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Thomas Say's
EXPLANATION
of
TERMS USED IN ENTOMOLOGY.
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
A.
Abbreviated, shortened, not extending to the extremity of a given part; (elytra) shorter than the abdomen.
Abdomen, the posterior portion of the body, divided into segments or rings, by sutures or incisures; including the viscera, genitals, &c., and composed of tergum, venter, stigmata, and anus.
Abrupt, terminating suddenly, not drawn out to a point.
Acetabuliform, like a circular shallow saucer, the sides of which are more or less incurved. See calathiform.
Acetabulum, that segment of the postpectus that is situated behind the peristæthium; it is bounded each side by the parapleuræ, and behind by the mærianæ; it contains cavities before for the insertion of the intermediate feet.
Acicular, needle-shaped; approaching subulate, but more slender, with a more delicate and pungent point; closely allied to acerose.
Acinaciform, cimitar-shaped; sabre-shaped; one thick and straight edge, the other thin and curved.
Acini, granulations.
Aculeate, prickly; furnished with, or ending in, prickles; armed with small sharp points.
Aculeate-serrate, armed with numerous short spines or prickles inclining towards one end.
Aculei, prickles; small sharp points.
Aculeus, the instrument and appendages with which the female lays her eggs; the oviduct or sting; an elongated dart, often poisonous, seated in the extremity of the abdomen; it is compound, having two or more darts; exserted, projecting; recondite, concealed; retractile, capable of being withdrawn; simple, having but one point; or vaginate ; inclosed in a bivalve sheath; it is composed of valvæ, vagina, and spicula.
Acuminated, tapering to a point; a point lengthened out.
Acute, sharp pointed.
Adnate, connected; adhering or growing together; adjoining; (abdomen) attached to the thorax without the intervention of a petiole.
Adpressed, contiguous; pressed to, or laid to.
Æquata, equal.
Æroscepsin, a supposed unknown sense, of which the antenna are, by some, believed to be the organs.
Æruginous, the color of verdegris; light bluish-green.
Alæ, wings.
Alated, winged; furnished with wings, or with projecting bodies somewhat like wings.
Albidus, a dusky white.
Albus, white.
Alternate, so placed that between two on one side, there is but one on the opposite side; or a series of spots on the chequerboard would be said to be alternately black, or alternately white. See opposite.
Alveolate, furnished with cells.
Alveole, a cell like that of a honeycomb.
Ambulatory, formed for walking. See saltatory, cursory.
Anal angle, the inner posterior angle of the inferior wings of the Lepidoptera.
Anastomosing, inosculating, or running into each other like veins.
Anastomosis, a spot in the upper wing, at the branching of the nervures, near the costal edge; the stigma; in general this word is used to indicate the connection of any two nervures of wing, by means of a transverse nervure.
Anceps, two-edged, very similar to ensiform.
Ancipital, having two opposite edges or angles.
Annulata, or annulosa, one of the four great types into which Cuvier divides the animal kingdom; it consists of those animals whose bodies are more or less divided transversely into segments. It includes the classes Crustacea, Myriapoda, Arachnides, Insecta, and Vermes.
Annulate, or annulated, furnished with colored rings; marked with differently colored annulations.
Annulus, a ring; the circumference of the gula in which the lora terminates; a term applied to colored ring upon the body or members, differing from a band, by being continued quite round.
Antennæ, two articulated organs of sensation, situated on the head; in the Hymenoptera particularly, they are divided into radicula, scapus, pedicellus, and apex; they are monofiliform, setaceous, clavate, &c.
Anterior angle, of the thorax, is the lateral angle near the head on each side.
Anterior margin, the margin on the anterior side of the wings, extending from the base to the apex; the costal margin; opposite to the posterior margin.
Anterior palpi, the labial palpi.
Anterior wings, the superior wings.
Antipenultimate, the last but two.
Anus, the apex of the abdomen, in which the organs of generation in most insects are attached or concealed; including fimbria, aculeus, and penis.
Apex, in general indicates the terminal portion of any organ or part of the body; (of the wing) it is that part or angle which is opposed to, or at the greatest distance from, the base; (ligula) the portion which is not included in the tubus; (mamillæ) that portion which is above the palpus.
Apiculate, covered with fleshy, erect, short points. See verrucose.
Apodal, (larvæ) with simple tubercles instead of feet. See geometræ.
Apophysis, the coxæ; the two small basal joints of the feet. See trochanter and flocculus.
Approaching, converging.
Approximate, near to, near together; (antennæ) close together at base.
Aptera, insects without wings; many of the Coleoptera are destitute of wings, and in most of such species the elytra are inseparable: the females of several species of the Lepidoptera are also destitute of wings; as are also some of the Hymenoptera.
Arachnoideous, cobweb-like; resembling a cobweb.
Arcuated, or arquated, bowed.
Ares, or Areolæ, wing cells; the membranaceous spaces between the nervures; the cellules.
Aristate, or setarious, (antennæ) furnished with a hair, which arises from the superior, lateral, or terminal portion of the terminal joint, as in the common house-fly. See clavate, lamellate.
Articulate, divided into distinct joints.
Articulation, joint; this word is generally used to denote the space between two joints; articulations are apparent, when their distinction is obvious, and obsolete, when their separation are not, or hardly visible. The Coleoptera have generally eleven articulations to each antenna, the Hemiptera four to six, the Hymenoptera commonly thirteen in the males and twelve in the females.
Artus, the members; the instruments of motion, winqs, feet, &c.
Asperous, rugged; with very distinct elevated dots, more uneven than scabrous.
Assurgent, rising; declining at the base, and rising in a curved manner to an erect posture.
Ater, the deepest black.
Atomus, a minute dot or point.
Atropurpureus, dark purplish, almost black.
Atrovirens, dark green, approaching blackish.
Attenuated, growing slender; tapering.
Aurantiacus, orange color; a mixture of yellow and red. See fulvous.
Aurelia, that state of the imperfect insect which succeeds the larva; the chrysalis or quiescent state of transformation of an insect, in which it is often inclosed in a separate hard cocoon or follicle. See nympha, pupa.
Aureus, golden-yellow.
Auricle, or auricula, an appendage resembling a little ear; a short membranaceous process, placed laterally on the tongue, it is peculiar to the family Andrenidæ; they are distinguished from the laciniæ interiores of the Apidæ by being usually serrate at tip; they are the "petites parties en forme de barbillons" of Degeer; a depressed lateral, rounded lobe of the thorax.
Axillary, placed in the crotch or angle of the origin of two bodies; arising from the angles of ramification.
Azure, azure-blue; nearly the same as cæruleus, but more like ultramarine.
B.
Badius, chestnut or liver brown.
Barb, a kind of spine armed with teeth pointing backwards.
Barbated, or bearded, (antennæ) having tufts or fascicles of hair at the articulations; (abdomen) tufted with hair at the sides or tip.
Basal, or basilar, relating to the base.
Base, (of the wing or elytra) that part which is attached to the thorax: (of the thorax) that part which is nearest to the elytra; (of the abdomen) the part nearest to the metathorax; (of the tongue) the portion included in the tubus; (of the maxillæ) the part below the palpus, including cardo and pecten.
Bearded, barbated.
Bicaudate, having two tails or processes; this term is generally applied to the posterior wings of Lepidoptera when thus formed.
Bicornute, two-horned.
Bicuspidate, ending in two points.
Bifarious, pointing in opposite directions.
Bifid, cleft; cloven in two. See emarginate, furcate, biparted.
Bijugum, in two pairs.
Bilamellar, divided into two laminæ.
Bilobate, divided into two lobes.
Bilocular, having two cells or compartments.
Binate, in pairs: consisting of a single pair.
Biparted, profoundly divided into two parts. See bifid.
Bipupillate, an ocellate spot, having two pupils or dots within it, of a different color.
Biradiate, consisting of two rays.
Bisetous, furnished with two setaceous appendages.
