Glossary of Entomological Terms |
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| These are presented as aid in understanding many of entomological terms you may encounter in the literature or in class exercises. New terms will be added as needed. Please feel free to suggest changes, additions, improvements. You may send your comments directly to me at pmc@ifas.ufl.edu. | ||
Term |
Definition |
Applies to: |
| abdomen | The posterior and usually longest of the 3 principal body segments | General |
| allotype | Paratype of the opposite sex to the holotype; term not regulated by Code of Zoological Nomenclature, (glossary, PDF format) | Classification |
| anal lobe | Lobe in the posterior basal part of wing | Wing |
| anal vein | Longitudinal unbranched veins extending from base of wing to outer margin below the cubitus | Wing |
| antenna | Pair of segmented appendages located on the head above mouthparts, below and between eyes; plural = antennae | Head |
| antenodal crossvein | Small cross veins along the basal portion of the front edge of wings | Odonata |
| anterior | In front; before | General |
| arculus | Small crossvein near base of wing | Odonata |
| arista | Large bristle, usually dorsally located, on apical antennal segment | Diptera |
| aristate | Last segment enlarged and bearing a conspicuous dorsal bristle | Antennal forms |
| arolium | A cushion-like pad on the tarsi of many insects, one of the lobes of the pulvillus | General |
| arolium | The terminal pad between the claws | Orthoptera |
| auct., auctorum | Of authors | Latin Abbreviations |
| author | The person(s) to whom a work, a scientific name, or a nomenclatural act is attributed | Classification |
| basitarsus | Basal (1st) segment of tarsus; segment connecting to tibia | Leg |
| beak | The jointed structure or rostrum covering the maxilla or trophi | Hemiptera |
| binomen | The combination of two names, the first being the generic name and the second a specific name, that together constitute the scientific name of a species | Classification |
| binomial nomenclature | The system of nomenclature in which a species, but no taxon or any other rank, is denoted by a combination of two names | Classification |
| book gills | Respiratory apparatus consisting of leaflike folds | Xiphosura (Horseshoe crab) |
| c., circa | About, near | Latin Abbreviations |
| calypter | One or two small lobes at base of wing, just above haltere | Diptera |
| caudal | Refers to tip of abdomen, toward the tail, posterior end of body | General |
| cenchrus | Pl. cenchri; minute, often white marks or membranous spaces on the metanotum | Hymenoptera |
| cercus | Segmented paired appendages located at tip of abdomen (plural = cerci) | General |
| cf., cfr., | Compare | Latin Abbreviations |
| character | Any attribute of organisms used for recognizing, differentiating or classifying taxa | Classification |
| cladistic classification | Classification based on 'recency of common descent', i.e.Categories depend on the position of the branching points on the inferred phylogenetic tree | Classification |
| classification | The ordering of organisms into groups on the basis of their relationships | Classification |
| clavate | Clublike, enlarged at tip (e.g clavate antennae). | General |
| clavus | Oblong or triangular anal portion of front wing | Hemiptera, Homoptera |
| claw | A hollow, sharp organ, generally paired, at the end of the insect leg | General |
| clubbed | Segments increasing in diameter distally | Antennal forms |
| clubbed - (capitate) | Terminal segments abruptly enlarged to form a club | Antennal forms |
| clubbed - (clavate) | Gradual increase in diameter of segments | Antennal forms |
| clubbed - (lamellate) | Terminal segments expanded laterally to form rounded or oval platelike lobes | Antennal forms |
| clypeus | Plate on face above mouthparts, between labrum and frons | Head |
| collophore | Tubelike sturcture located on ventral side of 1st abdominal segment | Collembola |
| compound eye | Composed of many elements or ommatidia | General |
| corbicula | A concave, smooth space, edged by a fringe of hairs arising from the margins of the posterior tibia in bees, forming pollen basket | Hymenoptera |
| corium | Elongate, usually thickened, basal portion of front wing | Hemiptera |
| cornicle | Tubelike structure located dorsally on abdomen | Homoptera, Aphids |
| costa | Longitudinal wing vein, usually enlarged and along the leading (anterior) edge of the wing | Wing |
| coxa | Basal segment of leg (plural = coxae) | Leg |
| cubitus vein | The 5th longitudinal vein of the wing, extending from wing base and usually 2-branched before reaching outer wing margin | Wing |
| cuneus | Small triangular area at end of embolium of hemelytra | Hemiptera |
