brown

en-noun

brown (countable and uncountable, plural browns)

Bislama: braon

Tok Pisin: braun

→ Welsh: brown

→ Tongan: palauni

From Middle English broun, from Old English brūn (“brown; dark; dusky”), from Proto-West Germanic *brūn, from Proto-Germanic *brūnaz, from Proto-Indo-European *bʰerH-. Doublet of bruin.
Cognates
* Dutch bruin
* German braun
* Ancient Greek φρύνη (phrúnē), φρῦνος (phrûnos, “toad”)
* Latin brunneus (“brown”)
* Lithuanian bė́ras (“brown”)
* Sanskrit बभ्रु (babhrú, “reddish-brown”)
* West Frisian brún

heinäperhonen

nymphalid butterfly of subfamily Satyrinae

(entomology) Any of various nymphalid butterflies of subfamily Satyrinae (formerly the family Satyridae).

(entomology) Any of certain species of nymphalid butterflies of subfamily Satyrinae, such as those of the genera Heteronympha and Melanitis.


abdomen

First attested in 1541. Borrowed from Middle French abdomen, from Latin abdomen, possibly from abdō (“conceal”), from ab (“away”) + -dō (“put, place”).

(zoology, entomology) The posterior section of the body, behind the thorax, in insects, crustaceans, and other Arthropoda.

abdomen

posterior section of an arthropod's body


comma

en-noun

comma (plural commas or (rare) commata or (obsolete) commaes)

commas (plural)
commata (plural rare)
commaes (obsolete plural)
come (alternative)

From Latin comma, from Ancient Greek κόμμα (kómma), from κόπτω (kóptō, “I cut”).

Commas (Polygonia comma) and Question Marks (Polygonia interrogationis) occur from the Gulf Coast to Canada and west to the Rockies. [...] Question Marks and Commas are handsome butterflies with burnt orange and black markings. [...] On the underside of each hind wing of the Comma is a small, distinctive silver hook that resembles a comma.

2004, Scott Shalaway, “Close-ups”, in Butterflies in the Backyard, Mechanicsburg, Pa.: Stackpole Books, →ISBN, page 18:

Other members of this genus that are frequently encountered in the park are the eastern comma (P. comma) and question mark (P. interrogationis).

2013, Ann Simpson, Rob Simpson, “Butterflies and Moths”, in Nature Guide to Shenandoah National Park (Falcon Pocket Guide), Guilford, Conn., Helena, Mont.: Falcon Guides, Globe Pequot Press, →ISBN, page 91:

(entomology) Any of various nymphalid butterflies of the genus Polygonia, having a comma-shaped white mark on the underwings, especially Polygonia c-album and Polygonia c-aureum of North Africa, Europe, and Asia.


map

Shortening or back-formation of Middle English mappemounde, mapemounde (“world map”), from Old French mapamonde, from Medieval Latin mappa mundī, compound of Latin mappa (“napkin, cloth”) and mundus (“world”). See mop for more on the first component. Doublet of mop, nape, and nappe.

(entomology) Any of various nymphalid butterflies of the genera Araschnia (especially, Araschnia levana) and Cyrestis, having map-like markings on the wings.


blue

blue (countable and uncountable, plural blues)

blues (plural)
blew (alternative)
blewe (alternative)

From Middle English blewe, from Anglo-Norman blew (“blue”), from Middle French bleu, from Old French blöe, bleve, blef (“blue”), from Frankish *blāu (“blue”) (perhaps through a Late Latin blāvus, blāvius (“blue”) attested from Isidore of Seville), from Proto-Germanic *blēwaz (“blue, dark blue”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰlēw- (“yellow, blond, grey”). Cognate with dialectal English blow (“blue”), Scots blue, blew (“blue”), North Frisian bla, blö (“blue”), Saterland Frisian blau (“blue”), Dutch blauw (“blue”), German blau (“blue”), Danish, Norwegian and Swedish blå (“blue”), Icelandic blár (“blue”), Latin flāvus (“yellow”), Middle Irish blá (“yellow”). Doublet of blow.
Possibly related also to English blee (“colour”), from Old English blēo (“colour”); but direct derivatives of Proto-Germanic *blēwaz (“blue, dark blue”) in Old English include: Old English blāw and blēo (“blue”), Old English blǣwen (“bluish, light-blue”), blǣhǣwen (“blue-coloured, bluish, violet or purple colour”, literally “blue-hued”). There seems to be a parallel connection in Germanic between words for blue and colour, dually exemplified by Proto-West Germanic *blīu (“colour, blee”) and *blāu (“blue”); and Proto-Germanic *hiwją (“colour, hue”) and *hēwijaz (“blue, purple”).
The sense "obscene, pornographic" is apparently from the colour; various theories exist as to how it arose, including that it is from the colour of the envelopes used to contain missives of the censors and managers to vaudevillian performers on objectionable material from their acts that needed to be excised.

m+

(entomology) Any of the butterflies of the subfamily Polyommatinae in the family Lycaenidae, most of which have blue on their wings.

blåfugl

butterfly of the subfamily Polyommatinae


knight

From Middle English knight, knyght, kniht, from Old English cniht (“boy; servant, knight”), from Proto-West Germanic *kneht.

inh

(entomology) Any of various nymphalid butterflies of the genus Ypthima.


