Copy of `Entomology - Insect terms`

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Entomology - Insect terms Category: Animals and Nature > Entomology Date & country: 24/11/2013, USA Words: 111

Mandibles
the first pair of jaws in insects. The mandibles are laterally positioned behind the labrum. They vary in size, shape and are highly modified in form. Mandible shape is strongly influenced by function, for example, in chewing insects the mandibles are stout and tooth-like, while in piercing/sucking insects they are needle- or sword-shaped. Mandibles are not used exclusively for feeding. For example, some bees and wasps use them to construct nests in soil, wood and other hard materials.

Leaf Miner
an insect, usually in its larval stage, that uses its mouthparts to create a tunnel between the upper an lower surfaces of a leaf.

LD 50
the dose of an insecticide that will kill 50% of the test organisms to which it is administered. It is measured as milligrams of insecticide per kilogram of body weight.

Lateral
descriptive of structure or movement to the side.

Larva
an immature stage of a holometabolous insect that is morphologically distinct from the adult form. The larval stage of development follows the egg stage and precedes the pupal stage.

Labrum
the 'upper lip' of the insect head, covering the base of the mandible and forming the roof of the mouth.

Juvenile hormone (JH)
hormone released by the corpora allata into the haemolymph. Juvenile hormone suppresses the development of adult characters and the amount of juvenile hormone released determines the outcome of a moult.

Labium
a compound structure which forms the 'lower lip' or floor of the mouth in mandibulate insects (i.e. insects with biting jaws). It is positioned behind the first maxilla and opposite the labrum. The labium is often regarded as the 'second maxilla' and is also sometimes referred to as the 'tongue'.

Integument
the outer covering or cuticle of the insect body. It is a multi-layered, composite organ which defines the body shape, size and colour. Integument is composed of living epidermal cells and their secretions. Each layer is a different thickness, chemical composition and displays physical properties different from surrounding layers.

Instar
the growth stage between two successive moults.

Honey
The thickened and partly digested nectar of flowers produced by adults of various bees which is used as food for the larvae.