Bivalve, (proboscis) consisting of two valves or divisions united, so as to form a tube.
Blind, or subocellate, applied to an eye-like spot which is destitute of the central spot or pupil.
Body, includes every part of the insect, and is divided into head, thorax, and abdomen.
Boreal, of or belonging to the north.
Botryoidal, clustered like a bunch of grapes.
Brachial nervures, those nervures of the anterior wing that originate at the thorax, and run somewhat parallel with the interior edge, towards the posterior angle or posterior edge, often connected with the cubital cellules by means of the recurrent nervures.
Bronze, the color of old brass.
Brunneus, pure very dark brown.
Bullate, blistered.
C.
Caducus, shedding; easily and quickly falling off.
Cæruleus, color of the sky; sky-blue.
Cæsius, pale blue, approaching gray.
Calathiform, bowl-shaped : hemispherical and concave. See crateriform, proculiform.
Calcarate, having a spur.
Calyculate, double-cupped: one cup placed within another.
Campanulate, bell-shaped: more or less ventricose at the base, and a little recurved at the margin.
Canaliculate, channelled: excavated longitudinally, with a concave line in the middle.
Cancellate, or cancelled, cross-barred; latticed; having longitudinal lines or grooves decussate by transverse ones.
Canus, hoary, with more white than gray.
Capillary, hair-like; long and slender like a hair. See filiform.
Capitate, having a head; terminating in a little head or knob; it differs from clavate by a more abrupt enlargement.
Capitulum, the dilated or labiated termination of a proboscis; the enlarged tip of the halteres.
Caput, the head.
Cardo, or cardines, in Hymenoptera, is a transverse corneous body, situated between the base of the maxillæ and the lora; they are mentioned by Swammerdam as organs, by which, in conjunction with the fulcrum, the proboscis is united to the head.
Carina, a keel.
Carinate, keeled; resembling a keel; having a longitudinal prominence like the keel of a boat.
Carious, corroded, or having the appearance of being worm-eaten.
Carneous, flesh-colored.
Carpus, or punctum, is at the extremity of the radius and cubitus of the anterior wing; this is the joint in the wing of some insects, by means of which it is folded transversely: it has been called
stigma in the Neuroptera, and is often opake.
Cartilaginous, of the consistence of cartilage or gristle.
Caruncle, a soft, naked, fleshy excrescence.
Cataphracted, invested with a hard callous skin, or with scales closely united.
Caterpillar, the larva or eruca.
Cauda, the tail: the posterior and terminal part of the abdomen; an appendage of any kind terminating the abdomen is usually called by this name. See anus.
Caudate, generally applied to the posterior wings of Lepidoptera, to indicate tail-like projections or processes.
Caudulæ, tailets; little tails.
Cellule, a portion of the wing included between the nervures. See radial cellule.
Cernuous, bent; the apex bent downward. See nutant.
Cespitose, matted together.
Cheek, the gena; a portion of the head beneath the eyes on each side.
Chela, the terminal portion of a foot, which has a moveable lateral toe like the claw of crab.
Chrysalis, the second stage of the insect from the egg; particularly the second state of Lepidopterous insects, of which caterpillar or eruca is the first; the pupa.
Cicatrix, a scar; an elevated, rigid spot.
Ciliate, fringed; set with parallel hairs, bristles, &c.
Cinereous, ash-color; gray tinged a little with blackish; the color of wood ashes.
Cingula, a colored band.
Circinal, spirally rolled inwards and downwards, as in the lingua of Lepidoptera.
Class, one of the principal divisions in a system or arrangement of natural bodies.
Clavate, club-shaped; gradually becoming thicker towards the end. See capitate.
Claw, the unguis.
Clypeus, the superior portion of the head in Coleopterous insects.
Coadunate, joined together at base; two or more joined together; (elytra) permanently united at the suture.
Coarctate, contracted; compact; opposed to effuse; (metamorphose) that species of change in which the pupa assumes a cylindrical shape, all the members of the body being concealed as in the family of Hippobosca. See incomplete, semicomplete.
Cocardes, retractile vesicular bodies on each side of the stethidium of insects of the genus Malachius.
Coccineous, the color of the blossom of the saffron.
Cochleate, twisted spirally like a screw, or a univalve shell.
Cocoon, a follicle.
Coenogonous, oviparous at one season of the year, and ovoviviparous at another, as the Aphides.
Coleoptera, the first order of insects, having coriaceous elytra, not lapped one over the other at tip; coriaceous elytra.
Collar, the collum.
Collare, the somewhat elevated posterior part of the collum.
Collum, the neck or collar; the anterior segment of the trunk in such insects as have that part of the body divided into several pieces, as in the Hyinenoptera, Lepidoptera, &c.; in reality it corresponds with the thorax of the Coleoptera, &c. See collare.
Columnar, differs from cylindric, by tapering towards one end, like the shaft of a column.
Comose, ending in a tuft, or kind of brush. See plumose.
Compressed, flattened laterally; the transverse diameter much shorter than the vertical diameter. See depressed.
Concolores, applied to the wings of Lepidopterous insects when their superior and inferior surfaces are of the same color.
Conduplicate, doubled or folded together.
Conflect, crowded, clustered; opposed to sparse.
Confluent, running into one another.
Congested, heaped together.
Conglomerate, congregated.
Conjugate, consisting of a single pair.
Connate, united at base.
Connivent, converging or approaching; closing.
Contiguous, touching; placed so near as to touch. See approximate.
Contorted, twisted; incumbent upon each other in an oblique direction.
Convolute, rolled or twisted spirally: (wings) wrapping around the body, the outer surface being convex. See revolute, involute.
Converging, approaching each other towards the tip; connivent.
Corbicula, in many species of Hymenoptera, is a fringe of hairs on the posterior tibiæ, arising from the margins of the limb only. See scopa.
Cordate, heart-shaped: it is not absolutely necessary that an emargination should exist on the anterior part, but it requires that the object be somewhat triangular with the corners of the base rounded.
Coriaceous, leather-like; thick, tough, and somewhat rigid.
Corneous, of a horny substance; resembling horn.
Corniform, horn-shaped; long, mucronate, or pointed.
Cornutus, horn-shaped.
Corona, a crown-like apppearance.
Corpus, the body.
Corrugated, wrinkled.
Costa, the thickened anterior margin of a wing, between the base and apex. See stigma.
Costal-margin, the anterior margin of wing.
Costate, ribbed; marked with elevated thickened lines.
Coxæ, the two-jointed base of the feet; the apophysis, consisting of the patella and trochanter.
Crateriform, somewhat like calathiform, but not so much inflated, and rather approaching to infundibuliform. See urceolate.
Crenate, scalloped; differs from serrate and dentate, in having rounded teeth, not directed towards either end.
Cruciate, cross-shaped; having the shape of a cross; (wings) incumbent, but the inner margins lay one over the other.
Crustaceous, somewhat hard, elastic, resisting the pressure of the finger.
Cubital-cellule, a portion of the superior wing, included between the nervure of the radial cellule and a nervure which originates near the extremity of the cubitus, and runs in a curvilinear direction towards the extremity of the wing; it is complete if this nervure reaches the posterior edge, and incomplete if the nervure is abbreviated; it is often divided into two or three parts by transverse nervures; when one of these parts or small cellules appears to be supported by a petiole it is termed a petiolated cellule; it is called submarginal cellule by some authors.
Cubitus, the second nervure of the exterior margin of the wing, extending from the base to the carpus; it is separated from the radius by an intermediate membrane.
Cucullate, cone-shaped; hooded.
Cultrate, shaped like a pruning-knife.
Cuneiform, wedge-shaped; broad and truncated at one end, and attenuated to the other.
Cupreous, coppery; the color of copper.
Cuspidate, prickly-pointed; ending in a sharp point; an acuminated point ending in a bristle. See mucronate.
Cursory, formed for running. See natatory.
Cyathiform, wineglass-shaped; more or less obconical and concave. See calathiform, acetabuliform.