mine

From Middle English, from Old French mine, from Late Latin mina, from Gaulish (compare to Welsh mwyn, Irish mianach (“ore”)), from Proto-Celtic *meinis (“ore, metal”).

en:cavity made by caterpillar that is eating

(entomology) The cavity made by a caterpillar while feeding inside a leaf.


pupa

pupas (plural)
pupae (plural)
pupæ (plural)

Borrowed from New Latin, from a special use of Latin pūpa (“little girl; doll, puppet”). Doublet of pupe; compare also puppet, puppy.

der

The public is the pupae of the purposely purblind […]

1959 April 21, Walt Kelly, Pogo: The Complete Syndicated Comic Strips, Seattle, Wash.: Fantagraphics Books, published 2011, →ISBN, page 34:

(entomology) An insect in the development stage between larva and adult.


copper

en-noun

copper (countable and uncountable, plural coppers)

Inherited from Middle English coper, from Old English coper, copor (“copper”), from Late Latin cuprum (“copper”), contraction of Latin aes Cyprium (literally “Cyprian brass”), from Ancient Greek Κύπρος (Kúpros, “Cyprus”). Cognate with Dutch koper (“copper”), German Kupfer (“copper”), Icelandic kopar (“copper”).

der

(entomology) Any of various lycaenid butterflies with copper-coloured upperwings, especially those of the genera Lycaena and Paralucia.


emerald

en-noun

emerald (countable and uncountable, plural emeralds)

→ Welsh: emrald, emrallt

From Middle English emeraude, borrowed from Old French esmeraude, from Vulgar Latin *smaralda, *smaraldus, *smaraudus, variant of Latin smaragdus, from Ancient Greek σμάραγδος (smáragdos), μάραγδος (máragdos), from a Semitic language. Compare Hebrew בָּרֶקֶת (bāréqeṯ, “emerald, flashing gem”), Akkadian 𒁀𒊏𒄣 (baraqu, literally “scintillation”), Arabic بَرْق (barq, literally “flashing”), Egyptian bwyrqꜣ (literally “to sparkle”):D58-Z7-Z4:D21-N29-Z1-G1-D6 and loanwords with Semitic etymon such as Sanskrit मरकत (marakata) and Persian زمرد (zomorrod) (whence Turkish zümrüt and Russian изумру́д (izumrúd)).

cog

(entomology) Any of various species of dragonfly of the family Corduliidae.


larva

en-noun

larva (plural larvas or larvae or larvæ)

larvas (plural)
larvae (plural)
larvæ (plural)

From Latin larva (“ghost-like, masked”).

թրթուր

an animal in such stage of growth — see also tadpole

The habits of the second nymphal stage are likewise similar to those of the larva stage.

1923, Bulletin of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, page 6:

Several possible explanations are advanced for a large decrease in numbers between the egg and larva stage, namely, drift of larvae from the sampling station, escape through the meshes of the net, sinking below the surface layers, and loss from mortality. A seasonally erratic egg to larva ratio is pointed out.

1954, Contribution - Hawaii Marine Laboratory, page 186:

An early stage of growth for some insects and amphibians, in which after hatching from their egg, insects are wingless and resemble a caterpillar or grub, and amphibians lack limbs and resemble fish.

In water of 5-6° C, herring hatch in about 22 days, at 11-12° C in 8–10 days. The newly hatched larva is about 6–8 mm long and at first depends on the food reserves of the yolk-sac.

1968, R. V. Tait, F. A. Dipper, Elements of Marine Ecology, page 344:

Breeding females of both the Lophogastrida and Mysida carry their embryos and larvae in a marsupium, within which their entire embryonic and larval development takes place.

2014, Joel W. Martin, Jørgen Olesen, Jens T. Høeg, Atlas of Crustacean Larvae, page 199:

A form of a recently born or hatched animal that is quite different from its adult stage.

In the fourteenth we find, but still in Latin, a quasi-historical drama, in the larva stage of monologue recitation, founded on a subject from the national annals—that of Ezzelino, tyrant-duke of Padua.

1883, The Edinburgh Review - Volume 158, page 64:

Man's larva stage is first announced by strong pathetic squalls; — Conscious knowledge of his helplessness, — dependency, appalls, — Evokes maternal sympathy,— for him she will provide,— Most proud mother, happy parent, as he nestles by her side.

1909, Frederick Joseph Duggan, Infinity ; Or, Nature's God, page 58:

The larva stage of the child's mind demands much forage material.

1910 November, “Teaching Pupils to Study”, in The Louisiana School Review, volume 18, number 3, page 132:

The larva stage possesses a libido of nutrition, if I may so express it, but not yet the libido sexualis.

1915, Nervous and Mental Disease Monographs - Volumes 19-22 -, page 34:

After they have fairly emerged from what may be termed the larva stage, so that they can make their way about, we see them experimenting with their bodies and exploring their surroundings. Babies handle; they taste, they feel with hands and mouths, they look, and they listen; they creep and walk and climb; later they stride, trot, jump, utilizing everything they can find in their play purpose of activity.

1930, American Childhood - Volume 16, page 10:

I would call the arrival and settlement of our forefathers in this country which we now call Ghana as the egg stage; the time between the birth of the Fante Confederacy and the time of the first Legislative Council as the larva stage; the time the Positive Action was declared as the pupa stage; and the 3rd of August, 1956, when the historic motion for independence was moved, as the full-grown stage.

