Entomology Glossary
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Abiotic:
non-living.
Abomasum:
fourth and final region of stomach in Ruminantia.
Acarinum:
small invagination in the abdomen of Old World carpenter bees providing
protection for symbiotic mites.
Accessory genitalia:
seen only in Odonata on sternites of second and third abdominal segments.
Acetylcholine: an acetyl ester of choline involved
in the synaptic transmission between nerve cells.
Acetylcholine esterase:
enzyme within the synaptic
gap that hydrolyses acetylcholine to choline and acetic acid.
Acicular:
pointed, needle shaped.
Acidopore:
flexible setae fringed nozzle in
formicine ants.
Acrididae:
short-horned grasshoppers Orthoptera
suborder Caelifera.
Acrostichal bristle:
the two rows of setae which
are seen lying on either side of the thorax in diptera.
Active immunity: resistance to a disease acquired
by an animal as the result of antibody production in response to antigens.
Aculeate: to possess a sting-hymenoptera.
Acuminate: tapering down to a point.
Adeagus: the inserted part of the male genitalia
in copulation carrying the sperm into the female.
Adecticous:
arthropods having non-articulated,
often reduced mandibles.
Aedeagus
intermittent organ of males of most
insect groups, often used for identification.
Aeshnidae:
dragonflies.
Aestivation:
dormancy in hot dry conditions
analogous to hibernation in cold environments.
Alar Squama:
central or middle of the three
outgrowths seen at the base of wings in various flies.
Alitrunk:
thorax and propodeum of narrow waisted
hymenopterans.
Alula: outer of the three outgrowths seen at the
base of wings in various flies.
Annulate: with ring-like markings.
Antennae: sensory organs on the head-usually
elongate.
Antenodal Veins:
in dragonfly or damselfly wings,
the small cross-veins between the base and the nodus.
Anterior:
frontal region.
Aphididae:
order Hemiptera, suborder Homoptera,
soft bodied insects feeding on plant sap, greenfly, blackfly.
Apical:
concerning the tip.
Apocrita:
order Hymenoptera, ants bees, wasps.
Apodeme: internal projection of cuticle for the
attachment of muscles in insects.
Apodous:
without legs.
Aposematic:
a Color form or behavior which
serves as a warning of distaste or danger, such as the yellow and black of a
wasp.
Appendage:
organ or limb attached to the body by a
joint.
Appendix:
short vein, especially that seen as a
short continuation after a main vein has changed direction.
Apterous:
without wings.
Apterygote:
Any of the primitive insects which
have never developed wings during their history- bristletails.
Aquatic:
living in water.
Aradidae:
order Hemiptera, barkbugs, most feed on
fungi under the bark of dead trees.
Arbovirus:
term applied to a virus that can replicate in both arthropods
and vertebrates.
Areolate:
division of an area into smaller areas-areolae-by lines or cracks
such as a insects wing.
Arista:
bristle-like outgrowths from the third antennal segment of some diptera.
Aristate: bearing an arista- Tsetse flies.
Arolium: pad found between the claws on an insects foot.
Arthropoda: a major
division within the Animal Kingdom having external
skeletons.
Assassin bug:
general name of bugs belonging to the family Reduviidae.
Attini: foliage cutting ants which feed on fungi grown on cut foliage,
subfamily Myrmicinae.
Bacterium: Bacteria in the blood.
Bacilluria: Having bacteria in the urine.
Bacteriostatic: preventing the growth of bacteria.
Basal Lamina : one of two layers that form the basement membrane, a
amorphous sheet which underlies epithelial cells.
Basal: the base of a structure-usually that nearest to the body.
Basitarsus: first and usually the largest segment of the tarsus.
Bedbug: Cimex lectularius.
Bee-flies: common name for Bombyliidae.
Bibionidae: fever flies, March flies. Order Diptera.
Bifid: split in two.
Biological Control: control of pest species by the use of other living
organisms.
Biotic: living.
Bipectinate: concerned mainly with the antennae-feathery like extensions
projecting out from two sides of a central axis.
Biting Lice: Mallophaga.
Biting Midges: Ceratopogonidae.
Blattodea: cockroaches.
Blister beetle: Meloidae.
Bombus: bumble-bees.