Cyaneus, dark-blue, like prussian-blue.
Cydariform, globose, but truncated at two opposite sides.
Cymbiform, boat-shaped; navicular.
D.
Deciduous, falling off easily. See caducus.
Decrepitant, crackling.
Decumbent, bending down; upright at base, and bending down at tip. See procumbent.
Decurrent, closely attached to, and running down another body.
Decurved, bowed downwards. See excurved.
Decussated, in cross-pairs; pairs alternately crossing each other.
Deflected, bent downwards; (wings) incumbent but not horizontally, the outer edges declining towards the sides.
Dehiscent, gaping; open or standing open; deeply emarginate.
Deltoid, triangular spear-shaped; trowel-shaped; having the general appearance of a triangle, with the terminal angle much further from the base than the lateral ones.
Dendroid, shrub-like; having the appearance of a little tree.
Dentate, toothed; with acute teeth, the sides of which are equal, the tip being opposite to the middle of the base. See serrate.
Dentate-serrate, tooth-serrated; the denticulations being themselves serrated on their edges.
Dentate-sinuate, toothed and indented.
Denticulated, set with little teeth or notches.
Denuded, or denudated, destitute of covering; (wings) without scales or hair.
Dependent, hanging down.
Depressed, pressed downward: more or less flattened vertically; the vertical diameter much shorter than the transverse diameter. See compressed.
Detonant, exploding; emitting a sudden noise.
Diaphanous, semitransparent; clear.
Dichotomous, forked; dividing by pairs.
Diffracted, bending in different directions.
Diffuse, spreading.
Digitate, finger-like: divided like fingers nearly to the base.
Digitus, the terminal joints of the tarsus and manus divided into unguis and pulvillus.
Dimidiatus, half round; extending half way round; (elytra) covering but half the tergum.
Dioptrate, applied to an ocellate spot, of which the pupil is divided by a transverse line.
Diptera, that order of insects comprehending those that have only two wings.
Disk, the surface within the margin.
Dislocated, applied to designate a stria or line which is interrupted in its continuity, but of which the tips at the interrupted parts are not in a right line with each other.
Dissilient, bursting open elastically.
Distinct, (antennæ) not united at base.
Divaricate, straddling; spreading out; (wings) incumbent, but diverging behind.
Diverging, spreading out widely, so as to form nearly a right angle.
Dolabriform, hatchet-shaped; compressed with a very prominent dilated keel and cylindrical base. See securiform.
Dorsal, of the back.
Dorsum, the posterior portion of the stethidium on the superior surface of the body, directly above the postpectus, and bounded behind by the tergum; in the Coleoptera it is covered by the basal portion of the elytra.
Duplicate, doubled.
E.
Ecalcarate, without a spur or horn.
Echinate, set with prickles.
Edentulous, destitute of teeth.
Edge, of a surface, is that line which includes the margin, and forms the extreme boundary; the elytra of many Coleoptera have a deflected margin beneath the edge called epipleura.
Eflected, bent outwards somewhat angularly.
Egg, the first state of the insect.
Elliptical, elongate-oval; differs from oval by having the lines nearly parallel in the middle.
Elytra, coriaceous, opake, more or less solid lamellæ, separated in repose by a rectilinear suture, substituted for the anterior wings and covering the dorsum and tergum in repose; including base, tip, humerus, and epipleura. See hemelytra.
Emarginate, notched; terminating in an acute notch at tip. See sinuate.
Ensiform, sword-shaped; two-edged, large at base, and tapering towards the point. See ancipital.
Entire, (wings) with a simple margin; not indented on the edge.
Epupillate, an ocellate spot included by a colored ring, but destitute of a pupil or central dot.
Epipleura, the deflexed or inflexed margin of the elytra, immediately beneath the edge.
Equal, superfices without inequalities, not canaliculated, striated, punctured, &c.; this term differs from plane, in not requiring the part to be level or in a rectilinear direction, but occurs in round bodies; also applied to bodies of the same length.
Equitant, folded one upon the other; laminated.
Erect, upright; nearly but not absolutely perpendicular to the horizon. See vertical.
Eroded, gnawed; as if worm-eaten; (edge) with irregular teeth and emarginations.
Eruca, the state of Lepidopterous insects succeeding the egg; caterpillar: larva.
Escutcheon, the scutel.
Essential character, a peculiar trait, distinguishing the genus or species from all others.
Exaratus, sulcated.
Exarticulate, having no distinct joints.
Excaudate, or ecaudate, (wings) destitute of tail-like processes.
Excurved, curved outwards.
Explanate, spread out; flat.
Exscutellate, having no scutel.
Exserted, protruded; opposed to inclosed; (aculeus) projecting, not concealed within the body.
Extended, (wings) not lying one upon the other.
Exterior edge, or anterior edge, of the wings; it extends from the base to the apex.
Exterior margin, (wing) the anterior margin from the base to the apex.
Exterior palpi, the maxillary palpi.
Exuvia, the cast-off skin, the rejected covering. See vernantia.
Eyes, organs of sight, composed of very numerous hexagonal lenses; all insects have two eyes besides the stemmata.
F.
Face, or facies, the anterior and superior portion of the head; including vertex, stemmata, eyes, front, and nasus.
Falcate, shaped like a sickle; convexly curved before and concave behind.
Farctus, filled full.
Fascia, a tranverse band or broad line; a fascia is said to be common, when it passes over both the superior and inferior wings, as in many species of Lepidoptera, or when it passes across the two elytra in Coleoptera. See striga.
Fasciated, banded.
Fascicle, a bundle.
Fasciculate, bundled; clustered as in a bundle; tufted.
Fastigiate, flat-topped; of an equal height.
Fatiscent, spontaneously mouldering and falling to pieces in the air.
Favose, honeycomb-like; with large deep holes like the cells of a honeycomb. See scrobiculate.
Feelers, the palpi.
Feet, six organs of motion situated beneath the body; consisting of apophysis, femur, tibia, manus, tarsus, plantus, and palma.
Femur, the thigh, or third joint of the feet.
Fenestrate, applied to the naked hyaline spots on the wings of many of the Lepidoptera.
Ferruginous, the color of the oxide of iron; brown approaching yellow.
Filate, (antennæ) simple, without a lateral hair or dilatation; this word is used in the order Diptera.
Filiform, thread-shaped ; slender and of equal thickness. See setaceous, clavate.
Filose, ending in a threadlike process.
Fimbria, thick ciliated hairs at the termination of the abdomen conspicuous in the genus Andrena. See scopa, flocculus.
Fimbriated, fringed.
Fissile, cloven ; divided into parallel lamellæ, as in the antenna of Scarabæus, and the wings of the Alucitadæ. See lamellate.
Fissure, a crevice; a narrow solution of continuity.
Fistular, hollow; applied to a hollow cylinder.
Flabelliform, fan-shaped.
Flaccid, limber; feeble; lax.
Flagellum, the terminal portion of the antennæ situated beyond the pedicellus; the apex.
Flavo-virens, green verging upon yellow.
Flexuous, zig-zag without acute angles; seems to differ from undulated in being alternately bent and nearly straight.
Flocculus, a hairy or bristly appendage of the posterior apophysis in a few of the Hymenoptera. See fimbria.
Fluviatile, inhabiting rivers, as the larvæ of many insects.
Foliaceous, resembling a leaf.
Follicle, a cocoon; the covering formed by the larva for protection in its pupa state.
Forceps, two or more hooks or processes, sometimes branched on the inner side, with which the male grasps the anus of the female ; they constitute part of the penis.
Forcipated, formed somewhat like a pair of pincers.
Fornicate, arched or vaulted.
Fossula, a sinus; a small hollow; foveola and scrobiculus have nearly the same meaning.
Foveolate, covered superficially with cavities like a honeycomb.
Fragile, brittle, easily broken.
