Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology
Chapter 16
Symbiosis: a life relationship existing between different kinds of animals or plants, or between animals and plants: true symbiosis is where both parties to the relation benefit: see also parasitism, commensalism. Among the ants social symbiosis exists in its most highly developed form and distinctive terms have been proposed for the various types of relations:
Calobiosis, is that association in which one species, often only the female, lives in the nest of and at the expense of another species, either for a time, = temporary - or altogether, = permanent calacobiosis. {Scanner's note: sic}
Cleptobiosis, is where one species of ant lives in or near the nest of another, preying upon its larvae or pupae or stealing the food supply.
Dulosis, is that mingling of colonies which owes its origin to the enslavement of one species by another.
Hamabiosis, is that relation where two species of any insects, one of which may be an ant, live side by side without obvious motive or known advantage to one or both.
Lestobiosis, is where the workers of one ant colony "hold up" those of another species and rob them of the food they are carrying to the nest.
Parabiosis, is where different species of ants form colonies with inosculating galleries, and have their households strangely intermingled, but not blended.
Phylacobiosis, is the relation existing between ants and Termites, the ants living in the doorways of the Termites and functioning as guards.
Synclerobiosis, is an association of two species of ants that usually inhabit independent colonies, for purposes that are not clearly understood.
Trophibiosis, is the relationship between ants on the one hand and aphids, coccids and the like on the other; these species being sought and attended by the ants for their own benefit: see myrmecophily.
Xenobiosis, is where one species of ant lives as a guest in the nest of another, maintaining its own household, and mingling freely with the host species, the two living on terms of mutual toleration.
Symbiotic: species that live together in a state of symbiosis.
Symmetrical: evenly developed on both sides.
Symmetry: that regular arrangement of organs or parts which is capable of division into similar halves or similar radii.
Sympathetic nervous system: applied to the nerves and ganglia of the alimentary canal and sonic other viscera which they innervate; = vagus; visceral nervous system.
Symphily: the relation borne to ants by the true guests which inhabit their nests and are fed and tended: rendering in return some substance or service desired by the ants: see metochy and synechtry.
Symphyla: a group name for apterous species resembling myriapods in appearance, with functional abdominal legs and the genital openings on the last abdominal segment: regarded by some as connecting forms between insects and myriapods, e.g. Scolopendrella.
Symphysis: where two sclerites are joined together by a soft membrane, permitting a slight motion.
Synaptera: originally wingless insects without metamorphosis; the Thysanura.
Synarthrosis: an articulation without motion.
Syncerebrum: the compound brain of insects.
Synchronous: happening at the same time.
Synciput: that portion of the vertex lying between the eyes.
Syncitium: masses of protoplasm with nuclei, found in ovarian tubes; giving rise to ova, nutritive cells or both.
Syndesis: that method of articulation where two parts are connected by a membrane which permits of considerable motion between them.
Synechtry: the relation borne to ants by insects inhabiting their nests in spite of the efforts of the ants to destroy them: see symphily and metochy.
Synista or Synistata: those Neuropterous insects in which the mouth structures are undeveloped, forming an imperfect tubular structure: see elinguata.
Synoecy: the relation that exists between ants and those guests that are indifferent to and tolerated by them:= metochy, and see symphily and synecthry.
Synonym: a name applied to a species or genus that has been previously named and described.
Synonymous: words of different derivation applied to the same conception.
Synthlipsis: the basal constriction of the notocephalon in Notonectids.
Syntype: = co-type; q.v.
Syringe: in Hemiptera, a chamber into which the salivary ducts open and by means of which the secretion is forced forward between the seta or lancets.
System: an order of arrangement.
Systematic: in definite order, or arranged according to a system.
Systole: that regular contraction of the heart that sends the blood outward: see diastole.
T
T. A. line: transverse anterior line; crosses the primaries of certain moths one-third or less from the base: = antemedial line.
Tactile: used for touching; an organ that has the sense of touch.
Taenia: a broad longitudinal stripe.
Taeniate -us: with broad longitudinal markings.
Taenidium -ia: the band or chitinized fibre forming a part of the spiral thread in the trachea of insects.
Tail: an elongated terminal segment of the abdomen: the cauda in plant lice: elongated processes on the secondaries, in some Lepidoptera and Neuroptera.
Tangential: set in or meeting at a tangent; applied to ornamentation and processes.
Tarsal: relating to the tarsi, or feet.