1956, Gold Coast. Legislative Assembly, Debates - Part 1, page 205:

A vision in the larva stage uses our knowledge base to grow. We cannot see this process, but it goes on in the back of our mind, usually without our knowing it.

2021, Oleg Konovalov, The Vision Code: How to Create and Execute a Compelling Vision for Your Business, page 31:

We also have been in the larva stage of life. And many people will never abandon this stage. A larva is an adult of eighteen years or more. An adult that never grew up and just wakes up, work, pay bills, sleep, breathe, and so on.

2021, Reynaldo J Garcia, Go to the Next Level:

(figurative) A preliminary stage of someone or something, before it has fully matured, especially a time of growth rather than one of performance.


fly

en-verb

fly (third-person singular simple present flies, present participle flying, simple past flew, past participle flown)

flies (present singular third-person)
flying (participle present)
flew (past)
flown (participle past)
fly (infinitive)

From Middle English flien, from Old English flēogan, from Proto-Germanic *fleuganą (compare Saterland Frisian fljooge, Dutch vliegen, Low German flegen, German fliegen, Danish flyve, Norwegian Nynorsk flyga), from Proto-Indo-European *plewk- (*plew-k-, “to fly”) (compare Lithuanian plaũkti ‘to swim’), enlargement of *plew- (“flow”). More at flee and flow.

der

could eat the arse out of a low flying duck

could eat the crotch out of a low flying duck

could eat the crutch from a low flying duck

don't drive faster than your guardian angel can fly

take a flying fuck at a rolling doughnut

This species flies from late summer until frost.

(intransitive, entomology, of a type of moth or butterfly) To be in the winged adult stage.


bug

First attested in this form around 1620 (referring to a bedbug), from earlier bugge (“beetle”), a conflation of two words:
# Middle English bugge (“scarecrow, hobgoblin”), perhaps from obsolete Welsh bwg ("ghost, hobgoblin"; compare Welsh bwgwl ("threat", older "fear")) or from Proto-Germanic *bugja- (“swollen up, thick”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰew-, *bu- (“to swell”) (compare Norwegian bugge (“big man”), dialectal Low German Bögge (“goblin”, “snot”)). Or, from a word related to buck and originally referring to a goat-shaped spectre.
# Middle English budde (“beetle”), from Old English budda (see sċearnbudda (“dung beetle”)), from Proto-Germanic *buddô, *buzdô, from the same ultimate source as above (compare Low German Budde (“louse, grub”), Norwegian budda (“newborn domestic animal”)). More at bud.
The term is used to refer to technical errors and problems at least as early as the 19th century, predating the commonly known story of a moth being caught in a computer.

cog

given enough eyeballs, all bugs are shallow

(entomology) An insect of the order Hemiptera (the “true bugs”).


cell

From Middle English celle, selle, from Old English cell (attested in inflected forms), from Latin cella (“chamber, small room, compartment”), later reinforced by Old French cel, sele, Old French cele. ultimately from Proto-Italic *kelnā, from Proto-Indo-European *ḱelneh₂, from Proto-Indo-European *ḱel- (“to cover”). Doublet of cella and hall.

der

intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cell

melanopsin-containing retinal ganglion cell

(entomology) The discal cell of the wing of a lepidopteran insect.

(entomology) An area of an insect wing bounded by veins.


flat

From Middle English flat, a borrowing from Old Norse flatr (compare Norwegian and Swedish flat, Danish flad), from Proto-Germanic *flataz, from Proto-Indo-European *pleth₂- (“flat”); akin to Saterland Frisian flot (“smooth”), German Flöz (“a geological layer”), Ancient Greek πλατύς (platús), Latvian plats, Sanskrit प्रथस् (prathas, “extension”). Doublet of plat and pleyt.
The noun is from Middle English flat (“level piece of ground, flat edge of a weapon”), from the adjective.
The algebraic sense was coined by Serre in a 1956 paper, originally as French plat.

inh

(entomology) Any of various hesperiid butterflies that spread their wings open when they land.


peacock

→ Hawaiian: pīkake
→ English: pikake

→ Maori: pīkake

From Middle English pecok, pekok, pocok, pacok, equivalent to pea (“peafowl; peacock”) + cock. Compare Old Norse páfugl (“peacock”, literally “pea-fowl”), and English peahen, peachick, etc.

cog

(entomology) Any of various Asian species of papilionid butterflies of the genus Papilio.


sugar

en-verb

sugar (third-person singular simple present sugars, present participle sugaring, simple past and past participle sugared)

sugars (present singular third-person)
sugaring (participle present)
sugared (participle past)
sugared (past)
shugar (alternative)

Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch
sugar

From Middle English sugre, sucre, from Middle French sucre, from Old French çucre (circa 13th century), from Old Italian zucchero (or another vernacular of Italy), from Arabic سُكَّر (sukkar), from Persian شکر (šakar), from Middle Persian [script needed] (škl), 𐫢𐫞𐫡 (šqr /šakar/), from Sanskrit शर्करा (śárkarā, “ground or candied sugar", originally "grit, gravel”). Akin to Ancient Greek κρόκη (krókē, “pebble”). Doublet of jaggery and sucro-.

der

Some entomologists assert that it is useless to sugar when ivy is in bloom.

