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Glossary of Terms

Abdomen:
the third or posterior division of the body; consists normally of nine or ten apparent segments; bears no functional legs in the adult stage.
Antennae:
the paired, segmented sensory organs on each side of the head, commonly called horns or feelers.
Cercus/cerci:
a tail-like appendage (generally paired) of the tenth abdominal segment, usually slender, filamentous and segmented.
Cocoon:
a covering, composed partly or wholly of silk or other viscid fibre, spun or constructed by many larvae as a protection to the pupae.
Compound eye:
compound means made up of many similar or dissimilar parts. A compound eye is an aggregation of separate visual elements known as ommatidia, each of which corresponds with a single facet of the cornea; the large lateral eyes of most insects.
Coxa:
the basal segment of the leg, by which the leg is articulated (attached) to the body.
Elytron/elytra:
the anterior leathery wings of beetles, serving as coverings to the hind wings, commonly meeting in a straight line down the middle of the body in repose.
Halter/halteres:
the poisers or balancers. Capitate moveable filaments in Diptera (true flies), situated one on each side of the thorax and representing the hind wings.
Hemielytron/
hemelytra:

The anterior wing in the Heteroptera (suborder of true bugs), the basal (top) half of which is thickened and the apical (apex or tip) membranous.
Mandibles:
the first pair of jaws in insects, stout and tooth-like in chewing insects, needle- or sword-shaped in piercing-sucking insects; the lateral upper jaw of biting insects.
Maxilla:
the second pair of jaws in a mandibulate insect.
Mesothorax:
the second or middle thoracic segment which bears the middle legs and the anterior wings.
Metamorphosis:
the series of changes through which an insect passes in its growth from the egg through the larva and pupa to the adult; complete when the pupa is inactive and does not feed; incomplete when there is no pupa or when the pupa is active and feeds.
Metathorax:
third thoracic segment which bears the hind legs and second pair of wings; variably distinct, sometimes closely united with the mesothorax and sometimes appearing as part of the abdomen.
Ocellus/ocelli:
the lateral simple eyes in larvae which detect only light and dark; not image forming.
Ovipositor:
the tubular or valved structure by means of which the eggs are placed; usually concealed, but sometimes extended far beyond the end of the body.
Proboscis:
any extended mouth structure; usually applied to the extensile mouth of the Diptera (true flies), the beak of the Hemiptera (true bugs); sometimes to the tongue of the Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths); and rarely, to the mouth of long-tongued bees.
Prothorax:
first thoracic segment; it bears the anterior legs but no wings; when free, as in Coleoptera (beetles) and Heteroptera (suborder of true bugs), it is usually referred to as "thorax".
Pupa/Pupae:
the resting inactive stage of complete metamorphosis, between larva and adult.
Tarsus/tarsi:
the foot; the jointed appendage attached at the apex of the leg.
Thorax:
the second or intermediate region of the insect body, bearing the true legs and wings, made up of three segments -- prothorax, mesothorax and metathorax.
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This glossary is under construction. Please let us know of any entomological terms you would like explained and added to the glossary. We will consult the curator of the Spencer Entomological Museum, and add your word and its definition to this glossary soon. Thank you for your participation in building our glossary.
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