Front, anterior portion of the head, included by the eyes, vertex, and nasus, and supporting the antennæ; (Diptera) that portion of the head which is above the antennæ and between the eyes, its superior portion is called the vertex.
Fulcrum, the corneous body on which the base of the tubus, or sheath of the tongue, in the Hymenoptera, rests; it is "le pivot" of Reaumer.
Fuliginous, sooty; of the color of soot.
Fulvous, orange-yellow.
Furcated, forked; terminating in two divisions.
Fuscus, dark brown, with a slight mixture of gray.
Fusiform, spindle-shaped; gradually tapering more or less to each end.
G.
Galea, helmet; a dilated inarticulate membranaceous piece on each maxilla, that, together with the labrum, covers the organs of the mouth in the Orthoptera and some of the Neuroptera.
Gastric, of or belonging to the belly.
Gelatinous, jelly-like; having the consistence of jelly.
Geminate, situated in pairs.
Gena, cheek; a portion of the head on each side immediately beneath the eye, often turgid.
Geniculate, knee-jointed; bending abruptly in an obtuse angle.
Genus, an assemblage of species which correspond in particular characters.
Geometræ, larva which when walking, alternately elevate and straighten the middle of the body, as in those of the genus Geometra; opposed to rectigrade.
Gibbous, hump-backed; protuberant.
Glabrous, smooth; opposed to hairy, downy, villous, &c.
Glaucous, gray-bluish-green.
Globular, like a round ball; all the diameters equal.
Glochis, a barbed point.
Glomerate, congregated.
Glutinous, slimy, viscid.
Gracile, slender.
Granulated, covered with small grains.
Gregarious, living in society, as many of the larva of Lepidoptera that fabricate a common web.
Griseus, light gray.
Grub, the larva; generally applied to the immature Scarabæus.
Gula, concave portion beneath the head, between the base of the mentum and the jugulum.
Gymnopteræ, membranaceous and transparent wings without scales.
H.
Habit, or habitus, the port or aspect; used comparatively to express a resemblance in general appearance, apart from more important markings derived from organization.
Habitation, or habitat, a situation or locality frequented by insects.
Haletres, the poisers, capitate moveable filaments, in the Diptera, situated one on each side of the thorax:, substituted for the inferior wings, and often covered by the scale; they are said to be naked when destitute of the scale.
Hamuli, minute hooks in Hymenoptera, situated on the anterior margin of the under wing, they lay hold of the hind margin of the upper wing.
Hamus, a hooked process, covered with scales, situated under the upper wings near the base, in the males of many of the Lepidoptera, receiving a bristle (tendo) from the lower wing; the hamus is never present in females.
Hand, the manus.
Hastate, halbert-shaped; resembling the head of a halbert; excavated at the base and sides, but with spreading lobes or angles.
Haustellum, the sucker; it is formed by the assemblage of inflexible setæ, and inclosed in a rostellum or proboscis. See lingula.
Head, the anterior portion of the body, connected at base with the anterior portion of the stethidium; it includes occiput, face, gena, mouth, gula, jugulum, and antennæ.
Heels, the spinulæ.
Hemelytra, scales, generally coriaceous at base, and membranaceous at tip, not divided by a straight suture, and substituted for the anterior wings, as in the Orthoptera and Hemiptera. See tegmina.
Hemispheric, convex above and flat below, like the half of a globe.
Hepatic, liver-brown.
Hexapode, having six feet, as in all true insects.
Hirsute, rough with strong hairs; shaggy. See pilous, villous, tomentous.
Hispid, bristly; rough with stiff, short, sparse hairs. See strigose.
Hoary, covered with a fine white silvery substance or pubescence. See pruinous.
Homotene, retaining the primitive form; referring to those articulated animals with feet, that do not change their form with their vernantia.
Horizontal, (wings) when at rest parallel to the horizon.
Horns, a word used by some writers to designate the antennæ.
Humerus, the region of the exterior basal angle of the elytra; according to Meigen it is the anterior angles of the thorax in Diptera.
Hyaline, transparent; vitreous.
Hymenoptera, an order of insects, comprehending those with four membranaceous naked wings, as the bees and wasps.
Hypocrateriform, salver-shaped.
Hypostoma, that portion of a Dipterous insect which is included between the antennæ, the eyes and the mouth; called by some naturalists clypeus.
I.
Imago, the perfect insect, after having passed through the states of larva and pupa.
Imbricate, tiled; placed one over another like shingles on the roof of a house.
Immaculate, destitute of spots.
Immarginate, having no elevated margin or rim.
Imperfect, or incomplete metamorphose, is that species of change from the larva to the imago, in which the feet and wings of the pupa are immoveable, as in the Colooptera, Lepidopters, &c.
Incanus, hoary.
Incisure, or suture of the abdomen, is an impressed transverse line, marking the juncture of two segments.
Inclining, leaning.
Inconspicuous, not readily discernible. See obsolete.
Incrassated, thickened, swelled out at some particular part.
Incumbent, resting against; one lying over the other; (wings) which, when the insect is at rest, cover the back of the abdomen horizontally.
Incurved, bowed inwards. See recurved.
Indurated, hardened.
Inequal, unequal; with irregular elevations and depressions on the surface.
Inferior wings, those that are farthest from the head, otherwise called posterior wings; they are generally smaller than the superior or anterior wings; many are provided with hamuli.
Inflected, bent inwards at an angle.
Infracted, bent inwards abruptly, as if broken.
Infundibuliform, funnel-shaped.
Inner margin, or interior margin, of the wings, is that margin which extends from the base to the posterior angle.
Institia, stria of equal breadth throughout.
Instrumenta cibaria, the trophi; parts of the mouth taken collectively.
Interior edge, or inner edge, the bonndary of the inner margin.
Interior palpi, the labial palpi.
Interrupted, broken in its continuity; but the tips of the broken parts are in a right line with each other. See dislocated.
Interstitial line, the longitudinal space which intervenes between two striæ of the elytra.
Intorted, turned or twisted inwards.
Invertebral, those animals which are destitute of the vertebral column.
Involute, rolled inwards spirally.
Iris, of an ocellate wing spot, is a circle which surrounds the pupil.
Irregular, (antennæ) articulations strikingly unequal either in magnitude or order.
Irrorate, marked with minute points; dew-like.
J.
Joint, articulation; this word is applied to the space between two incisures, as the divisions of the antennæ.
Jugulum, that cavity of the posterior part of the head to which the neck is annexed.
K.
Keel, the carina.
L.
Labial palpi, articulated filaments, one on each side of the labium; the interior or anterior palpi.
Labiated, having lips.
Labium, lower lip; composed of the mentum, and ligula or tongue; it supports the labial palpi.
Labrum, upper lip; the superior member of the trophi; it is generally moveable, and applied to or placed immediately beneath the nasus, and above the mandibles; it is sometimes entirely concealed ; it is the labium of some authors.
Lacerated, ragged; torn.
Laciniæ exteriores, (in the family Apidæ,) two elongated, flattened or concave, biarticulate valves, situated on the tongue and near their tip supporting the labial palpi; they are distinguished from those palpi by being flat instead of cylindrical.
Laciniæ interiores, (in the family Apidæ,) two inarticulate, membranaceous valves, which embrace the tongue at its entrance into the tube.
Laciniated, jagged; cut into irregular segments.
Lactescent, yielding or secreting a milky fluid.
Lacteus, of a shining white or milky color.
Lacunose, pitted; having the surface covered with small cavities See favose.
Lamella, a thin plate or foliation.
Lamellated, (antennæ) divided laterally into distinct plates or foliations. See fissile, setaceous, &c.
Lanate, woolly; covered with dense, fine, long, white hairs, so distinct that they may be separated. See tomentose.
Lanceolate, lance or spear-shaped; oblong and tapering to the end.
Larva, the first state of an insect subsequent to the egg; it is known by the names maggot, grub, caterpillar, &c.; it is slow, sterile, and voracious ; the old authors called it eruca.
Lateral, situated on the side.