| definition | A statement in words that purports to give those characters which, in combination, uniquely distinguish a taxon | Classification |
| description | A more or less complete statement of the observed characters of a taxon, without any special emphasis on thosewhich distinguish it from other closely related taxa | Classification |
| diagnosis | A statement in words that purports to give those characters which differentiate the taxon from other taxa with which it is likely to be confused | Classification |
| diagnostic characters | The characters, or most important characters, which distinguish a taxon from other similar or closely related taxa | Classification |
| distal | Near or toward the free end of any appendage; that part of segment farthest from the body | General |
| dorsum | Top surface of body | General |
| elytron | Thickened front pair of wings | Coleoptera, Dermaptera, Hemiptera |
| embolium | Narrow sclerite extending along anterior margin of hemelytra, from base to cuneus or membrane | Hemiptera |
| embolium | Narrow piece of corium, along costal margin | Hemiptera |
| empodium | Padlike or bristlelike structure at tip of last tarsal segment between claws | Diptera |
| epi- | Prefix, above | General |
| epimeron | Area of thoracic pleuron posterior to pleural suture | General |
| epiphysis | A lappet-like process covering an excavation on the foretibia | Lepidoptera |
| epiproct | Supra-anal plate; pygidium | General |
| epistomal sulcus | The frontoclypeal furrow | Head |
| f., forma | Form, shape | Latin Abbreviations |
| family group | The highest-ranking group of taxa whose names are fully regulated by the Code. The family group includes taxa at the ranks of superfamily, family, tribe, and any other rank below superfamily and above the genus group that may be required, such as subtribe | Classification |
| femur | Large leg segment located near base of leg; the 3rd leg segment,located between trochanter and tibia | Leg |
| filiform | Threadlike, segments nearly uniform in diameter, elongate, usually cylindrical | Antennal forms |
| filiform | Threadlike, hairlike (see also antennae) | General |
| flagellomere | Segment of flagellum | General |
| flagellum | Distal segments of antenna after pedicel | Antenna |
| fontanelle | Small, depressed pale spot on front of head between eyes | Isoptera |
| frenulum | Bristle or group of bristles at humeral angle of hind wing | Lepidoptera |
| frons | Front of head between epistomal suture and frontal sutures, includes median ocellus | Head |
| furcula | Forked springing apparatus | Collembola |
| gen. nov., g.n., genus novum | New genus | Latin Abbreviations |
| gena | Lateral portion of head below and behind eyes, the "cheek" | Head |
| geniculate | Elbowed; first segment long, following segments smaller, going off at an angle from the first | Antennal forms |
| genitalia | Collectively, all of the genital structures | General |
| haltere, halter | Modified wing; usually a small knobbed structure on 3rd thoracic segment (Diptera) or modified front wing in Strepsiptera | Diptera, Strepsiptera |
| head | Most anterior body region; with eyes, antennae, mouthparts | General |
| hemelytron | Front pair of wings in Hemiptera, usually with a thickened basal region | Hemiptera |
| holotype | A single specimen designated or indicated the type specimen by the original author at the time of publication of the original description | Classification |
| homonym | Each of two or more identical but independently proposed names for the same or different taxa | Classification |
| humeral angle | Basal anterior angle of or portion of the wing | General |
| humerus | Shoulder, anterior lateral angle of elytra | Coleoptera |
| hypognathous | With head and mouthparts located ventrally when viewed from above | Head |
| hypopleuron | Plate on thorax above hind coxae | Diptera |
| hypostoma | Portion of the head included between the antennae, eyes and mouth | Diptera |
| id., idem | The same | Latin Abbreviations |
| identification | The placing of individual specimens into previously established taxa, by deductive procedures. The determination of the taxonomic identity of an individual | Classification |
| in litt., in letteris | In correspondence or letter | Latin Abbreviations |
| in litteris, in litt. | In correspondence, communicated in writing, used for an unpublished source acknowledgement | Classification |
| in litteris, in litt. | In correspondence, communicated in writing, used for an unpublished source acknowledgement | Latin Abbreviations |
| jugum | Sclerite of the head | Hemiptera, Homoptera |
| jugum | Lobelike process at base of front wing, overlaps hind wing | Lepidoptera |
| labial | Referring to labium, mouthpart similar to lower lip of vertebrates | Head |