Bombyliidae: bee-flies, order Diptera, suborder-Brachycera.
Bot Fly: common name for Gasterophilidae and Oestridae.
Brachypterous: to have short wings.
Buccal: pertaining to the mouth.
Buffalo Gnats: common name for blackflies, Simuliidae.
Bugs: common term for Hemiptera.
Bulb: rounded expansion of an organ.
Bursa Copulatrix: part of female genitalia which receives sperm and the
adeagus, used as an identifying structure.
Butterflies: Lepidoptera.
Byrrhidae: pill beetles, order Coleoptera.
Byssoid: to consist of fine threads.
Caddis Flies: order Trichoptera.
Cecum: a pouch in which in some animals houses a bacterial population
which is involved in the digestion of cellulose.
Calliphoridae: a suborder of Dipteran flies- blowflies such as
greenbottles and bluebottles.
Callus: rounded swelling used especially to describe swollen regions at
the front and back of certain diptera.
Calopterygidae: family of damselflies.
Calypter: also known as the thoracic squama, the inner most of three
outgrowths at the base of the wing in certain diptera.
Campanulate: bell shaped.
Campodeiform: concerning larva-elongated, flattened with developed legs
and antennae, seen in many beetles.
Cantharidae: family of soft-bodied beetles-soldier beetles and sailor
beetles.
Capillary: smallest, narrowest blood vessel in the blood circulatory
system of a vertebrate.
Carabidae: major family of beetles-ground beetles.
Cardo: secondary jaw, comprised from basal segment of the maxilla.
Carina: a pronounced ridge.
Caste: one of the distinct forms that make up the population of social
insects, in honeybees-queen, drone, worker.
Catabolism: degradation of food molecules that results in energy.
Cauda: terminal protrusion, such as that on aphid for manipulating
honeydew.
Caudal: concerning the tail end.
Cell: area of wing formed by wing veination.
Cerci: paired appendages, usually long arising from the end of the abdomen.
Cervical: just behind the head, concerning the neck.
Chaetae: stiff hairs, singular-chaeta.
Chaetotaxy: arrangement of chaetae, important in classification especially
in diptera.
Chitin: polysaccharide material, tough relatively waterproof, forms bulk
of insect cuticle.
Ciliated: bearing minute setae, hairs in many non-insects.
Clavate: distal end being swollen, club-shaped, usually referring to
antennae.
Clavus: posterior wing region in heteroptera.
Clypeus: part of an insects face just above the labrum.
Coarctate: concerning pupae-enclosed in last larval skin protecting pupa,
seen in Cyclorrapha flies.
Cocoon: silken case protecting pupa, seen in many Lepidoptera.
Contiguous: meeting or touching.
Corbicula: pollen basket on the hind leg of many bees.
Corium: main part of wing in heteropteran bug.
Cornicle: tubular outgrowths from the distal end of aphids, plural
conicles.
Costa: one of the major wing veins forming the front margin of the wing,
abbreviated to C.
Costal cell: cell formed between the costal and sub-costal vein.
Coxa: basal leg segment, frequently fixed to body and immovable.
Cremaster: cluster of small hooks, less often one large hook, used to grip
pupal support in Lepidoptera pupa.
Cross-vein: any vein joining two longitudinal veins.
Cubitus: major longitudinal vein in the rear half of the wing, abbreviated
to Cu.
Cuneus: triangular region of forewing in some heteropteran bugs.
Cursorial: adapted for running.
Dentate: with teeth.
Denticulate: with small teeth like projections.
Diapause: suspended animation seen in many immature stages of insects.
Discal Cell: prominent often large cell near the center of the wing.
Dorsal: concerning the back-upper surface of an animal.
Dorso-central Bristles: two rows of setae running along either outer side
of the acrostichal bristles on the thorax of diptera.
Dorso-lateral: towards the dorsal surface.
Dorso-ventral: towards the ventral-lower-surface.
Dorsum: upper surface of an animal-the back.
Ecdysis: molting process in insects.
Ectoparasite: parasite which lives on the outside of its host-fleas and
lice are examples.
Elbowed Antenna: antennae with a distinct bend, or angle, between two
segments, usually the first and second.
Elytron: tough forewing of beetles and earwigs, plural elytra.