Lateritious, brick-color; like miniatus, but duller, and verging towards yellow.
Latticed, cancellated.
Leg, the tibia.
Lenticular, spherically convex on both sides; a depressed double convex figure.
Lepidoptera, an order of insects, of which the wings are four in number, covered by minute imbricated scales; as butterflies and moths.
Leprous, with loose irregular scales.
Ligula, tongue; the superior portion of the labium; it is situated beneath the maxillæ, generally of a soft texture, often bifid, and frequently coriaceous at base. See lingula, rostellum, rostrum, haustellum, proboscis, promuscis, and tubus.
Ligulate, strap-shaped, cut off at top; somewhat linear, and much longer than broad.
Lilacinous, lilac color; like violaceous, but duller, tinged with red.
Limb, the circumference.
Line, the twelfth part of an inch.
Linear, with parallel sides; narrow and nearly of a uniform breadth.
Lineated, lined; streaked; marked with lines.
Lingua, a bivalve, involuted, obtuse and fistulous tongue, composed of two elongated semitubular fillets, which are in reality elongated maxillæ, as in the Lepidoptera; the central organ of the proboscis in the Hymenoptera constituting a cartilaginous instrument of suction. Fabricius has applied the word labium to denote this part, and he again applies the same word to designate the whole proboscis; it is "le 1évre inferieur" of Degeer.
Linguiform, tongue-shaped; linear with the extremities obtusely rounded.
Literate, ornamented with characters like letters.
Livid, dark gray, verging towards violet.
Longitudinal, the direction of the longest diameter; situated longitudinally with respect to the body.
Lora, small corneous cords upon which the base of the proboscis is seated; these parts seem to be intended to let out or draw in the proboscis; when the latter is projected they point towards the mouth, and when it is retracted they point towards the breast; they are "les leviers" of Reaumur.
Lubricous, covered with a slippery mucous.
Lucid, shining; applied to insects which shine by night, as Lampyris and Fulgora.
Luciferous, giving light.
Lunate, cresent-shaped; formed like a new moon.
Lurid, of a brownish-blue color.
Luteus, unmixed yellow.
Lyrate, cut into several transverse segments, and gradually enlarging towards the extremity; lyre-shaped.
M.
Macula, a spot larger than a puncture, of an indeterminate figure, and of a different color from the general surface.
Maculated, spotted; marked with spots.
Maerianum, that segment of the postpectus situated one on each side behind the acetabulum and parapleurum; it supports the posterior feet.
Maggot, the larva; commonly applied to the immature fly (Musca).
Mandibles, the upper jaws, generally corneous, placed one on each side immediately beneath the labrum, and above the maxillæ, moving transversely; they are the maxillæ of Kirby, and are destitute of palpi.
Manus, the hand; the articulated termination of the anterior feet; the anterior tarsus, including palma.
Marcescent, shrivelling.
Margin, that portion of a surface which is within the edge, bounded on the inner side by the submargin, and consisting of a more or less dilated imaginary line.
Marginal cellules, the radial cellules.
Marginated, surrounded by an elevated or attenuated margin.
Maxillæ, jaws; one on each side of the mouth immediately beneath the mandibles, moving transversely, usually corneous at base, and membranaceous or coriaceous at tip, and furnished with one or two palpi.
Maxillary palpi, or exterior palpi, articulated moveable filaments near the middle of the dorsal edge of the maxillæ; in some Coleoptera there are two pairs, and are then distinguished into internal and external, the former is biarticulate and incumbent on the back of the maxillæ.
Members, (artus) the exterior organs of locomotion taken collectively, as well as the appendices of the trunk and abdomen.
Membranaceous, thin, skinny and semitransparent like parchment; of a thin pliable texture.
Meniscoidal, somewhat globular, with one side concave.
Mentum, the chin; the lowest piece of the mouth, supporting the lingula or tongue, and sometimes covering it in front.
Metamorphosis, an alteration in the appearance of an insect, owing to the development of parts previously concealed, by a sudden vernantia; the transformation from the imperfect or larva state to the perfect insect; it is imperfect, semicomplete, or coarctate.
Metathorax, the posterior portion of the stethidium on the superior surface; it is separated from the thorax and scutel by sutures, and is particularly obvious in the Hymenoptera. See dorsum.
Miniatus, red, like red-lead.
Modioliform, somewhat globular, truncated at both ends like the nave of a wheel.
Monodactyle, armed with a moveable nail which closes on the tip; it differs from chelate in having but one process.
Monarsenous, that kind of polygamy in which one male suffices for many females.
Moniliform, (antennæ) beaded like a necklace. See aristate and perfoliate.
Monogamous, propagating by the union of one male and one female only.
Monothelious, that kind of polygamy in which a female is fecundated by many males.
Mouth, the anterior and terminal part of the head, containing the trophi.
Mucronate, terminated in a sharp point. See cuspidate.
Muricate, armed with sharp rigid points.
Mystax, in some Diptera, is a patch of bristles or hair, immediately above the mouth, on the lower part of the hypostoma, below the vibrissæ.
N.
Naked, (pupa) not folliculated; (surface) glabrous.
Nasus, the anterior termination of the face, particularly in Hymenoptera, often separated from the front by a suture, and often elevated, sometimes gibbous; it is very obvious in Vespa and the kindred genera; it has no relation with the organs of smelling; it supports the labrum.
Nail, the unguis.
Natatory, (feet) formed for swimming. See cursory, saltatory.
Navicular, boat-shaped with a concave disk and elevated margin ; cymbiform.
Nebulous, clouded; marked with many scattered, abrupt, dilated lines of various forms.
Neck, a contracted posterior termination of the bead in some insects.
Nervures, nerves or vein-like processes which support the membrancous part of the wings; divided into radial, cubital, brachial and recurrent.
Neuroptera, an order of insects, including such as have four finely reticulated wings and no sting, as Dragon-flies, May-flies, &c.
Niger, black, a little tinged with gray.
Nitidus, nearly synonymous with lucid, but is less brilliant, and is applied to highly polished surfaces.
Nutant, nodding; the tip bent down towards the horizon.
Nymph, the second state of an insect, from the egg, the members of which are free, or not enclosed with a common integument, as in Grillus. See chrysalis, aurelia, pupa.
O.
Ob, perfixed to a word generally signifies inversely.
Obconic, inversely conic; conic with the vertex pointing downward.
Obcordate, inversely heart-shaped ; heart-shaped with the point applied to the base of another object or part.
Oblate, flattened ; this term is applied to a spheroid of which the diameter is shortened at two opposite ends.
Oblong, the transverse diameter much shorter than the longitudinal.
Obovate, inversely egg-shaped, the narrow end downwards or towards the base.
Obsolete, indistinct; inconspicuous.
Obtect, (pupa) wrapped in a crustaceous covering.
Obtuse, blunt; ending in a segment or circle.
Occiput, the hinder part of the head; the part behind the vertex.
Ocellate, applied to the eye-like spots on the wings of Lepidopterous insects, usually formed of a differently colored iris or ring, enclosing one or more small spots.
Ocelli, the stemmata.
Oculi, the eyes.
Ochreous, yellow with a slight tinge of brown.
Onychii, two or three small processes between the unguis at the termination of the tarsus. See pulvillus.
Operculum, a lid; a small valvular appendage.
Opposite, placed on the side opposite to another, so that the bases of the two are on the same transverse line. See alternate.
Orbicular, round and flat, the diameters of the plane equal.
Orbit, an imaginary border around the eye.
Order, the subdivision of a class.
Os, the mouth and its parts.
Oval, somewhat egg-shaped, but the outlines of the ends are equal. See ovate.
Ovate, shaped like the longitudinal section of an egg, the outline of the ends being unequal.
Oviduct, the instrument and appendages with which the female deposits her eggs. See aculeus.
Oviposition, the act of depositing eggs; the manner in which eggs are deposited.
Oviparous, propagating by means of eggs.