Tarsal lobes: membranous appendages arising from the underside of the tarsal joints in some Coleoptera.
Tarsus -i: the foot; the jointed appendage attached at the apex of tibia. bearing the claws and pulvilli.
Taste cups: specialized pits or cups, with or without a peg or hair, connected with ganglionated nerve cells: occur on the mouth structure and evidence the sense of taste.
Tawny: a brownish yellow, like the color of a tanned hide [pale cadmium yellow + Indian red].
Taxonomical: systematic: relating to classification.
Testate: covered; concealed: also used as = tectiform.
Tectiform: roof-like, sloping from a median ridge, like the primaries of Cicada.
Tegmen: a covering: sometimes used for the anterior wings in Orthoptera and Neuroptera.
Tegmina: the thickened primaries serving as wing covers in Orthoptera.
Tegulae: small, more or less cup-like scales at the base of primaries in many insects; specifically in Hymenoptera: in Lepidoptera, = the patagia or shoulder tippets; but the homology is disputed; also applied to the lappet-like pieces forming the collar: in Diptera, the alulae, q.v.: the latter use is unfortunate and should be abandoned; the first definition should limit the use of the term: see aileron.
Tegument: a covering surface or skin.
Teleodont: applied to those forms of male Lucanids bearing the largest mandibles: see mesodont, amphiodont, priodont.
Telescopic: arranged so that one portion of an organ or process may be drawn into another, like the joints of a telescope.
Telson: a terminal tubercle bearing the anal opening: the anal segment of the insect embryo.
Telum: a spear, or spear-shaped process.
Temple: the posterior part of the gena; behind, before or beneath the eye.
Tempora: the temples.
Temporal margins: in Mallophaga, the lateral margins of the hind head.
Tenaculum: in Collembola, a small organ which holds the furcula in position when at rest: = catch.
Tenant hair: see tenent hair.
Tendo: the anal area of secondaries when it forms a groove for the abdomen: has also been called frenum and frenulum: in Trichoptera, a small elliptical space at base of hind wings near base of anal veins and behind the trochlea.
Tendon: the slender, chitinous plates, bands, strap- or cup-shaped pieces, to which muscles are attached for moving appendages: see apodeme.
Tenent hair: specialized hair adapted for clinging or clasping.
Teneral: that state of the imago just after its exclusion from pupa or nymph, in which neither coloring nor clothing is fully developed.
Tensor: a muscle which stretches a membrane.
Tentacle: a flexible sensory or tactile process; in some cases retractile: usually prefixed by a descriptive term indicating the structure to which it is attached.
Tentacular -um: retractile processes on the larvae of Lepidoptera.
Tentaculate: a margin when fringed with soft tactile processes.
Tentiform: shaped like a tent: see mines.
Tentoria: Diptera; two hollow, cylindrical struts which pass from the ventral border of the occipital foramen to the cheeks.
Tentorium: a chitinous frame-work within the head, upon which the brain rests.
Tenuis: thin, slender; long drawn out.
Terebra: a borer or piercer: an ovipositor fitted for boring or cutting as in saw-flies: a mandibular sclerite articulated to the basalis; forms the point of the structure and = the galea of the maxilla.
Terebrant: with an ovipositor fitted for piercing or boring.
Terebrantia: Hymenoptera with sessile abdomen and valved ovipositors: Thripids in which the ovipositor of female is borer-like.
Teres, Terete: cylindric or nearly so.
Tergal: belonging to the primitively upper surface: see dorsal.
Tergal suture: the Y shaped dorsal suture on the head of many insect larvae.
Tergite: the primitively dorsal part of a segment, especially when that part consists of a single sclerite; usually applied to the abdomen.
Tergo-pleural: the upper and lateral portion of a segment.
Tergo-rhabdites: the lower pair of corneous appendages forming the ovipositor in grasshoppers: plates on the inner dorsal surface of the abdominal wall.
Tergum: the primitively upperor dorsal surface whether it consists of one or more than one sclerite and specifically of the abdomen: in Odonata and Orthoptera, applies to thorax as well.
Termen: the outer margin of a wing, between apex and hind or anal angle.
Terminal: situated at the tip or extremity; opposed to basal.
Terminal line: in Lepidoptera, runs along the outer margin of the wings.
Terminal space: the area between the s. t. line and terminal line in certain Lepidoptera.