1876, W. Sandison, “Note on sugaring”, in The Entomologist's Monthly Magazine, volume 12, page 207:

The latter are best taken by "sugaring" — painting patches of mixed beer and sugar on a series of tree trunks, and making several rounds at twilight with a lantern and a cyanide bottle.

1921, Arthur Herbert Savory, Grain and Chaff from an English Manor:

Sugaring attracts some species of moth that do not readily come to light.

2006, William J. Sutherland, Ecological Census Techniques: A Handbook:

(entomology) To apply sugar to trees or plants in order to catch moths.


tail

Sranan Tongo: tere

From Middle English tail, tayl, teil, from Old English tæġl (“tail”), from Proto-West Germanic *tagl, from Proto-Germanic *taglą (“hair, fiber; hair of a tail”), from Proto-Indo-European *doḱ- (“hair of the tail”), from Proto-Indo-European *deḱ- (“to tear, fray, shred”). Cognate with Scots tail (“tail”), Saterland Frisian Tail (“tail, end”), West Frisian teil (“tail”), Dutch teil (“tail, haulm, blade”), Low German Tagel (“twisted scourge, whip of thongs and ropes; end of a rope”), German Zagel (“tail”), dialectal Danish tavl (“hair of the tail”), Swedish tagel (“hair of the tail, horsehair”), Norwegian tagl (“tail”), Icelandic tagl (“tail, horsetail, ponytail”), Gothic 𐍄𐌰𐌲𐌻 (tagl, “hair”). In some senses, apparently by a generalization of the usual opposition between head and tail.

hali

of cattle, in addition to reptiles, amphibians, and basically all animals that do not fall into the other categories; also used for inanimate objects and figuratively

have the world by the tail on a downhill pull

mackerel sky and mare's-tails make lofty ships carry low sails

mackerel sky and mare's-tails make tall ships carry low sails

the cow knows not the worth of its tail till it loses it

trust someone as far as one could fling a bull by the tail

(entomology) A filamentous projection on the tornal section of each hind wing of certain butterflies.


count

From Middle English counte, from Anglo-Norman conte and Old French comte (“count”), from Latin comes (“companion”) (more specifically derived from its accusative form comitem) in the sense of "noble fighting alongside the king". Doublet of comes, comte, and conte.

(entomology) Any of various nymphalid butterflies of the genus Tanaecia. Other butterflies in this genus are called earls and viscounts.


emperor

emperors (plural)
emperour (alternative)

From Middle English emperour, from Anglo-Norman emperour, from Latin imperātorem, derived from imperāre (“to command”). Doublet of imperator.

(entomology) Any of various butterflies of the subfamily Charaxinae.

(entomology) Any of various large dragonflies of the cosmopolitan genus Anax.


earl

From Middle English erl, erle, from Old English eorl, from Proto-West Germanic *erl, from Proto-Germanic *erlaz (compare Old Saxon erl, Old Norse jarl), from Proto-Germanic *erōną, *arōną (compare Old Norse jara (“fight, battle”)). Doublet of eorl and jarl. Unrelated to ealdorman (“alderman”).

(entomology) Any of various nymphalid butterflies of the genus Tanaecia. Other butterflies in this genus are called counts and viscounts.


quest

en-verb

quest (third-person singular simple present quests, present participle questing, simple past and past participle quested)

quests (present singular third-person)
questing (participle present)
quested (participle past)
quested (past)

From Middle English quest, queste; partly from Anglo-Norman queste, Old French queste (“acquisition, search, hunt”), and partly from their source, Latin quaesta (“tribute, tax, inquiry, search”), noun use of quaesita, the feminine past participle of quaerere (“to ask, seek”).

der

(entomology, of a tick) To locate and attach to a host animal.


plane

(entomology) Any of various nymphalid butterflies, of various genera, having a slow gliding flight.

(entomology) The butterfly Bindahara phocides, family Lycaenidae, of Asia and Australasia.


needle

From Middle English nedle, from Old English nǣdl, from Proto-West Germanic *nāþlu, from Proto-Germanic *nēþlō, from pre-Germanic *neh₁-tleh₂, from Proto-Indo-European *(s)neh₁- (“to spin, twist”).
Cognates
Cognate with Dutch naald (“needle”), German Nadel (“needle, pin, crochet hook”), German nähen (“sew”), Danish nål (“needle”), Norwegian nål (“needle”), Finnish neula (“needle”). Further related with Welsh nyddu, Latin nēre, Sanskrit स्नायति (snāyati, “wraps up, winds”). Related to snood.

cog

it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God

(entomology) Any of various species of damselfly of the genus Synlestes, endemic to Australia.


punch

(entomology) Any of various riodinid butterflies of the genus Dodona of Asia.


radius

Borrowed from Latin radius (“ray”). Doublet of ray.

(entomology) One of the major veins of the insect wing, between the subcosta and the media; the vein running along the costal edge of the discal cell.


apollo

(entomology) Any of several papilionid butterflies of the genus Parnassius, especially Parnassius apollo of Eurasia (also known as the mountain apollo).


minor

minors (plural)
miner (alternative)
maner (alternative)
minore (alternative)
minour (alternative)
mynor (alternative)
mynour (alternative)
mynowr (alternative)
mi (alternative)

From Middle English minor, menor, menour, etc., from Latin minor (“lesser; young; young person”) both directly and via Norman and Middle French menor, menour, etc. Doublet of minus but not mini-. Cognate with minister, minify, Minorca, Menshevik, and possibly minnow. Compare Latin minimum and minuō, Old High German minniro, Cornish minow.

byvak

subject of secondary undergraduate study

(entomology) Any of various noctuid moths in Europe and Asia, chiefly in the Oligia and Mesoligia genera.