| labium | Mouthpart, lower lip | Head |
| labrum | Upper lip, below clypeus | Head |
| lamellate | Containing some enlarged, flattened segments | General |
| lateral | Relating, pertaining, or attached to the side | General |
| lectotype | One of several syntypes, designated by any author, after the original publication of a species name as the 'type specimen' for the taxonomic name. Designated only where there was no original holotype | Classification |
| loc. cit., loco citato | Work cited (includes page references) | Latin Abbreviations |
| loco citato, loc. cit. | In the place cited, used to avoid repetition of a bibliographic reference already given | Classification |
| mandible | Jaw, anterior pair of mouthparts | Head |
| maxilla | Paired mouthparts posterior to mandibles | Head |
| media vein | Fourth of the longitudinal veins, extending from base through approx. middle of wing, not more than 4-branched | Wing |
| medial | Referring to, or at the middle | General |
| mesonotum | Dorsal portion of second thoracic segment; location of 1st pair of wings | Thorax |
| mesopleuron | Lateral plate of mesonotum (dorsal region of second thoracic segment) | Thorax |
| metanotum | Third segment of thorax; contains 2nd pair of wings | General |
| moniliform | Like a string of beads | Antennal forms |
| moniliform | Beadlike, with rounded segment (see also antennae) | General |
| monotypy | A situation where a genus group taxon is established with only one immediately subordinate taxon. E.g. A genus containing only one species | Classification |
| mystax | A patch of hair or bristles above the mouth, on the lower part of the hypostoma above the vibrissae | Diptera |
| n.g., nov. gen., novum genus | New genus | Latin Abbreviations |
| n.s., n.sp., nova species | New species | Latin Abbreviations |
| nasutiform | Head narrowing anteriorly into a snout-like projection | Isoptera |
| neotype | A specimen selected as type specimen subsequent to the original description in cases where the original holotype, or lectotype, or all paratypes, or all syntypes are lost or destroyed or suppressed by the Commission | Classification |
| nodus | Strong cross vein near middle of costal border of wing | Odonata |
| nomenclature | The description of new taxa or alterations to the concept of previously described taxa which involve changes in the names of taxa | Classification |
| notopleuron | Area on thoracic dorsum, at lateral end of transverse suture | Diptera |
| numerical taxonomy | Study of the relationships of taxa by the application of numerical similarity values to characters so as to rank into categories based on degree of overall similarity | Classification |
| occiput | That part of the head behind the vertex | Head |
| ocellus | A simple eye of insects or other arthropods; appearing to be small raised spots on top of head | Head |
| op. cit., op. c., opere citato | Work cited (not page reference) | Latin Abbreviations |
| palp | Small segmented appendages associated with mouthparts (maxillae or labium) | Head |
| paralectotype | Any of the original syntypes remaining after the selection of a lectotype | Classification |
| paraproct | A pair of lobes bordering the anus laterally | General |
| parapsidae | Small sclerites on each side of the scutellum in Chalcids | Hymenoptera |
| parapsidal furrows | Longitudinal grooves on each side of the mesoscutum of Proctytrypiae separating the parapsides from the middle lobe | Hymenoptera |
| parapsidal grooves | Grooves or furrows on each side of the Chalcid scutellum | Hymenoptera |
| parapsides | Lateral pieces of meso-scutum, separated from mesal portion by parapsidal furrows | Hymenoptera |
| parapteron | Small sclerites, articulated to the dorsal extremity of the episternum, just below the wings; absent on thorax; = tegulae in Hymenoptera, patagia in Lepidoptera | General |
| paratype | Every specimen in a type series other than the holotype which were before the author at the time of preparation of the original description and were so designated and indicated there | Classification |
| pectinate | Comblike; most segments with long, slender processes | Antennal forms |
| pectinate | With branches like the teeth of a comb (see also antennae, claws) | General |
| pedicel | Second antennal segment | Antenna |
| pedicel | Greatly narrowed or restricted apparent 1st abdominal segment which connects the propodeum with the gaster | Hymenoptera |
| pedicel | Stem of the abdomen, between thorax and gaster (ants) | Hymenoptera |
| pedunculated | Set on a stalk or peduncle; attached by a slender stalk or neck | General |
| petiole | Stalk or stemlike constriction of the abdomen to form attachment to thorax | Hymenoptera |
