectoparasites with laterally compressed bodies adapted for moving through host fur?
- Phthiraptera
- Siphonaptera (Correct answer)
- Hemiptera
- Diptera
Correct answer: Siphonaptera
Fleas belong to the order Siphonaptera, meaning 'tube without wings,' reflecting their wingless condition and siphon-like piercing-sucking mouthparts.
ACE Insect Taxonomy & Classification 2
The family Muscidae, which includes the house fly (Musca domestica), belongs to which order?