(entomology) A leaf-cutter worker ant intermediate in size between a minim and a media.


major

From Middle English major, from Latin maior, comparative of magnus (“great, large; noble, important”), from Proto-Indo-European *méǵh₂yōs (“greater”), comparative of *meǵh₂- (“great”). Compare West Frisian majoar (“major”), Dutch majoor (“major”), French majeur. Doublet of mayor.

pääaineopiskelija

student specializing in a specified subject

(entomology) A large leaf-cutter ant that acts as a soldier, defending the nest.


ursine

en-adj

ursine (comparative more ursine, superlative most ursine)

more ursine (comparative)
most ursine (superlative)

Mid 16th century, from Latin ursīnus, adjectival form of ursus (“bear”) + -ine.

(entomology, of caterpillars) Covered in stiff bristles.


hawk

Sranan Tongo: aka

From Middle English hauk, hauke, hawke, havek, from Old English hafoc (“hawk”), from Proto-West Germanic *habuk, from Proto-Germanic *habukaz, controversially derived from a Proto-Indo-European *kopuǵos, perhaps ultimately derived from *keh₂p- (“seize”).
See also West Frisian hauk, German Low German Haavke, Dutch havik, German Habicht, Swedish hök, Danish høg, Norwegian Bokmål hauk, Norwegian Nynorsk hauk, Faroese heykur, Icelandic haukur, Finnish haukka, Estonian haugas; also Latin capys, capus (“bird of prey”), Albanian gabonjë, shkabë (“eagle”), Russian ко́бец (kóbec, “falcon”), Polish kobuz (“Eurasian Hobby”)).

(entomology) Any of various species of dragonfly of the genera Apocordulia and Austrocordulia, endemic to Australia.


annual

First attested around 1382, borrowed from Late Latin annuālem, annuālis, related to Latin annālis, adjective form of annus (“year”). Used to categorize plants since 1710.

(entomology) Living or lasting just one season or year, as certain insects or insect colonies.


stimulus

Borrowed from Latin stimulus (“goad, prick”).

bor+

Many plants, like many animals, are furnished with arms for their protection; these are either aculei, prickles […]; or stimuli, stings, as in the nettles, which are armed with a venomous fluid for the annoyance of naked animals.

1789, Erasmus Darwin, The Loves of the Plants, J. Johnson, page 15:

(botany, entomology) A stinging part on the body of a plant or insect.


anal

en-adj

anal (comparative more anal, superlative most anal)

more anal (comparative)
most anal (superlative)

Borrowed from Latin ānālis.
Psychological sense shortened from anal-retentive.

(entomology, of a vein) Proximate to the thorax.


femur

(entomology) The middle segment of the leg of an insect, between the trochanter and the tibia.


wasp

Sranan Tongo: waswasi (reduplicated)

From Middle English wasp, waspe, waps, from Old English wæsp, wæps (“wasp”), from Proto-West Germanic *wapsu, from Proto-Germanic *wapsō, from Proto-Indo-European *wóbʰseh₂ (“wasp”), from *webʰ- (“weave”) (referring to the insect's woven nests).
Compare Dutch wesp, German Wespe, Danish hveps. Metathesis of s and p was both a process of some generality within English (compare e.g. grasp from Middle English grapsen, and—affecting other plosives—ascian ~ acsian (“to ask”)) and common in the reflexes of *wóps-eh₂ (“wasp”) in particular, as the aforementioned Germanic cognates (and non-Germanic cognates like Latin vespa) evince.

sand wasp

genus Ammophila spp., in family Sphecidae, or tribe Bembicini, in family Crabronidae

en:any insect of suborder Apocrita except an ant

(entomology) Any of the members of suborder Apocrita, excepting the ants (family Formicidae) and bees (clade Anthophila).

Any of the members of the family Vespidae.


incubus

From Late Latin incubus, from Latin incubō (“nightmare, one who lies down on the sleeper”), from incubō (“to lie upon, to hatch”, from in- (“on”) + cubō (“to lie down”)).

der

(entomology) One of various of parasitic insects, especially subfamily Aphidiinae.


luna

Borrowed from Latin lūna (“moon; month; crescent”).

“Gee,” whispered Oliver. He sat there staring. “A luna! I never thought I’d see a real luna!”

1944, Elizabeth Enright, Then There Were Five, Farrar & Rinehart, page 80:

On the previous evening we had discovered with delight a luna with the fabulous moons, one on each pale green wing.

1969, Sterling North, “An Introduction to Butterflies and Moths”, in Boys’ Life, May 1969 issue, Boy Scouts of America, page 64

Spray BT on your young oak to protect against gypsy moths, and you wipe out future lunas, cecropias, and everything else on the leaves, along with the pests.

2010, Sally Roth (contributor), in Judy Pray (compiler), Garden Wisdom & Know-How: Everything You Need to Know to Plant, Grow, and Harvest, Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers, Inc., page 348

(entomology) A luna moth: a member of species Actias luna.


lingua

Unadapted borrowing from Latin lingua (“the tongue”). Doublet of langue and tongue.

ubor

(entomology) A median process of the labium, at the underside of the mouth in insects, and serving as a tongue.


labium

Learned borrowing from Latin labium (“a lip”). Doublet of lip.

lbor

(entomology) A lower mouthpart of an insect that is formed by the second pair of maxillae united in the middle line.