Ovoviviparous, producing living young, the eggs being disclosed in the matrix of the parent.
P.
Palate, the interior part of the transverse lip.
Pagina inferior, the lower surface of a wing.
Pagina superior, the upper surface of a wing.
Paleaceous, chaffy.
Pallide-flavens, pale or whitish yellow.
Pallidus, of a pale cadaverous hue.
Palma, palm; the basal tarsal joint of the anterior feet, sometimes furnished with strigilis. See manus.
Palmate, hand-shaped; cut down, nearly half-way to the base into subequal, oblong segments, leaving an entire space like the palm of the hand.
Palpi, articulated moveable filaments in the mouth of insects, generally shorter than the antennæ; divided into 1abial and maxillary palpi.
Panduriform, fiddle-shaped; oblong, broad at the two extremities, and contracted in the middle.
Papilionaceous, butterfly-like.
Papillary, having the apex semiglobular; somewhat like a nipple; this term ought to be distinguished from verrucose.
Papillous, pimpled; having the surface covered with raised dots or pimples. See verrucose.
Pappus, down.
Parallelogram, a quadrilateral, right-lined figure, whose opposite sides are parallel and equal to each other.
Parapleurum, that segment of the postpectus, which is situated one on each side of the acetabulum, behind the scapula; in some genera are two on each side; they may be distinguished into anterior and posterior.
Parasitical, inhabiting another animal.
Parietes, walls; perpendicular sides of the honeycomb; sides of elevated bodies.
Patulous, open; spreading.
Pearlaceous, having the appearance of pearl.
Pecten, in Hymenoptera, rigid, incurved setæ which arm the exterior margin of the upper part of the base of valvulæ or maxillæ.
Pectinate, comb-shaped; cut into regular straight segments like the teeth of a comb. See perfoliate, setaceous.
Pectus, the anterior, inferior portion of the trunk, included, between the head and postpectus.
Pedes, the feet; this term is applied to the whole limb, consisting of femur, tibia, tarsus.
Pedicellus, the third joint of the antennæ, particularly in Hymenoptera, often forming the pivot, turning in the socket of the scapus, upon which the other articulations, constituting the apex, sit, and by means of which they often form an angle with that part; it is "le bouton" of Reaumur.
Pedicle, a pedicellus.
Peduncle, a stalk or petiole.
Pedunculated, elevated on a stalk or peduncle.
Peltate, target-shaped.
Pendent, hanging down.
Penicilliform, pencil-shaped.
Penis, the genitals of the male, consisting of forceps and phallus.
Pennaceous, feathered like the web of a quill. See plumous.
Penultimate, the last but one.
Perennial, continuing for several years.
Perfoliate, perforated; applied to those antennæ of which the joints are transversely divided into thin plates, which are connected by a common stalk passing nearly through their centres. See clavate, pectinate.
Peristaethium, that segment of the postpectus anterior to the insertion of the intermediate feet; it extends laterally to the scapulæ, and is generally connected with the pectus by a membrane.
Persistent, permanent.
Personate, gaping.
Petiolated, supported on a stem; (cellule) one of the cubital cellules is said to be petiolated when it is triangular, and connected by means of a nervure with the nervure of the radial cellule; this disposition more frequently occurs in the second cellule.
Petiole, a stem; the support which connects the base of the metathorax with the base of the abdomen.
Phallus, the masculine organ of generation.
Phosphorescent, lucid; emitting light in the dark.
Piceous, pitchy; the color of pitch.
Pilous, having long sparse hairs. See hirsute.
Pinnatifid, with winged clefts.
Plane, a level or rectilinear surface, destitute of elevations or depressions; a curved surface cannot be plane because it is not rectilinear. See equal.
Planta, the basal joint of the tarsus of the posterior pairs of feet in Hymenoptera, often dilated or elongated, containing scapula. See palma.
Pleura, the side of the stethidium, between the thorax and pectus.
Plicate, plaited; folded like a fan.
Plumous, feathered; with fine hairs on each side so as to resemble a feather. See pennaceous.
Poisers, the halteres, in the Diptera, a capitate moveable filament on each side, substituted for the inferior wings.
Polliniferous, formed for collecting the pollen of plants, as in many of the Hymenoptera.
Polymorphous, undergoing a metamorphose; applied to those articulated animals with feet that undergo a metamorphose, either partial or total. See homotene.
Polyphagous, eating a variety of food.
Porcate, marked with raised longitudinal lines.
Porrect, stretched out; prominent; elongated forwards.
Posterior angle, of the wing, is the junction of the posterior edge with the interior edge; of the thorax, is the lateral angle near the base of the elytra.
Posterior edge, the boundary of the posterior margin.
Posterior margin, of the wing, extends on the hind part of the wings from the apex to the posterior angle. See inner margin.
Posterior wings, the inferior wings.
Postpectus, the posterior portion of the stethidium on the inferior surface of the body, consisting of several pieces, which in the Coleoptera particularly are the peristaethium, acetabulum, parapleurum, scapula, and maerianum.
Prasinus, grass-green, without any tinge of blue.
Premorse, as if bitten off; with a blunt or jagged termination.
Prismatic, like a prism; of equal thickness and having several flat sides; differs from cylindrical in being angular.
Proculiform [poculiform], hollow and cylindrical, with a hemispherical base, the sides at top straight and not recurved. See calathiform, cyathiform.
Proboscis, the inarticulate trophi of the Muscæ, and is sometimes soft, labiated and generally retractile, sometimes horny and acute; according to Kirby it is the tongue of the Hymenoptera with all the apparatus, and its vagina.
Procumbent, trailing; prostrate; lying flat. See decumbent.
Promuscis, according to Illiger, is the trophi of the Hymenoptera.
Pruinous, covered with a frosty kind of woolliness ; hoary.
Pterigostia, or wing-bones, the nervures.
Pubescent, coated with very soft, fine wool, hair or down, which is short and not crowded. See villous, tomentous.
Pulverulent, dusty.
Punctured, marked with small impressed dots. See scrobiculate, variolous.
Pulvillus, the soft termination of the foot between the unguis; it is "un petit mammelon" of Degeer. See onychii.
Puniceous, carmine color.
Pupa, the second state of the insect from the egg, often quiescent; the members being more or less concealed by the common integument. See aurelia, nympha, chrysalis.
Pupil, of an occellate wing-spot, is the central spot which is surrounded by the iris.
Pyriform, pear-shaped.
Q.
Quadrangular, having four angles.
Quadrate, square; somewhat square.
Quadrilateral, having four sides.
Quiescence, a state of hibernation somewhat resembling torpidity, wherein the animal requires but little nourishment, and exhibits exterior signs of life.
R.
Radial cellule, or marginal cellule, a portion of the membrane of the wing, situated near the apex, included between the exterior margin and a nervure which originates at the carpus and passes, with various degrees of curvature, towards the apex; it is complete when the nervure reaches the apex, and incomplete when this member is abbreviated or interrupted, and appendiculated when transversely divided by a nervure which does not originate froma the carpus; when there are two radial cellules the nervure of one of them originates on the basal side of, or below the carpus.
Radiated, furnished with lines which proceed from a common centre. See stellate.
Radicula, radicle; the basal joint of the antennæ, attached to the head.
Radius, the first nervure of the external edge of the superior wing; it extends from the base to the carpus, and is separated from the cubitus by a membrane.
Ramous, having branches; branched.
Raptatory, formed for seizing a prey.
Reclivate, curved in a convex, then in a concave line.
Recondite, (aculeus) concealed within the abdomen, seldom exposed to view.
Rectigrade, larvæ, which having sixteen feet, walk with a rectilinear body. See geometræ.
Rectangular, in the form of a right angle; having an angle of ninety degrees.
Rectilinear, right-lined; formed in a straight line.
Recurrent nervures, one or more ascending branches of the brachial nervures, which are inserted into the cubital cellules, sometimes into the first and second, sometimes into the second and third, and others into one only.
Recurved, bowed backwards.
