The classification of insects is based primarily on the physical characteristics and relationships of the insects. The order of classification is as follows: Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, and Species. Most scientists agree that there are 5 Kingdoms of living organisms on Earth;

- Animalia (animals)
- Fungi (molds, mushrooms, and yeasts)
- Monera (simple-celled organisms - bacteria, blue-green algae)
- Plantae (plants)
- Protista (one-celled organisms - protozoan)

   Starting from the top, all animals are placed within the Kingdom, Animalia. Members of Animalia are multicellular, and are heterotrophs (het-er-eh-trophs; relying directly or indirectly on other organisms for nutrition). Approximately 9 or 10 million species of animals inhabit this wonderful planet! Animals are classified by dividing them within each Kingdom. For example, the scientific name for a Hercules Beetle is Dynastes hercules (die-nuh-stees, her-kyew-lees). Its classification is:

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Arthropoda
Class	Insecta
Order	Coleoptera
Family	Scarabaeidae
Genus	Dynastes
Species	hercules

   The Kingdom Animalia is divided into 34 phyla (plural of phylum). All insects are placed into the Phylum, Arthropoda (arthropods). Arthropods include: insects, centipedes, spiders, scorpions, and crustaceans. Characteristics shared by arthropods are an exoskeleton made up primarily of the protein chitin (kite-'n), and a segmented body (head, thorax, and abdomen) to which jointed appendages (arms, legs, and feet) are articulated in pairs. Three-quarters of the planet's animal species belong to the Phylum Arthropoda.

   Arthropods are then further divided, with insects being placed into the Class, Insecta, separating them from centipedes, spider, scorpions, and crustaceans. Insects can be found in almost all habitats; from the driest deserts to freshwater ponds, from tropical rainforests to the arctic regions. Characteristics of insects include a body composed of three sections (head, thorax, and abdomen); a pair of eyes with usually 3 ocelli (oh-sell-eye; plural of ocellus; small simple eye) located on the head; a pair of antennae (an-ten-nee; plural of antenna), also on the head; mouthparts consisting of a labrum (lay-brum; upper lip), a pair of mandibles (front jaws, used for seizing and biting food), a pair of maxillae (max-ill-ee; plural of maxilla; back jaws), a labium (lay-bee-em; lower lip), a hypopharynx (hypo-far-inks; tonguelike), two pairs of wings (unlike vertebrate wings), and three pairs of walking legs.

   Insects are then divided into Orders. The Class Insecta has approximately 30 Orders, however, many Taxonomists disagree on the actual number and their names. Following the previous example, I will choose the Order, Coleoptera (coe-lee-op-ter-ra; Beetles). The Latin name Coleoptera derives from the Greek words coleos and pteron, meaning "sheath-winged". Beetles are the most numerous Order in the Animal Kingdom; representing more than a third of all known insect species, and a fourth of all animal species. They live throughout the entire world, except for Antarctica.

   Characteristics of beetles include many unique attributes. While most beetles can fly, many do not have the ability and live primarily on the ground. Their cuticles (kyoo-tih-kuls; hard protective layer covering the body), commonly shiny brown or black, often display intricate patterns, colored spots, stripes, and/or other designs. In some species, the surface refracts various wavelengths of light, which produces a metallic sheen or iridescent hues. Their antennae normally consist of 11 segments, displayed in a variety of shapes; beadlike, club-shaped, cylindrical, saw-toothed, or fan-shaped. Scientists use antennae shapes as a means of classifying what Family a beetle belongs to.

   Beetles also have compound eyes with a wide field of vision. They are very sensitive to movement and some are able to see in color. Their mouthparts consist of four main components: the labium, the labrum, a pair of mandibles, and a pair of jointed maxillae. They have a pair of membranous hind wings as well as wing covers, called elytra (el-it-truh; plural of elytron). The wings fold to fit under the elytra when not in use. Behind the beetle’s thorax is its abdomen, which houses the digestive and reproductive organs. External openings run along the sides of the abdomen, called spiracles (sper-eh-kuls; breathing orifice of the respiratory system). The elytra cover the top of the abdomen.

   They have six jointed legs, each with five parts. The end parts are called tarsi (tar-see; plural of tarsus; feet). Each tarsi has three to five segments known as tarsomeres (tar-so-mare-es). Scientists use tarsomeres as another means of classifying what Family a beetle belongs to. Some species have an adhesive pad on the bottom of one to four tarsomeres, which enables them to walk up vertical objects. A pair of acute, hook-like claws are attached to the last segment of each tarsus.

   While most beetle species are phytophagous (fie-tef-fay-gus; feeding on plants), many are predacious (preh-day-shus; predatory), fungivorous (fun-jiv-er-us; feeding on fungi), or parasitoids (par-ess-sit-toids; parasitic). They communicate with one another in many ways; by use of pheromones (fair-eh-moans; chemicals that are secreted as an attractant of the opposite sex), by stridulation (strij-eh-lay-shun; shrill grating, chirping, or hissing sound often made by rubbing body parts together), or by visual means (e.g. fireflies).

