This glossary is intended to define descriptive and morphological terms used throughout the website. It should be particularly useful for amateurs and students not familiar with insect morphology. The definitions provided are modified from A Dictionary of Entomology by G. Gordh and D.H. Headrick (2001).
Aedeagus: The sclerotized terminal part of the male phallus used during copulation.
Antennae: Paired segmented appendages on either side of the head that function as sensory organs.
Clypeus: The part of the insect head anterior to the frons (front) to which the labrum is attached anteriorly.
Cupreous: Copper-colored.
Decumbent: Bending downward; bending downward at the tip from an erect base.
Elytra (sing. elytron): The modified forewings of beetles serving as protective coverings for the hindwings.
Frons: The anterior portion of the insect head bounded in front by the clypeus.
Genae (sing. gena): The side of the insect head below the compound eye; the cheek region.
Glabrous: Without setae.
Immaculate: Without any markings.
Impunctate: Not marked by punctures.
Instar: A larval growth stage between molts.
Integument: The multi-layered covering of the insect body.
Labrum: The uppermost and anteriormost mouthpart ("upper lip") which covers the bases of the mandibles and is bounded posteriorly by the clypeus.
Maculae (sing. macula) or Maculations: Pale or colored markings.
Mesad: Towards the midline of the body.
Mesonotum: The dorsal sclerite of the mesothorax.
Mesoscutellum: The visible triangular piece of the mesonotum between the bases of the elytra.
Mesothorax: The second thoracic segment bearing the second pair of legs and the elytra (forewings of beetles).
Metathorax: The third thoracic segment bearing the hind legs and the hind wings.
Proepisternum: The anteriormost lateral sclerite of the prothorax.
Pronotum: The sclerite comprising the dorsal surface of the prothorax.
Prosternum: The ventral sclerite of the prothorax surrounding part or all of the leg bases.
Prothorax: The first thoracic segment bearing the first pair of legs.
Punctate: Marked by punctures or pits.
Scape: The basal antennal segment.
Sclerite: Hardened portions or plates of the insect integument separated from one another by membranes or sutures.
Sclerotin: A tough protein that is resistant to degradation and which forms the hardened parts of the insect integument.
Sclerotized: Hardened by deposition of the protein sclerotin.
Serrulate: Finely serrate; saw-like, with small teeth or notches.
Setae (sing. seta): Bristles, hairs.
Spermatheca: A sac-like organ of the female reproductive system that receives and stores sperm.
Sulcus (pl. sulci): A groove or depression
Supraorbital: Region of the insect head just above the margin of the compound eye.
Suture: An immovable seam between sclerites.
Tridentate: Possessing three teeth or tooth-like processes.
Unidentate: Possessing one tooth or tooth-like process.
Vertex: The top of the head.
Vestibule: The space surrounding the ovipositor and formed by the walls of the surrounding abdominal segments.