Ask An Entomologist: Isopods
March 4th, 2007 by Kelley
PJ:
“How do isopods differ from insects?”
Well isopods are not insects at all (they are crustaceans), they still belong to the same phylum as insects though.
Just based on morphology isopods have 2 pair of antennae while insects only have one pair. They have simple eyes while insects have compound eyes. They have 7 pairs of legs where as insects only have 3 pairs.
There are some other differences too…but these are probably the biggest differences between isopods and insects from an outward appearance.
Found an insect I’ve never seen before
Question I live in Danville, Illinois, I found it in my garden while pulling weeds. It is 3/4 of an inch long. It has head, thorax, abdomen and 6 legs, antennea appear black 1/4+ inch. Small head green ontop, orange underneath with orange and white mouth parts. It has a semi hairy metallic dark green thorax on top, black and white striped on the underside. The abdomen is orange with a small black dot in individual segment of abdomen on top, underneath is solid orange. Its legs are orange with black and white spots or bands, the back legs are very large like a bumble bee and have a large clump of black hairs or fuzzy stuff. The wings are very close to the body, the abdomen is exposed the wings do not cover it, they are very dark metallic green. I do not see any kind of stinger. I do have a okay digital photo of it in a jar (birds eye view). I’ve seen many insects growing up in on a farm in southern Illinois but I’ve never seen one of these. Please let me know what this is? If it is a helpful insect I’ll release it ASAP.