Terminology: the technical nomenclature of any science.
Termitarium: a nest, natural or artificial, or a colony of Termites.
Terrestrial: living on or in the land; opposed to aquatic.
Tessellated: checkered; more or less like a chess-board. {Scanner's comment: More correctly, it means "tiled", covered with possibly regularly shaped areas or pieces. They may or may not be square or otherwise regular.}
Test: the secretionary covering of Coccidae, and especially such as are waxy, horny or glassy.
Testaceous: dull yellow brown; tile colored [pale cadmium yellow+burnt sienna].
Testes: the tubular structures in the male, in which the production of spermatogonia, and often also of later stages in the development of the sperm takes place.
Testicular follicles: in the larva, are those structures which in the adult form the tubes composing the testes; in the adult applied also to the tubes forming the testes.
Testudinate -us: resembling the shell of a tortoise.
Tetra-: four: a combining form.
Tetrachaetae: applied to those Diptera in which the mouth structures consist of four longitudinal blades or piercing structures.
Tetradactyle: with four fingers or finger-like processes.
Tetragonal: having four sides or angles: quadrangular.
Tetramera: applied to Coleoptera with four-jointed tarsi.
Tetramerous: having four-jointed tarsi.
Tetrapoda: applied to those butterflies in which the anterior legs are atrophied in whole or in part.
Tetraptera: a term proposed for all insects with four naked, membranous reticulated wings.
Thamnophilous: applied to species living in thickets or dense shrubbery.
Theca: a case or covering: specifically applied to the fleshy covering of the fly-mouth; to the cases of the Trichopterous larvae; to the lower piece of the male genitalia in Homoptera; and to the outer covering of the pupa.
Thelyotoky: parthenogenetic reproduction when the progeny are all females see Arrhenotoly and Deuterotoky.
Thigh: see femur.
Thigmotactic: contact-loving: applied to species that tend to live close together or in touch, one with the other.
Third longitudinal vein: in Diptera (Will.):= radius 5 (Comst.).
Third posterior cell: in Diptera, = 2d medial 2 (Comst.).
Third submarginal cross-nervure: in Hymenoptera (North.):= radius 4 (Comst.).
Thoracic: belonging or attached to the thorax.
Thoracic dorsal bristles: in Diptera, the specialized bristles on the dorsum of the thorax.
Thoracic feet: the jointed legs on the thoracic segments of larvae, as distinguished from abdominal or pro-legs.
Thoracico-abdominal: the first segment of the abdomen when united with the thorax so as to form part of it: =propodeum.
Thoracic pleural bristles: in Diptera, the specialized bristles situated on the pleural region of the thorax.
Thoracotheca: = cytotheca: q.v.
Thorax: the second or intermediate region of the insect body, bearing the true legs and wings: made up of three rings, named in order, pro-, meso-, and meta-thorax: when the pro-thorax is free as in Coleoptera, Orthoptera, and Hemiptera, the term thorax is commonly used in descriptive work for that segment only: in Odonata, where the prothorax is small and not fused with the larger and united meso- and meta-thorax, the term thorax is commonly used for these latter two united, excluding the prothorax.
Thread-plate: an epithelial plate of the embryo from which the terminal threads of the ovarian tubes originate.
Thyridial cell: in Trichoptera: the cell formed by the first fork of median vein; the cell behind Thyridium.
Thyridiate: applied to a wing vein that at one point seems broken so as to permit of a folding or bending; either to pack into a small compass or to enfold the body.
Thyridium -ii: small, whitish or almost transparent spots near the anastomosis of the disc of the wings in some Neuroptera, or in the recurrent veins in the cubital cellule in some Hymenoptera; also the apical margin of the gastrocoeli, often alone visible: in Trichoptera, specifically, a hyaline spot on second fork of median vein.
Thyrsus: a cluster.
Thysanoptera: fringe-winged: an ordinal term, applied to species with four narrow, similar wings, lengthily fringed; mouth parts fitted for puncturing and scraping; metamorphosis incomplete: the Thripids.
Thysanura: fringe-tails; wingless, mandibulate insects without metamorphosis; with anal appendages; body covered with scales; thoracic segments similar.
Tiarate -us: turban or tiara-like.
Tibia -ae: the shank: that part of the leg articulated to the femur basally and which bears the tarsus at the distal end.
Tibial epiphysis: a movable process attached near the base of the inner side of the anterior tibia in many Lepidoptera.