Emarginate: a distinct notch in the margin.
Embolium: narrow region along the margin of the forewing in certain
heteropteran bugs, separated by a groove.
Empodium: a either bristle-like or pad-like structure between the claws on
the feet of diptera.
Endoparasite: parasite that lives inside its host.
Endopterygote: insect in which wings develop inside the body of early
stages, total metamorphosis and a pupal stage are present.
Epimeron: posterior part of any side wall of the three thoracic segments.
Epipharynx: part of many insect mouth parts attached to the posterior
surface of the labrum.
Epiproct: appendage arising from midline of last abdominal segment, just
above the anus.
Episternum: anterior part of any of the three thoracic segments.
Eruciform: concerning larva-cylindrical with stumpy pseudopods at rear and
true thoracic legs at front-caterpillars.
Exarate Pupa: pupa with all appendages free.
Excavate: hollow seen in the coxa of many beetles, the coxa are hollow to
allow the housing of the femora when the legs are folded.
Exopterygote: insect in which the wings develop gradually outside the
body, incomplete metamorphosis and no pupal stage.
Exuvia:
old cast off skin of an arthropod.
Eye-cap:
a covering over the eye formed from the base of the antennae,
seen in certain small moths.
Facet: surface of an ommatidium.
Femur: third segment of an insects leg, often the largest.
Filament: a thread like structure.
Filiform: thread like, applied to the antennae.
Flabellate: with projecting flaps on one side, applied usually to the
antennae.
Flagellum: distal pert of antennae, beyond the second segment.
Fossorial: adapted for digging.
Frenulum: coupling mechanism of fore and hind wings in moths.
Frons: upper section of an insects face.
Frontal Bristles: two vertical rows of bristles on the face of a fly.
Frontal-orbital Bristles: short row of bristles on a fly's head between
the frontal bristles and the eye.
Furcula: forked spring of a springtail.
Galea: outer branch of the maxilla.
Gall: abnormal growth seen in plants due to an insect within its tissues,
commonly aphids, gall wasps and gall midges.
Gaster: abdomen in Hymenoptera except for the first segment which is fused
to the thorax.
Gena: part of an insects head below the eye, the cheek.
Genal comb: row of spines on the lower gena of certain fleas.
Geniculate: abruptly bent.
Genitalia: copulatory organs of an animal.
Genus: closely related species sharing certain features.
Gill: breathing organ of aquatic animals- in insects usually bodily
outgrowths infused with tracheae.
Glabrous: hairless.
Glossa: one of a pair of lobes at the tip of labium, usually small, in
honeybee are greatly elongated and used to suck up nectar.
Gynandromorph: animal with a mixture of male and female characteristics.
Haltere: one of the balancing organs in dipteran
flies, these club shaped organs are the modified rear wings.
Hamuli: small hooks on the front edge of the hind wing to link it to the
fore wing in Hymenoptera.
Haustellate: organ for sucking liquids.
Hemelytron: forewing of a heteropteran bug, has a membranous tip.
Hemimetabolous: insect which has an incomplete metamorphic life cycle, no
pupal stages.
Heteromerous: unequal numbers of tarsal segments on all legs.
Holometabolous: insect which has a complete metamorphic life cycle, with
pupal stages.
Holoptic: eyes touching on top of head, seen mainly in diptera.
Homonym: two species which have been given the same scientific name, when
discovered one species has to be renamed.
Honeydew: sweet liquid extruded from the anus of aphids.
Host: organism either on which or in which one or more parasites are
living.
Humeral Angle: front basal part of wing at the part close to its
attachment to the thorax.
Humeral vein: small cross vein in the humeral region of the wing running
from the costa to the sub-costa.
Hyaline: to be clear and colorless in structure.
Hypermetamorphosis: life cycle in which there can be two or more different
types of larvae.
Hyperparasite: an organism which is parasitic on a parasite.
Hypognathous: possessing a vertical head with mouthparts at the bottom.
Hypopharynx: part of an insects mouth parts arising behind the mouth and
in front of the labium.
Hypopleural Bristles: row of bristles which curve round on the side of the
thorax of some dipteran flies.
Imago: a adult insect.
Inquiline: animal that shares a home with a unrelated animal with no
apparent adverse effect on the animal.