Reflected, or reflexed, bent back rather angularly.
Refracted, bent back as if broken.
Remote, further removed than distant.
Reniform, kidney-shaped.
Repand, wavy; with alternate segments of circles and intervening angles. See scalloped.
Replicatile, capable of being folded back.
Resilient, having the property of springing back.
Resupinate, upside down; horizontally reversed.
Reticulate, like net-work.
Retinaculum, horny moveable scales in the Hymenoptera, serving instead of muscles to move the spicula, or to prevent it from being darted out too far.
Retracted, opposed to prominent; drawn back.
Retractile, generally exserted, but capable of being drawn in.
Retrorse, (sinuate) pointing backwards; (serrate) inversely serrated.
Retuse, ending in an obtuse sinus, or broad shallow notch; terminated by an obtuse hollow.
Reversed, (wings) deflexed, the margin of the posterior wings projecting beyond that of the anterior wings.
Reviviscence, the awakening from torpidity; the restoration from suspended animation.
Revolute, rolled backwards spirally. See convolute.
Rhombus, a quadrangular figure, having its four sides equal and its opposite lines parallel, with two opposite angles acute and two obtuse.
Rhomboid, a figure approaching to a rhombus.
Rigid, inflexible, not easily bending; opposed to limber.
Rimose, full of cracks.
Ringent, gaping.
Roseus, color of a rose, a pale blood red.
Rostellum, a little bill or beak; it is horny and articulated as in Cimex, &c. ; it is the "rostrum" of Latreille. See rostrum.
Rostrum, an immoveable prolongation of the head, at the end of which is the mouth, as in the Curculio kind. Latreille applies this term to the rostellum of the Cimices.
Rotate, wheel-shaped.
Rudiment, the incomplete formation of a part or organ.
Rufous, reddish.
Rugous, wrinkled; with irregularly waved and elevated lines. See corrugated.
Runcinate, notched; cut into several transverse acute segments which point backwards.
S.
Saccate, gibbous or inflated towards one end.
Sagittate, arrow-shaped; triangular, and deeply emarginate at base.
Saltatory, (feet) formed for leaping, the thighs being dilated. See ambulatory, cursory.
Sanguineous, color of arterial blood; duller than puniceous.
Scabrous, rough like a file, with small raised dots. See asperous.
Scale, the squama.
Scalloped, (edge) marked or bounded by segments of circles, without intervening angles.
Scapula, that segment that is situated one on each side of the peristaethium, on the anterior lateral angle of the postpectus, immediately beneath the humeral angle of the elytrum; it is bounded behind by the parapleurum.
Scapus, scape; the second articulation of the antennæ, often elongated; it is the "bulbus" of Linné, and "le fuseau" of Degeer.
Scopa, thick hair, covering the posterior tibiæ of some Hymenopterous insects; it is used in collecting and carrying pollen. See scopula and corbicula.
Scopula, bristles or rigid hairs, in some Hymenopterous insects, covering the inside of the plantæ, principally those of the posterior feet; it is very conspicuous in polleniferous insects ; it is the "scopa" of Schrank, and "la brosse" of Reaumur. See scopa, fimbria, flocculus.
Scriptus, lettered; marked with various characters resembling letters.
Scrobiculated, pitted; having the surface covered with hollows; with deep round pits. See favose.
Scrotiform, purse-shaped.
Scutel, or scutellum, a small subtriangular portion of the superior surface of an insect, generally separated by a suture from the middle of the base of the thorax.
Scutellur angle, (of the elytra) is the angle next to the scutel.
Secund, pointing one way; unilateral.
Securiform, hatchet-shaped ; triangular-compressed like the iron part of a hatchet. See dolabriform.
Segment, of the abdomen, is a ring or division of that part, and is bounded by sutures or incisures.
Semicomplete, (metamorphose) in this kind of change the insect continues active and feeds, as in Grillus. See coarctate, incomplete.
Semicylindric, flat on one side; the form of the longitudinal half of a cylinder.
Semisagittate, half arrow-shaped; like the longitudinal half of an arrow-head.
Septum, an internal division of a tubular body.
Sericeous, having the surface shining by means of dense, minute, short, silky hair. See pubescent.
Serrate, like the teeth of a common saw; differs from crenate in having the teeth acute, and from dentate in having them directed towards one end, the tips not being opposite to the middle of their base.
Sesquitertial, occupying the fourth part.
Sesquiocellous, or sesquialter, a large ocellus including a smaller one.
Sessile, connected immediately with the part from which it originates, without the intervention of a peduncle; (abdomen) attached to the stethidium, by a considerable part of its whole breadth.
Seta, a bristle.
Setaceous, bristle-shaped; slender and gradually attenuated to the tip. See capillary, filiform.
Setarious, aristate; terminating in a simple naked bristle, as in the antennæ of some of the Diptera.
Setous, bristly, set with bristles.
Sexes, of insects, are distinguished in Entomological works by % (Mars) for male, and & (Venus) female.
Shank, the tibia.
Simple, destitute of any remarkable processs or appendage; (thighs) equal, not dilated or formed for leaping; (aculeus) having only a single dart or point, not vaginate.
Sinuate, indented; cut into deep sinuses.
Sinus, a curvilinear indentation more or less profound; differs from emargina in not being angulated; an excavation as if scooped out. See retuse.
Solid, this term is applied to the capitulum of the antennæ, when the articulations of which it is composed exhibit no interval between them.
Sparse, or sparsate, scattered; spread irregularly, and at a distance from each other.
Spatulate, battledoor-shaped; round and broad at top and attenuated at base. See cuneiform.
Species, comprehends all the individuals which descend from one another or from a common parentage, and those which resemble them as much as they resemble each other.
Specific character, a character which comprehends all the individuals of a species, and distinguishes them from all others of the same genus.
Spicula, the instrument with which the female lays her eggs. See vagina.
Spinous, armed with acute processes or spines.
Spinous-radiate, beset with spines in a circle, either concatenate, united at their bases, or setaceous, like bristles.
Spinulæ, spinous processes at the base of the tibia, in Hymenopterous insects, including velum; they are the "spines" or "spurs" of Degeer, and heels of Leach.
Spiracula, Spiracle, one of the lateral orifices of the trunk and abdomen, through which insects respire; the stigmata.
Spiral, revolving obliquely like a corkscrew; or rolled up like a watch-spring.
Spurious, this word is applied to the anterior feet of some of the Lepidoptera, in which these members are destitute of nails, and not suitable for walking.
Spurs, the spinulæ.
Squama, or scale, a small scale above the halteres in the Diptera; it is composed of two pieces united at their edges, as in bivalve shells.
Squamula, a very small corneous, coneavo-convex scale, covering the base of the superior wings in some insects.
Squamous, scaly; covered with scales.
Squarrous, scurfy; consisting of rough scales spreading every way, or divided into pieces, standing upright and not parallel with the surface.
Stellate, star-formed; with four or five radiating lines. See radiated.
Stemmata, two or three simple, convex, crystalline bodies on the vertex of many insects, resembling the eyes of spiders, &c., and probably performing the same functions.
Sternum, a carina or corneous process immersed in, or prominent on the pectus, and which extends longitudinally between the anterior feet, often elongated before or behind, or concealed by the base of the anterior feet.
Stethidium, the trunk; all that part of the body included between the head and abdomen. See thorax.
Stigma, an opake spot on the costal margin of the anterior wings, of some Neuroptera, &c.; it is the "anastomosis" of Kirby, and the "punctum marginale" of Linné. See carpus.
Stigmata, the spiracula.
Stipes, the stalk or basal portion of the proboscis.
Stipitate, supported on a pedicle.
Stria, a longitudinal line, often punctured, generally proceeding from the base to the apex of the elytra.
Striate, scored; marked with fine, parallel, impressed, longitudinal lines. See sulcate.
Striga, a narrow transverse line. See fascia.
Strigilis, a deep sinus near the base of the palma; in some Hymenoptera it is often pectinated.