| phenetic classification | Classification based on degree of overall similarity | Classification |
| phenotype | The total characteristics of an individual (its appearance) resulting from interaction between its genotype and its environment | Classification |
| pleural membrane | Membrane of the lateral pleurites | General |
| pleural suture | A suture on a thoracic pleuron extending from base of wing to base of coxa | General |
| pleuron | Lateral area of a thoracic segment | General |
| plumose | Feathery | Antennal forms |
| post-vertical bristles | In Diptera, in the middle of the upper part of the occiput | Diptera |
| posterior | Hinder, or hindmost; opposed to anterior | General |
| precedence | The order of seniority of available names or nomenclatural acts determined by application of the Principle of Priority | Classification |
| prepectus | Chitinized sclerite separating the pronotum from the tegulae | Hymenoptera |
| pretarsus | The terminal limb segment; in insects, comprising usually a pair of lateral claws and reduced median parts (arolium) | General |
| primaries | The anterior or forewings | Wing |
| principle of binomial nomenclature | The principle that the scientific name of a species, and not of a taxon at any other rank, is a combination of two names (a binomen) | Classification |
| principle of homonymy | The principle that the name of each taxon must be unique | Classification |
| principle of priority | The principle that the valid name of a taxon is the oldest available name applied to it | Classification |
| principle of typification | The principle that each nominal taxon in the family group, genus group, or species group has, actually or potentially, a name bearing type fixed to provide the objective standard of reference by which the application of the name is determined | Classification |
| pronotum | The dorsal section of prothorax; 1st segment of thorax | Thorax |
| propodeum | That part of thorax just above insertion of abdomen, really the first abdominal segment | Hymenoptera |
| propodium | Posterior portion of thorax, actually the 1st abdominal segment united with thorax | Hymenoptera |
| prothorax | First or anterior thoracic segment | Thorax |
| proximal | That part of an appendage nearest the body | General |
| ptilinal | Refers to ptilinum, a bladderlike structure that everts from top of head during emergence of adult flies | Diptera |
| radius vein | Third of the longitudinal veins caudad of subcosta, starting from base, no more than 5 branches | Wing |
| red label | Color of specimen label assigned to holotype | Classification |
| redescription | A more or less complete statement of the observed characters of a taxon, without any special emphasis on those which distinguish it from other closely related taxa, including new or altered information to that usually given in the description | Classification |
| reticulate | Like a network, sculptured | General |
| revision | The presentation of new material or new interpretations integrated with previous knowledge through summary and reevaluation for a particular taxon | Classification |
| s.l., s. lat., sens. lat., sensu lato | In a broad sense | Latin Abbreviations |
| s.s., s. str., sens. str., sensu stricto | In the strict sense | Latin Abbreviations |
| scape | Basal segment of antenna | Antenna |
| scientific name | Formal nomenclatural designation of a taxon | Classification |
| scopa | A thick brush of hairs;covering the posterior tibia of pollen-gathering forms | Hymenoptera |
| scrobe | Groove on the side of the mandibles | Coleoptera |
| scrobe | Groove at the side of the rostrum (Rhyncophora) to receive the scape of antennae | Coleoptera |
| scrobe | Groove formed for the reception or concealment of an appendage | General |
| scrobe | Circular impression upon the frons in which the scapes revolve | Hymenoptera |
| scrobe | Pit in which the antennae are set | Orthoptera |
| scutellum | A triangular plate on back between bases of wings | Coleoptera, Hemiptera, Homoptera |
| serrate | Sawlike, segments in distal half triangular in shape | Antennal forms |
| setaceous | Bristlelike, segments becoming more slender distally | Antennal forms |
| setaceous | Bristlelike (see also antennae) | General |
| sp. nov., sp. n., species nova | New species | Latin Abbreviations |
| sp., species, | Species, singular | Latin Abbreviations |
| species group | The taxonomic categories species and subspecies | Classification |
| spiracle | External opening of the breathing system, usually round or oval in shape | General |
| spp., species | Plural of species | Latin Abbreviations |
| spurious | False or incomplete | Diptera |
| spurious vein | Certain folds or thickenings in the wing surface which resemble a vein so nearly as to be readily mistaken for a vein | Diptera |