Instar: insect stages seen between molts.
Integument: outer cuticle or epidermis of insect and helminthes.
Intercalary Vein: longitudinal vein arising from the wing margin inwards
but not connecting with any main veins.
Joint: an articulation between two parts.
Jugum: thin lobe projecting from the base of the forewing and overlapping
the hind wing linking the two together, seen in moths.
Keel: also called a carina- a narrow ridge.
Labellum: expanded tip of labium, seen in many dipteran
flies, used to soak up fluids.
Labial: pertaining to the labium.
Labium: lower lip of an insects mouth.
Labrium: upper lip of an insects mouth.
Lacinia: inner branch of the maxilla.
Lamella: thin plate like structure.
Lamellate: to possess lamellae often used in reference to antennae.
Larva: name for immature insect that are different to adults-maggot
differs from the adult fly.
Lateral: the sides.
Ligulae: the lobes at the tip of the labium.
Mandible: jaw of an insect, can be in many forms- drawn
out to a long hollow tube in mosquitoes or compact and toothed as in
grasshoppers.
Mandibulate: mandibles suited to biting and chewing.
Marginal Cell: a cell in the wing bordering the outer front margin.
Mazilla: one of two structures that lay behind the jaws in insects, plural
maxillae.
Maxillary: concerning the maxllae.
Media: longitudinal vein running through the central region of the wing in
most insects, abbreviated to M.
Membranous: thin delicate structure, usually transparent.
Mesonotum: dorsal surface of the second thoracic segment.
Mesopleuron: sclerites that comprise the side walls of the mesothorax.
Mesoscutellum: hindmost of the three divisions of the mesonotum, often
more or less triangular.
Mesoscutum: middle division of the mesonotum.
Mesosternum: ventral surface of the mesothoracic sclerite.
Mesothorax: second thoracic segment.
Metamorphosis: changes seen in an insect as it transforms from larvae to
adult.
Metanotum: dorsal surface of metathorax.
Metapleuron: sclerites comprising the side wall of metathorax.
Metatarsus: basal segment of tarsus or foot.
Metathorax: third segment of thorax.
Moniliform: concerning antennae-bead-like segments, each
separated from
the next.
Molt: to shed the outer covering of the body.
Nodus: kink or notch on the costal region of a
dragonfly wing, also used for the cross vein just behind the notch.
Notaulix: one of the longitudinal grooves on the mesonotum of certain
hymenopterans.
Notopleuron: triangular region in certain diptera behind the humeral
callus.
Notum: dorsal surface of any thoracic segment.
Nymph: young stages in hemimetabolous insects.
Obtect Pupa: pupa in which the appendages are fixed to
the rest of body-butterfly chrysalis.
Occipital Suture: groove running around the posterior of the head in some
insects, it separates the vertex from the occiput.
Occiput: hind most region on the top of the head.
Ocellar Bristles: bristles around or between occelli in certain flies.
Ocellar Triangles: area usually distinct from the rest of the head on
which occelli of diptera are housed.
Ocellus: simple eyes of some insects, usually in groups of three on the
top of the head.
Ommatidium: single unit which together form the compound eye of insects.
Ootheca: egg case produced by cockroaches and some other insects.
Oral Vibrissae: large bristles situated just above the mouth in some
diptera, usually referred to as vibrissae.
Oviparous: egg laying.
Ovipositor: structure used for egg laying, can be either concealed or very
long as in some hymenopterans-Ichneumon wasps.
Palp: leg like structure comprised of varying numbers
of segments arising from the maxilla, major role is food tasting.
Paraglossa: paired lobes on the outer edges of the labium.
Paraproct: one of two lobes found either side of the anus.
Parasite: organism which spends either all or most of its life in
association with another animal from which it acquires food.
Parthenogenesis: reproduction in which eggs develop normally without
fertilization, common in aphids.
Pecten: structure found on the base of the antennae in some
insects-comb-like in structure.
Pectinate: usually applied to antennae- fine branches that arise from a
main axis.
Pedicel: second antennal segment:
also name given to the tiny waist of ants.
Petiolate: attached by a narrow stalk, some warble fly eggs for example.
Petiole: narrow waist of hymenoptera.
Pictured: used to
describe mottled wings of certain Diptera and other
insects.