Strigose, clothed with rigid bristles thickest at base. See hispid.
Sub, is prefixed to many of the terms used in Entomology, and signifies that the term is not exactly applicable, in its strictly defined sense, to the subject spoken of, but that it must be understood with some latitude; thus subovate is somewhat egg-shaped.
Subcutaneous, placed under the skin; applied to larvæ which feed under the skin of animals, or within the substance of the leaf of a plant.
Suberoded, (wings) somewhat indented, but irregularly.
Submargin, an imaginary portion of a surface, situated exterior to the disk, and within the margin.
Submarginal cellules, the cubital cellules.
Subocellate, applied to a spot on the wing of a Lepidopterous Insect, when it resembles an ocellate spot, but is destitute of a pupil; blind.
Subulate, awl-shaped; linear at base and attenuated at the tip.
Sulcated, marked with broad, concave, parallel lines; grooved furrowed. See striate.
Sulphureous, bright yellow; the color of sulphur.
Superciliary, placed above the eyes.
Superior wings, the anterior or upper pair of wings.
T.
Tail, the terminal segment of the abdomen ; an elongation of the tip of the inferior wing in some Lepidoptera.
Tarsus, the small terminal joints of the feet, divided into planta, digitus; Kirby limits this designation to the terminal joints of the intermediate and posterior pairs of feet; for that of the anterior pair see manus; but authors generally have not made this distinction.
Tegmina, wing covers of the Orthoptera; the left laps over the right in Blatta, Phasma, and male Locustæ, and generally in Gryllus and Truxalis --- the right over the left in Mantis, Mantispa, Acheta, Gryllotalpa, and some female Locusta. See hemelytra.
Tegula, a small scale, resembling the squamula of the Diptera, but more simple and solid, on the base of the superior wings of many insects.
Tendo, one or more bristles attached near the base of the under wing and passing through the hook (hamus) in many male Lepidoptera; the females often have the tendo, but never the hamus.
Tentacula, retractile processes on the larvæ of some species of Lepidoptera.
Teres, nearly cylindric.
Tergum, the superior portion of the abdomen, separated from the venter by lateral sutures, and divided into segments which are perforated each side with the spiraculæ.
Terminal, situated at the extremity.
Tessellated, chequered ; figured like a chess-board.
Testaceous, tile or brick color.
Tetragonal, having four corners or angles.
Thigh, the femur; the third joint of the feet.
Thorax, the dorsal portion of the trunk, included by the dorsal sutures, and including tubercula, anterior angle, posterior angle, base. See pectus.
Thyrsus, a cluster.
Tibia, the leg, or fourth joint of the feet; it is slender, long, enlarging towards the extremity, which is truncated; including spinulæ, scopa, and corbicula.
Tip, of the elytra, is that part which is opposed to the base.
Tomentose, covered with fine hairs so matted together that particular hairs cannot be separated. See lanate, ciliate.
Tongue, the ligula or lingua.
Torose, protuberating; swelling into knobs or protuberances.
Torpidity, a state of hybernation in which no exterior signs of life are exhibited. See quiescence, revivescence.
Tortilis, twisted.
Transverse, the longest diameter placed transversely with respect to the body.
Trapezium, a quadrilateral or four-sided figure with none of its sides parallel.
Trichotomous, dividing by threes.
Tricuspidate, endingin three points.
Tridactylous, having three toes or claws.
Trigonate, three-cornered.
Triquetrous, three-sided; with three flat sides. See trigonate.
Trochanter, the second joint of the feet, preceding the thigh or femur; it is also the second joint of the apophysis; it is very prominent in the Carabidæ.
Trochlearis, pulley-shaped; like a cylinder contracted in the middle.
Trophi, instrumenta cibaria; feeders; parts of the mouth taken collectively, composed of five principal parts, viz. labrum, mandibles, maxillæ, palpi, labium.
Truncate, cut off square at tip. See emarginate, sinus.
Trunk, or stethidium, that part of the body which intervenes between the head and abdomen, including wings, feet, thorax, pectus, epigastrium.
Tubercle, a little solid pimple.
Tubercula, an elevated triangular process at the anterior angle of the thorax, particularly in Hymenoptera.
Tubulous, formed like a tube; fistulous.
Tubus, a corneous sheath at the base of the tongue, including fulcrum, auriculæ, and laciniæ. Fabricius calls it the base of the tongue. Degeer names it "the intermediate piece of the sheath;" Swammerdam also considers it "the sheath of the tongue." Latreille names it "la gaîne."
Tunicate, composed of concentric layers enveloping one another.
Turbinate, top-shaped; nearly conical; it differs from pyriform in being shorter and more suddenly attenuated at base.
Turgid, swollen.
U.
Umbilicate, resembling a navel.
Umbonate, bossed, having an elevated knob in the centre. See gibbous.
Uncinate, hooked at the end.
Unequal, opposed to equal; differing in length.
Undulated, waved obtusely, without any right lines, but in segments of circles. See flexuous.
Unguiculate, armed with a hook or nail.
Unguis, nail or claw, two incurved hooks which terminate the tarsus. See pulvillus.
Ungulate, hoof-shaped; like a horse's hoof.
Urceolate, pitcher-shaped; swelling in the middle like a pitcher. See infundibuliform, cyathiform.
Utriculus, a little bag, or hollow vesicle.
V.
Vagina, every part, the office of which is to cover, defend, or support the tongue - it is divided into tubus, valvæ, palpi, lora, and annulus, (Kirby); the bivalve coriaceous sheath or cover of the spicula.
Vaginate, (aculeus) inclosed in a bivalve sheath.
Valvæ, or valvulæ, in the Hymenoptera, are two coriaceons laminæ or sheaths which surround and inclose the vagina, and which support the exterior palpi ; small concave membranes enclosing the proboscis; the maxillæ.
Variety, a peculiarity of color or form in an individual, not proper to the species; this difference is sometimes inherited by several successive generations.
Variolous, with large, unequal, impressed points.
Veins, (venæ). See nervures.
Velum, membranaceous appendages attached to the spinulæ at the apex of the anterior tibiæ.
Venter, the inferior portion of the abdomen, separated from the tergum by lateral sutures, and divided into segments.
Ventricose, distended; bellying; inflated.
Vernantia, vernatio; moulting, the shedding of the skin or exuvia.
Verrucose, having little hard lumps or wart-like elevations upon the surface. See papillous, apiculate.
Versatile, vane-like; turning about like a vane.
Vertebral, of or belonging to the vertebra; generally used to indicate spots, lines or a different shading of color, &c., immediately over the part corresponding with the vertebral column in a vertebrate animal.
Vertex, that part of the face which lies between the occiput, eyes and front; (Diptera) the superior portion of the front.
Vertical, perpendicular; at right angles with the horizon. See erect.
Verticillate, placed in whirls.
Vesicular, beset with prominences that are internally concave, or with little bladders.
Vibratile, this term is used to express the almost continual movement of the antennæ of some Ichneumons and Mutillæ; and of the wings of some Diptera.
Vibrissæ, curved bristles or hairs in some Diptera situated between the mystax and the antennæ.
Villi, soft hairs.
Villous, soft haired; clothed with long, soft hair. See hirsute, pubescent.
Violaceous, violet color; a mixture of blue and red.
Viscid, covered with a resinous or greasy matter. See glutinous.
Vitellinus, yellow, with a slight tinge of red.
Vitta, a longitudinal colored line.
W.
Whirls, or whorls, generally on the antennæ, consisting of small hairs placed round the joints, like spokes round the cave of a wheel. See verticellate.
Wing-cells, the areæ.
Winglets, small concavo-convex scales generally fringed at tip, placed under the base of the elytra in Dytiscus marginalis.
Wings, membranaceous, reticulated instruments of flight, affixed laterally to the thorax, comprehending superior or anterior, and inferior or posterior wings, elytra and hemelytra. See posterior angle, nervure, stigma.
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