Tibial membrane: in male Cicada, the drum-like vibratory membrane that produces the sound.
Tip: the extremity; the part furthest removed from the base.
Titillator: a small process just below the penis in some Orthoptera.
Tomentose: covered with fine hair, so matted together that particular hairs cannot be separated.
Tomentum: a form of pubescence composed of matted, woolly hair: in Diptera applied to a covering of short, flattened, more or less recumbent, scale-like hair which merges gradually into dust or pollen.
Tongue: an indefinite term, applied usually to the coiled mouth structure of Lepidoptera; the lapping organ of flies; the ligula of bees and wasps and, sometimes also to the hypopharynx of other insects.
Tooth: an acute angulation: a short pointed process from an appendage or margin.
Topomorph -ic: a geographic form, variety or subspecies of a widely distributed species: developed by local environment.
Topotype: is a specimen collected in the exact locality whence the original type was obtained.
Tornal: relating to or concerning the tornus.
Tornus: in Lepidoptera, the junction of the termen and dorsum of wing: = hind or anal angle; q.v.
Torose: swelling into knots or protuberances.
Torpid: lying motionless by reason of cold or other natural conditions that unfavorably affect the organism.
Torqueate: with a ring or collar.
Torquillus: = rotula.
Tortilis: twisted.
Tortulose-us: hump-backed; a surface with a few large elevations: beaded; moniliform.
Tortuose -us: irregularly curved and bent; snake-like.
Tortuous: = Tortuose.
Torulus: the basal socket joint of the antenna upon which the organ is articulated for movement in all directions.
Totidem: in all parts; entirely.
T.P. line: transverse posterior line; crossing the primaries of certain Lepidoptera, two-thirds or more from base: = post medial line.
Trabecula: rounded, lobular masses of the procerebrum, from which arise the stalks bearing the mushroom bodies: a paired movable appendage in front of the antennae in certain bird-lice.
Trachea -ae: the spirally ringed breathing tube or tubes of insects.
Tracheal gills: the flattened or hair-like processes in aquatic larvae through which oxygen is absorbed from the water.
Tracheary: relating to or composed of tracheae.
Tracheate: supplied with trachea: a general term applied to all articulates that breathe by means of spiracular openings into a system of tubular structures that extend to all parts of the body.
Tracheation: the arrangement or system of distribution of trachea.
Tracheoles: the capillary trachea of the adult as they develop in masses in the larva: very small, slender tracheae.
Transection: a cut across, at right angles to the body: transverse section.
Transition zone: is the transcontinental belt in which the austral and boreal elements overlap: it is divided into a humid or Alleghanian area; a western arid area; and a Pacific Coast humid area: all of which see.
Transitory: lasting for a short time only.
Translucent: semi-transparent; admitting the passage of light but not of vision.
Translucid: clear: transparent enough to be seen through.
Transparent: so clear as not to obstruct vision.
Transverse: when the longest diameter is across the body.
Transverse incision: = transverse sulci.
Transverse sulci: the transverse grooves of pronotum in many Orthoptera.
Transverse suture: in Diptera, a transverse groove extending inward from the root of wing and obsolete in the middle of dorsum.
Trapeziform: in the form or shape of a trapezium.
Trapezium: a four-sided figure in which no two sides are parallel. {Scanner's comment: sic This is presumably an error in editing the original text. A trapezium has two sides parallel. Compare next item.}
Trapezoid -al: a four-sided plane of which two sides are parallel and two are not.
Tri-: three; a combining form.
Triangle: in Odonata: a small, triangular cell at the junction of cubitus with cubitus 1: a similar cell adjoining it basally is the internal triangle discoidal triangle: cardinal cell; q.v.
Tri-articulate: composed of three joints or articles.
Tribe: a term of classification less than a sub-family: opinionative and ending in ini: but this is not universally adhered to.
Tri-carinate: with three keels or carinae.
Trichogen: a hair-forming hypodermal cell in caterpillars, etc.
Trichoptera: hairy-winged: insects with hairy primaries with many longitudinal veins and cells, covering the broader secondaries which are usually folded lengthwise; mouth mandibulate but rudimentary: head free; thorax agglutinate: metamorphosis complete.
Trichostical bristles: in Diptera, a fan-like row, situated on the meta-pleura: conspicuous in some families.
Trichotomous: divided by threes.