| squama | A small scale above the halteres | Diptera |
| status novus, stat.nov. | New status, representing a change in status | Latin Abbreviations |
| sterna | Plural of sternum | General |
| sternal | Referring to sternum or ventral body regions | General |
| stigma | A dense, often discolored portion of the costal margin of a wing, usually at the end of the radius | Wing |
| stylate | Last segment bearing an elongate terminal fingerlike process | Antennal forms |
| stylus | Short, slender, fingerlike process | Thysanura |
| sub. gen. | Subgenus | Latin Abbreviations |
| subcosta vein | Generally unbranched, longitudinal vein extending parallel to the costa, reaching the outer margin before the costa | Wing |
| subsp. | Subspecies | Latin Abbreviations |
| subspecific name | The 3rd (third) name in a trinomen | Classification |
| supr. cit., supra citato | Cited above | Latin Abbreviations |
| synonym | Each of 2 or more different names applied to a single taxon | Classification |
| synonymy | The relationships between different names applied to the same taxon. A chronological list of taxonomic names which have been applied to a single taxon, including authors and dates. When this includes full bibliographic references for the name = Full Bibliographic Synonymy | Classification |
| syntype | Each specimen of a type series from which neither a holotype nor a lectotype has been designated. The syntypes collectively constitute the name-bearing type | Classification |
| systematics | Studies of the kinds and diversity of organisms and of any and all the relationships among them i.e.The science of the diveristy of organisms | Classification |
| tarsal formula | Number of segments in pro-,meso-, and metatarsi (expressed as 5-5-5) | Coleoptera |
| tarsomere | Tarsal segment | General |
| tarsus | Distal or apical portion of leg, bearing claws (1-5 segments) | Leg |
| tautonymy | One and the same name applied both to a genus-group name and to an included species-group name e.g. Bison bison | Classification |
| taxonomy | Studies of the relationships of taxa, including positional changes which do not involve changes in the names of taxa | Classification |
| tegmen | Thickened or leathery front wing (plural = tegmina) | Orthoptera |
| tegula | Small scalelike structure overlapping base of front wing | Hymenoptera |
| tegulae | Small, more or less cup-like scales at the base of primaries in many insects, specifically Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| tenaculum | Minute structure on ventral side of 3rd abdominal segment that serves as a clasp for furcula | Collembola |
| tergum | Plate on dorsal surface of abdomen | General |
| thorax | Second of 3 body regions, bearing legs and wings | General |
| tibia | 4th segment of leg, between femur and tarsus | Leg |
| topotype | A specimen collected at the type locality, not necessarily part of the type series and not regulated by the Code | Classification |
| trachea | Tubular breathing system of insects, marked externally by a circular opening or spiracle | General |
| trinomen | The combination of a generic name, a specific name, and a subspecific name, that together constitute a scientific name subspecies | Classification |
| trochanter | 2nd segment of leg, between coxa and femur | Leg |
| tympanum | Vibrating membrane; auditory membrane or eardrum | Orthoptera, Diptera, Coleoptera, Mantodea |
| type | The standard of reference for determining the precise application of a name. Each taxon has, actually or potentially, a type | Classification |
| type genus | Type of a nominal family is the nominal genus | Classification |
| type locality | The geographical location of the occurrence of the population from which the type specimen (holotype, lectotype or neotype) was taken | Classification |
| type material | A collective term for all type specimens. Zoologists should ensure that such material is transferred as quickly as possible to public institutions where their safety is guaranteed | Classification |
| type species | Type of a nominal genus is the nominal species | Classification |
| type specimen | Type of a nominal species is a specimen | Classification |
| ventral | Bottom surface of body | General |
| vertex | Top of head, anterior to occipital suture | General |
| vibrissae | Curved bristles or hairs in some Diptera, situated between the mystax and antennae | Diptera |
| wing pads | External expression of wing in immature insects, before eclosion | General |
| yellow label | Color of specimen label assigned to paratype(s) | Classification |
| zoological nomenclature | The system of scientific names for animal taxa and the provisions for the formation, treatment, and use of those names | Classification |