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Insect Zoo - Insect glossary Category: Animals and Nature > Insects Date & country: 24/11/2013, USA Words: 384

Cretaceous
geological period in which chalk deposits were formed and flowering plants appeared; this period began 135,000,000 years ago

conspicuous
something that can be easily seen

consume
use up; eat

contaminate
to make impure; pollute

cornicle
short, tubelike projection at the back of aphid abdomens used for secreting defensive chemicals

coxa
first of eight segments of a spider's leg; first of six leg segments in insects

Coleoptera
insect order with hard forewings that form a straight line down the back; beetles

colony
members of the same species that live together as a group

compensate
make up for the loss of something

compound eye
an eye composed of many separate units, each receiving part of the image

conditioned
trained; changed behavior shaped by repeated exposure to some condition

conifer
any of a larger order of trees and shrubs that are usually evergreen and that bear cones; examples are pine, fir, hemlock, and yew

cocoon
a casing made from silky thread spun by an insect larva to enclose the pupa stage

class
a group of related organisms below a phylum and above an order; insects are in the class Hexapoda in the phylum Arthropoda

claws
the sixth segment of insect legs

cleptoparasite
parasites that steal food that has been stored for the larva of another species

cobwebs
masses of spider web made by combfooted spiders (family Theridiidae) that are irregular or without a distinct form

cochineal dye
a red dye made from the dried bodies of female cochineal scale insects

chelicerae
one of two pairs of mouthparts of spiders; these are used to inject venom into the prey

chromosomes
structures that contain the genes of an individual

chrysalis
in butterflies, the pupal stage between larva and adult when the insect is in a hard case without a cocoon

CITES
an abbreviation for Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, a treated signed by 21 nations in 1973 to stop illegal trade of plants and animals

Chagas disease
a tropical American disease caused by pathogens transmitted by species of assassin bugs; symptoms include high fever, edema, and enlargement of the spleen, liver, and lymph nodes

caudal
relating to the tail or directed toward the hind part of the body

cellar
an underground room; basement

centipede
arthropods with many segments and with one pair of legs on each segment; the front pair contain poison glands

cephalothorax
part of an arthropod's body that combines the head and thorax; the head and thorax are fused together

cerci
(plural form of cercus) sensory organs of an arthropod located on the back or hind end of arthropods

carrion
dead flesh

castes
divisions of social insects; each caste has certain physical characteristics and carries out specific tasks

carnivorous
meat-eating

canopy
spreading layer of tree branches at the top of a forest

Carboniferous period
period in the geological time table between 350 million and 260 million years ago, in which large forests grew and became the basis for the production of coal and carbon

cannibalistic
eating the flesh of one's own species

camouflage
using some means of disguise to conceal one's presence

bromeliads
tropical American plants that are usually epiphytes; Spanish moss and pitcher plants are examples

Bubonic Plague
a very contagious disease caused by bacteria transmitted by fleas; symptoms include chills, fever, and swelling of the lymph glands

buprestid
member of the family Buprestidae; metallic wood-borers also known as jewel beetles

burrows
holes in the ground used as shelter by animals; to dig such a hole or go under something, as an animal's skin

bizarre
extremely odd appearance

bog
swamp; spongy ground

book lungs
main breathing organs of spiders located inside the front end of the abdomen; each book lung has several sheetlike leaves that obtain oxygen from the air

bracket fungi
a hard, shelf-like fungus that is broadly attached to the trunks of trees

biodiversity
many different species living together in one habitat

bilateral symmetry
having matching left and right sides of the body; an ability that promotes forward movement

biodegradable
something which can be broken down by bacteria or other organisms

bacteria
(plural form of bacterium) a large group of one-celled microorganisms; some species cause diseases such as pneumonia

basal half
at the base; nearest the body

Batesian mimicry
resemblance of a harmless species to another species that is protected from predators by repellent qualities such as bad tastes; members of the species who mimic the distasteful species are protected from predators because they appear to be distasteful also

beneficial
helpful; of benefit

Aristotle
famous Greek philosopher who lived between 384 and 322 B. C.

aroma
pleasant odor or fragrance

assassin
one who murders someone important

attractant
a substance that attracts insects; pheromones are chemical attractants

arachniphobia
fear of spiders

Araneae
name for the order that includes spiders; one of several orders in the class Arachnida

arboreal
living in trees

arid
excessively dry; having very little rainfall

arista
a long hair that comes out of the third segment of a fly's antennae; some are simply bare hairs while others are feathery

antivenin
substance that prevents or reduces the effects of a venom

apiculture
beekeeping; raising and caring for bees

appendages
arms, legs, tails, etc., attached to bodies

aquatic
related to or living in water

Arachnida
class of arthropods containing spiders, scorpions, mites, and ticks; these arthropods have bodies with two sections, four pairs of legs, and no antennae

antennae
(plural form of antenna) primary organs, used by insects for touching, smelling, and feeling vibrations; for some insects, antennae are used in place of eyes

anopheline
related to the genus of mosquitoes (Anopheles), which transmit malaria to humans

amplify
make larger, greater, or stronger

amphipods
small crustaceans which have bodies flattened from the sides

amblypigids
tailless whipscorpions, Class Arachnida

ambrosia
a kind of fungus that is grown by bark beetles in their tunnels

ambush
surprise attack

amphibians
cold-blooded, vertebrate animals that do not have scales; most amphibians lay eggs and go through larval stages during which time they breathe through gills and live in water

algae
a group of organisms that contain chlorophyll but which are not true plants because they do not have leaves, stems, or roots

allergic
related to or caused by an allergy

allomones
defensive chemicals used by one species of insect to protect from attacks of another species

amber
fossilized tree resin

aggregation
a group, body, or mass composed of many distinct parts or individuals

abdomen
the last of the three parts of the body of an insect

acacia
a large shrub or tree with thorns found in warm regions

acute
quick to respond to even slight stimuli; sharp

adaptation
modifications of an organism which enable it to better live in its environment

adult
developed fully or mature

aerate
to mix with air

aesthetic
something that is beautiful or artistic rather than useful or practical