Trichroism: the condition when any given part exhibits three different colors in different individuals of the same species: e.g. in Lepidoptera, the hind wings of certain Heliconids.
Tricuspidate: ending in three points: with three cusps or teeth.
Tridactyle -ous: having three toes or claws.
Trifid: cleft into three parts or ends.
Trigonal: triangular: an area bounded by a triangle.
Trigonate: three-cornered; approximately triangular.
Trigoneutism: where three broods occur in one season.
Trigonulum: in Odonata, = triangle.
Trimera: that series of Coleoptera, in which there are only three tarsal joints present.
Trimerous: species which have the tarsi three-jointed.
Trinomial: that method of nomenclature in which a varietal or subspecific name follows the specific term without an intervening mark or indications of its rank.
Tripectinate: when an antenna has three branches or processes to each joint.
Triquetral: = triquetrous.
Triquetrous: with three flat sides.
Tri-regional: divided into three distinct parts or regions.
Trito-cerebral segment: see second antennal segment.
Trito-cerebrum: the posterior portion of the brain, formed by the ganglion of the third primary segment; also termed labro-frontal lobe.
Tri-undulate: with three waves or undulations.
Triungulin: the first larval stage of a meloid beetle.
Trivial: applied to a name, means specific as opposed to generic, or popular as opposed to technical.
Trivittate: with three stripes or vitta.
Trochalopoda: Heteroptera in which the posterior coxae are nearly globose and the articulation is a ball and socket joint: see pagiopoda.
Trochanter: a sclerite, sometimes divided, between the coxa and femur sometimes fused with the femur.
Trochanterellus: see apophysis.
Trochantine: the basal part of the trochanter when it is two-jointed: in Coleoptera, a piece often present on the outer side of and sometimes movable on the coxa; also the small sclerite connecting the coxa with the sternum in Dytiscidae: in Neuroptera and Trichoptera the posterior separated part of the coxa: in Orthoptera, a narrow longitudinal sclerite between mandible and gena.
Trochiformis: cylindro-conic.
Trochlea: the thickened base of the hind wings in Cicada: in Trichoptera a small elliptical space at base of hind wing behind origin of median vein.
Trochlearis: pulley-shaped; like a cylinder contracted medially.
Trochus: that part of an articulated body inserted between the joints.
Trophi: the mouth parts collectively, including the labrum: see buccal appendages.
Trophobiosis: see Symbiosis.
Tropical: is that faunal region which covers the southern part of the peninsula of Florida, the greater part of Central America, the lowlands of southern Mexico south of the table land, and a narrow strip on each side of Mexico which follows the coast northward into the United States.
Tropico-politan: occurring in all tropical regions.
Trumpets: breathing tubes of mosquito pupae.
Truncate: cut off squarely at tip.
Truncature: the truncation or point squarely cut off.
Truncus: the trunk or thorax.
Trunk: the thorax as a whole: the body.
Tryptic: acting like tripsin, the proteolytic ferment of the pancreatic fluid.
Tube: a slender, hollow, cylindrical body: specifically applied to the anal siphon or respiratory tube of mosquito larvae.
Tubercle: a little solid pimple or small chitinous button: really a ring, which may or may not give rise to a seta.
Tubercles: on the thoracic and abdominal segments of caterpillars are anterior trapezoidal; posterior trapezoidal; lateral; posterior stigmatal; anterior stigmatal; sub-primary subventral; pedal and adventral: all of which see.
Tubercula: an elevated triangular process at the anterior angle of the thorax specifically in Hymenoptera.
Tuberculate -ose: formed like a tubercle: a surface covered with tubercles.
Tubercule -ulum: a small tubercle.
Tuberculiform: shaped like a pimple or tubercle.
Tuberculose -ous: covered or set with tubercles.
Tubulifera: Hymenoptera, in which the terminal segments of abdomen are retracted, but may be extended, tube-like: Thysanoptera in which there is no ovipositor and the terminal segments of abdomen are tubular.
Tubulous -ose: formed like a tube: fistulous.
Tubulus: the slender, flexible abdominal segments forming the ovipositor in Diptera.
Tubus: a term used to designate the corneous base of a ligula: the sheath of the tongue.
Tumescence: a swelling or tumid enlargement: a puffed up area.
Tumescent: a little swollen or puffed up.
Tumid: swollen; enlarged; puffed up.
Tunica intima: the inner layer of the silk glands: an inner lining or membrane.