Pilose: densely covered in setae, antennae of male mosquitoes.
Pleural: concerning the side walls of the body.
Pleural Suture: vertical or diagonal groove on each of the thoracic pleura.
Pleuron: side wall of a thoracic segment.
Plumose: usually applied to antennae-having numerous feathery branches.
Pollen Basket: pollen carrying region on the hind leg of bees-also called
the corbicula.
Porrect: extending horizontally forward, usually referring to the antennae.
Posterior: facing or concerning the rear.
Postmentum:
basal region of the labium.
Postscutellum: division of the mesonotum, well developed in some flies.
Post-vertical Bristles: bristles found on the head of some flies behind
the occelli, can be divergent, parallel, or crossing.
Pre-apical: arising just before the tip.
Prementum: distal region of the labium from which the labial palps and the
ligula arise.
Prepupa: a resting stage seen in some insects before entering the pupal
stage.
Proboscis: name given to various mouths that are designed for sucking.
Prognathous: a horizontal head which has the mouth parts at the front.
Proleg: a fleshy stumpy leg seen on some larval insect stages, blackfly
larvae and caterpillars are examples.
Pronotal Comb: row of spines on the hind region of the pronotum of some
fleas.
Pronotum: the dorsal surface of the
prothorax which in some insects shields the head (Blattodea).
Propodeum: first abdominal segment in the Apocrita insect group, being
fused with the thorax.
Prosternum: ventral surface of the first thoracic segment.
Prothorax: first thoracic segment.
Quadrilateral: cell near the base of a damselfly wing,
shape of this cell is used as a feature to determine damselfly families.
Radial Sector: posterior of the two main branches of
the radius, can have several branches of its own, abbreviated to Rs.
Radius: one of the main longitudinal veins which runs near the front
margin of the wing, abbreviated to R.
Raptorial: adapted to seizing to prey, birds of prey and the preying
mantis.
Reticulate: to be covered with a network pattern.
Rostrum: beak, usually applied to a piecing mouth of a bug.
Rudimentary: not well developed.
Scape: first antennal segment.
Scarabaeiform: applied to larva, to have a thick body, strong legs on
thorax and well developed head, lamellicorn beetle larvae.
Sclerite:
the individual hard plates that form the exoskeleton.
Scopa: can be the brush setae or the pollen basket of bees used to collect
pollen.
Scopula: small tuft of setae.
Scutellum: the third and major division of the dorsal surface of a
thoracic segment.
Tarsus: insect foot.
Tegmen: leathery forewing of certain insects, grasshopper for example.
Tegula: lobe which overlies the base of the forewing.
Tergite: primary sclerite forming dorsal surface of any body segment.
Tergum: dorsal surface of any body segment.
Thorax: middle of the three divisions seen in an insects body.
Tibia: leg segment between the femur and the tarsus.
Trachea: minute tube which permeates through the insects body carrying air
to the cells.
Transverse Suture: suture running across the thorax of many flies.
Triangle: triangular region near the base of a dragonfly wing.
Triungulin: active first instar of the oil beetle and some of its
relatives.
Trochanter: segment of the leg found between the coxa and the femur.
Truncate: to end abruptly, squared off.
Tymbal: sound producing organ of cicada.
Tympanum: auditory membrane in certain insects.
Univoltine: animals which only one generation a year
reaches maturity.
Unques: the claws at the tip of the feet in Diptera.
Ventral: lower side of the body.
Vertex: top of the head, between the eyes.
Vestigal: poorly developed.
Viviparous: to bear living active young rather than eggs.
Wing pads: the undeveloped wings seen in nymphs, they
appear as two flattened pads on opposing sides of the abdomen.
Workers: name given to a type of caste found in social insects, in
Hymenoptera they are sterile females, in Isoptera they can be male or female,
both of which are sterile.
Xylophagous: wood eating.
Yaw: movement of a body in a lateral plane where the
front region moves in one direction with the hind region moving in the
corresponding opposite direction, occurs in flying and jumping insects.
Zooneuston: animals that are associated with the water
surface e.g. Hemiptera-water measurer.
Zoonosis: disease that can be transmitted to humans from animals.
Zymogenous: organisms that are transient to a particular habitat.
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