   Modern classifications of the Order Coleoptera include approximately 150 families; but again, Taxonomists disagree on the actual number. Continuing now with the previous examples, I will choose the Family, Scarabaeidae (scare-ah-bee-eh-dee). The Family Scarabaeidae (Scarab Beetles) contains approximately 35,000 species world wide that have been formally described by scientists, with new species still being discovered. And believe it or not, new species of Scarabs have recently been discovered right here in the United States!

   Scarab Beetles are usually always robust, varying greatly in size/shape. The larvae (lar-vee; plural of larva; wormlike stage before metamorphosis) of this family are cylindrical and c-shaped. Most Scarab species are docile, but some can be very aggressive, including while in their larval stage (e.g. Chalcosoma caucasus).

   Such large Families may also include Sub-families. Though Family names always end in, "idae," sub-family names end in, "inae". The Family Scarabaeidae includes a few sub-families, the most popular being:

- Cetoniinae (Flower Beetles and others)
- Dynastinae (Rhinoceros and Elephant Beetles)
- Euchirinae (Long-armed Chafers)
- Melolonthinae (May or June Beetles, Leaf Chafers, and others)
- Rutelinae (Shining Leaf Chafers and Monkey Beetles)
- Scarabaeinae (Dung Beetles)

   Each of these sub-families are groups with common attributes (collectors tend to have their favorites). For instance, Cetoniinae, normally bright in colors (e.g. Eudicella gralli alaeri), usually devour nectar, sap, or juices of ripening fruits; wheras Dynastinae, normally dark brown/black and males tending to have impressive horns (e.g. Megasoma actaeon), usually attack stems or roots of plants. Sub-family Dynastinae are the largest known Scarab Beetles in the world, with some measuring up to 170 mm (6¾ inches) long! The actual largest beetles in the world would probably be, Macrodontia cervicornis and Titanus giganteus for length (over 180 mm; 7 in), and Goliathus goliathus, Megasoma actaeon, and Megasoma mars for mass/weight (over 113 grams; ¼ pound)! Though Dynastes hercules and Dynastes neptunus may reach lengths of 170 mm, half of that is due to the horn protruding from their thorax. (Note: The smallest known beetle in the world would probably be, Nanosella fungi, inhabiting the eastern United States; 0.035 mm)

   Sub-families are then further divided into groups labeled Genera (jen-er-uh; plural of Genus (jeen-us)). The largest Dynastinae belong to the Genus, Dynastes. The Latin name Dynastes derives from the Greek word dynasthai, meaning "to be able". Other translations equate to "lord, master, power, ruler, or strong"; all in which represent this Genus very well.

   There are 6 species in the Genus Dynastes (D. granti, D. hercules, D. hyllus, D. neptunus, D. satanas, and D. tityus). Two of these inhabit the United States (D. granti and D. tityus); though, they're not nearly as big as the Species, hercules (her-kyew-lees). The species category is fundamental in taxonomic classification as it consists of related organisms that are capable of interbreeding. When the same species of different geographically isolated populations interbreed, a taxonomic subdivision is created, labeled Sub-species (equivalency of human interracial breeding).

   Like many other species, D. hercules certainly has many sub-species. Examples would include:

- D.h. ecuatorianus
- D.h. lichyi
- D.h. occidentalis
- D.h. paschoali
- D.h. septentrionalis

   Some sub-species can be rare. Serious collectors often desire them all in order to complete sets for their collection. They can all be differentiated by the male's horn structure and sometimes by their maximum sizes.

   It is important to note that Genus names are always capitalized, species names are always lower case, and the complete scientific name is either italicized or underlined. Now, when you see a name simply stating, Dynastes hercules, one can only assume that it's not a sub-species of the original hercules species. If so, then proper identification would be, Dynastes hercules hercules. When you see, Dynastes sp., this implies that the species is unknown. When you see, Dynastes hercules ssp., this implies that the subspecies is unkown. When you see, Dynastes spp., this is refering to all species within the Genus, Dynastes.

   Most species also have Common Names. But since common names can vary from one place to the next, a scientist named Carl Linnaeus suggested in the 1750's that an international method of classifying objects be set up so that scientists all over the world could better understand each other. For example, a Stenopelmatus fuscus may be referred to as a "Potato Bug" by some in one part of the country, but as a "Jerusalem Cricket" by others in another part of the country. With this classification system in place, using scientific names for an animal anywhere in the world, allows others to know exactly what someone is referring to.

   OK, now if you're a beginner that was quite a bit of information! Not sure of what to make of it all? Are you at the least bit interested? If so, you'll soon find yourself delving into the wonderful world of Entomology; the study of insects. You'd best prepare yourself to be fascinated!