(zoology) A liplike part of various invertebrates.


nympha

From Latin nympha, from Ancient Greek νύμφη (númphē, “bride, nymph”). Doublet of nymph.


nymph

nymphs (plural)
nymphae (plural)
nymphe (alternative)

From Middle English nimphe, from Old English nymphē and Old French nimphe, both from Latin nympha (“nymph, bride”), from Ancient Greek νύμφη (númphē, “bride”). Doublet of nympha.

(entomology) The larva of certain insects.

(entomology) Any of various butterflies of the family Nymphalidae.


tripod

en-verb

tripod (third-person singular simple present tripods, present participle tripoding, simple past and past participle tripoded)

tripods (present singular third-person)
tripoding (participle present)
tripoded (participle past)
tripoded (past)

PIE word
 *tréyes
Borrowed from Latin tripūs, tripodis, from Ancient Greek τρίπους (trípous); equivalent to tri- + -pod. Doublet of tripus and teapoy.

(entomology, intransitive) Of a lizard, to raise its body upright bracing itself on hind legs and tail.


callus

Borrowed from Latin callum (“hard skin”).

(entomology) A shining area on the frons of many species of Tabanomorpha (horse flies and relatives).


commodore

→ Italian: commodoro

→ Portuguese: comodoro

→ Spanish: comodoro

Borrowed from Dutch kommandeur, from Middle French commandeur. See command, compare commend (a doublet), and mandate.

(entomology) Any of various nymphalid butterflies of the Asian genus Parasarpa.


glider

From Middle English glider, glydare, equivalent to glide + -er.

(entomology) Any of various species of dragonfly that glide on out-held wings while flying, such as the common glider, Tramea loewii, of Australia, New Guinea, Indonesia, and the Pacific.


media

Learned borrowing from Latin media, the feminine nominative of medius (“middle”, adjective), from Proto-Italic *meðjos, from Proto-Indo-European *médʰyos (“between”). In the sense of a unit of dry measure, via Spanish media. Doublet of medium, medio, and mediate.

(entomology) One of the major veins of the insect wing, between the radius and the cubitus.


obliterate

en-adj

obliterate (comparative more obliterate, superlative most obliterate)

more obliterate (comparative)
most obliterate (superlative)

Learned borrowing from Latin obliterātus (see more at Etymology 1 and -ate (adjective-forming suffix, of participial origin)).

lbor

/əˈblɪtəɹət/

/əˈblɪtəɹət/

(entomology, rare) Of markings on an insect: difficult to distinguish from the background; faint, indistinct.


sheath

From Middle English sheth, shethe (“holder for a sword, knife, etc., scabbard, sheath”) [and other forms], from Old English sċēaþ (“sheath”), from Proto-West Germanic *skaiþiju, from Proto-Germanic *skaiþiz (“sheath; covering”), from Proto-Indo-European *skey- (“to dissect, split”) (possibly from the notion of a split stick with a sword inserted).
The English word is cognate with Danish skede, Dutch schede, Icelandic skeið, German Scheide, Low German scheed, Norwegian skjede.

nb...

chethe, scǽð, scaþ, schede, schete, scheth, schethe, seaþ, seeth, seth, sethe, shæþ, shede, sheethe, sheith, (Southwest) ssethe, sseþe, (early forms) scæðe, scaþe, seaþe

der

(entomology) One of the elytra of an insect.


aculeate

en-adj

aculeate (comparative more aculeate, superlative most aculeate)

more aculeate (comparative)
most aculeate (superlative)

(entomology) Having a stinger; stinging.


axilla

Borrowed from Latin axilla (“side, armpit”). Doublet of axil.

(entomology) The area that is located posterior to the transscutal articulation and anterior to the scutoscutellar suture.


awl

From Middle English aul, alle, al, from Old English æl, from Proto-West Germanic *al, from Proto-Germanic *alaz, from Proto-Indo-European *h₁ólos. Cognate with Saterland Frisian Äil (“awl”), Dutch aal (“awl”), German Low German Ahl (“awl”), German Ahle (“awl”), Icelandic alur (“awl”). Spelling was influenced by the Old English synonym awel, awul (“awl”), from Proto-West Germanic *ahwal, from Proto-Germanic *ahwalaz (“fork, hook”), of unknown origin. Doublet of elsen.

(entomology) Any of various hesperiid butterflies.


palate

From Middle English palate, from Latin palātum (“roof of the mouth, palate”), perhaps of Etruscan origin.

bor

(anatomy) The roof of the mouth, separating the cavities of the mouth and nose in vertebrates.

(entomology, rare) The hypopharynx of an insect.


specter

From Middle French spectre, from Latin spectrum (“appearance, apparition”). Doublet of spectrum.

der

(entomology) Any of certain species of dragonfly of the genus Boyeria, family Aeshnidae. [from 20th c.]


forget-me-not

Calque of Middle French ne m'oubliez mie or German Vergissmeinnicht.

calque

(entomology) Any of various light-blue coloured lycaenid butterflies of the Asian and Australasian genus Catochrysops, especially Catochrysops strabo native to India and Southeast Asia.


beak

en-noun

beak (countable and uncountable, plural beaks)

From Middle English bec, borrowed from Anglo-Norman bec, Old French bec, from Latin beccus, from Gaulish *bekkos, from Proto-Celtic *bekkos (“beak, snout”), possibly from Proto-Indo-European *bak-, *baḱ- (“pointed stick, peg”). Cognate with Breton beg (“beak”). Compare Saterland Frisian Bäk (“mouth; muzzle; beak”); Dutch bek (“beak; bill; neb”).

cog

(entomology) Any of various nymphalid butterflies of the genus Libythea, notable for the beak-like elongation on their heads.


clava

(entomology) The fused distal segments of the antenna of a chalcid wasp.


costa

Unadapted borrowing from Latin costa (“a rib”). Doublet of coast.

ubor

(botany, zootomy) A riblike part of a plant or animal, such as a midrib of a leaf or a thickened vein or the margin of an insect wing.

(entomology) The vein forming the leading edge of most insect wings.


virgin

From Middle English virgine, from Old French virgine, from Latin virginem, accusative of virgō. Doublet of Virgo. Displaced native Old English fǣmne.

(entomology) A female insect producing eggs from which young are hatched, though there has been no fecundation by a male; a parthenogenetic insect.


porter

From Middle English porter, portere, portier, borrowed from Anglo-Norman portour and Old French porteor, from Late Latin portātor, from past participle of Latin portāre (“to carry”). By surface analysis, port (“to carry”) + -er.

surf

non-rhotic, without the horse–hoarse merger

(entomology) An ant having the specialized role of carrying.


style

en-noun

style (countable and uncountable, plural styles)

styles (plural)
stile (alternative)
stylee (alternative)
stile (alternative)

→ Finnish: staili

→ Scottish Gaelic: stoidhle

→ Iban: stail

→ Japanese: スタイル (sutairu)

→ Korean: 스타일 (seutail)

→ Malay: stail

→ Portuguese: style

→ Swahili: staili

The noun is derived from Middle English stile, stel, stele, stiel, stiele, stil, still, stille, styele, style, styill, styll, styyl (“writing tool, stylus; piece of written work; characteristic mode of expression, particularly one regarded as high quality; demeanour, manner, way of life; person's designation or title; stem of a plant; period of time”), from Old French style, estile, stil, stile (modern French style), or from Medieval Latin stylus, both from Latin stilus (“pointed instrument, pale, spike, stake; writing tool, stylus; act of setting down in writing, composition; characteristic mode of expression, style; stem of a plant”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)teyg- (“to be sharp; to pierce, prick, puncture, stab; to goad”). Doublet of stylus.
The English word is cognate with Catalan estil (“engraving tool, stylus; gnomon; manner of doing something, style; fashionable skill, grace”), German Stiel (“handle; stalk”), Italian stilo (“needle, stylus; fountain pen; beam; gnomon; part of pistil, style”), Occitan estil, Portuguese estilo (“writing tool, stylus; manner of doing something, style”), Spanish estilo (“writing tool, stylus; manner of doing something, style; fashionable skill, grace; part of pistil, style”).
The verb is derived from the noun.

styl

manner of expression in writing or speech

styl

manner of creating, doing, or presenting something, especially a work of architecture or art

the anal styles of insects

Senses relating to a thin, pointed object.

(zoology) A small, thin, pointed body part.

(entomology) A long, slender, bristle-like process near the anal region.


swift

Swift (disambiguation)
swift (bird)
swift (textiles)

From Middle English swift, from Old English swift (“swift; quick”), from Proto-Germanic *swiftaz (“swift; quick”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)weyp- (“to twist; wind around”). Cognate with Icelandic svipta (“to pull quickly”), Old English swīfan (“to revolve, sweep, wend, intervene”). More at swivel.

cog

Earless ghost swift moths become “invisible” to echolocating bats by forming mating clusters close (less than half a meter) above vegetation and effectively blending into the clutter of echoes that the bat receives from the leaves and stems around them.

2013 May-June, William E. Conner, “An Acoustic Arms Race”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 3, pages 206–7:

(entomology) A moth of the family Hepialidae, swift moth, ghost moth.

(entomology) Any of various fast-flying hesperiid butterflies.


trachea

en-noun

trachea (plural tracheae or (obsolete) tracheæ or tracheas)

tracheae (plural)
tracheæ (obsolete plural)
tracheas (plural)

From late Middle English, from Medieval Latin trāchēa (“the windpipe”) (also borrowed as Late Latin trāchīa), from Ancient Greek τρᾱχεῖᾰ ᾰ̓ρτηρῐ́ᾱ (trākheîă ărtērĭ́ā, “windpipe, trachea”).

der

τρᾱχεῖᾰ ᾰ̓ρτηρῐ́ᾱ

(entomology) One of the cuticle-lined primary tubes in the respiratory system of an insect, which extend throughout its body.


medial

en-adj

medial (comparative more medial, superlative most medial)

more medial (comparative)
most medial (superlative)

LL-Q1860 (eng)-I learned some phrases-medial.wav

Borrowed from Latin mediālis (“middle”), from medius (“that is in the middle or midst”) + -ālis (“-al”, adjectival suffix).

среден

Situated in or near the middle; not at either end.

(entomology) Of or pertaining to the media and/or the areas of the wing next to it.


meson

From Ancient Greek μέσον (méson, “middle”).

(rare outside entomology) The mesial plane dividing the body into similar right and left halves.


puffin

From Middle English poffin, poffoun, puffon, equivalent to puff + -ing, or perhaps ultimately from Middle Cornish (compare Breton poc'han (“puffin”)).

(entomology) Any of various African and Asian pierid butterflies of the genus Appias. Some species of this genus are also known as albatrosses.


tibia

Borrowed from Latin tībia (“shin bone, leg”).

(entomology) The second segment from the end of an insect's leg, between the femur and tarsus.


hive

en-verb

hive (third-person singular simple present hives, present participle hiving, simple past and past participle hived)

hives (present singular third-person)
hiving (participle present)
hived (participle past)
hived (past)

From Middle English hyve, from Old English hȳf, from Proto-West Germanic *hūfi, from Proto-Indo-European *kuHp- (“water vessel”), from *kew- (“to bend, curve”).
See also Dutch huif (“beehive”), Danish dialect huv (“ship’s hull”); also Latin cūpa (“tub, vat”), Ancient Greek κύπη (kúpē, “gap, hole”), κύπελλον (kúpellon, “beaker”), Sanskrit कूप (kū́pa, “cave”). Doublet of coupe, cup, and keeve. The computing term was chosen as an in-joke relating to bees; see https://web.archive.org/web/20150715222122/http://blogs.msdn.com/b/oldnewthing/archive/2003/08/08/54618.aspx.

der

(entomology) Of insects: to enter or possess a hive.


saturate

en-adj

saturate (comparative more saturate, superlative most saturate)

more saturate (comparative)
most saturate (superlative)

/ˈsæt͡ʃəˌɹeɪt/

Borrowed from Latin saturātus, perfect passive participle of saturāre (“to fill full”), from satur (“full”).

saturate green


shell

From Middle English schelle, from Old English sċiell, from Proto-West Germanic *skallju, from Proto-Germanic *skaljō, from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kelH- (“to split, cleave”).
Compare West Frisian skyl (“peel, rind”), Dutch schil (“peel, skin, rink”), Low German Schell (“shell, scale”), Irish scelec (“pebble”), Old Church Slavonic сколика (skolika, “shell”). More at shale.
Doublet of sheal.
* (computing): From being viewed as an outer layer of interface between the user and the operating-system internals.

cog

(entomology) The exoskeleton or wing covers of certain insects.

па́нцыр

entomology: exoskeleton of certain insects


sprite

→ Japanese: スプライト (supuraito)

→ Russian: спрайт (sprajt)

From Middle English sprite, spryt, spreyte, from Old French esprit (“spirit”), from Latin spiritus. Doublet of spirit, spiritus, spirytus, spright, and esprit.
(computer graphics): First used by Danny Hillis at Texas Instruments in the late 1970s.
(meteorology): An acronym for Stratospheric Perturbations Resulting from Intense Thunderstorm Electrification.

doublet

(entomology) Any of various African damselflies of the genus Pseudagrion (of which, Australian species are named riverdamsels).


recondite

en-adj

recondite (comparative more recondite, superlative most recondite)

more recondite (comparative)
most recondite (superlative)

Recondite, (aculeus) concealed within the abdomen, seldom exposed to view.

1825, Thomas Say, Say's Entomol., Glossary, 28:

(somewhat archaic) Hidden or removed from view.

(botany, entomology, obsolete, rare, of a structure) Difficult to see, especially because it is hidden by another structure.


mentum

Learned borrowing from Latin mentum (“the chin”). Doublet of menton.

lbor

(entomology) The central part of the labium in insects.


immaculate

en-adj

immaculate (comparative more immaculate, superlative most immaculate)

more immaculate (comparative)
most immaculate (superlative)

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo
Museo del Prado

From Late Middle English immaculat, immaculate (“blameless; flawless, spotless; specifically of the Virgin Mary: pure, undefiled”), borrowed from Latin immaculātus (“unstained”), from im- (negative prefix) + maculātus (“stained, spotted; defiled, polluted; (figurative) dishonoured”), the perfect passive participle of maculō (“to spot, stain; to defile, pollute; (figurative) to dishonour”), from macula (“a blemish, spot, stain; (figurative) blot on one’s character, fault”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *smh₂-tló-m (“wiping (?)”), from *smeh₁- (“to rub; to smear”). The word displaced Middle English unwemmed (“pure, untainted”). See also -ate (adjective-forming suffix).
Cognates
* Catalan immaculat
* Italian immacolato, immaculato (obsolete)
* Middle French immaculé (modern French immaculé)
* Portuguese imaculado
* Spanish inmaculado

ref

From the collection of the Museo del Prado in Madrid, Spain.

perfek

containing no mistakes — see also flawless

(botany, zoology, especially entomology) Lacking blotches, spots, or other markings.

täplätön

lacking blotches, spots, or other markings — see also unspotted


policeman

→ French: policeman

→ Maori: pirihimana

→ Welsh: plismon

(entomology) Any skipper of the genus Coeliades.


promotion

en-noun

promotion (countable and uncountable, plural promotions)

/pɹəˈmoʊʃən/

/pɹəˈməʊʃən/

Late Middle English, from Old French promocion, from Late Latin promotio, from Latin promoveo (“I move forward”).

By simple promotion and remotion, assisted by some flexure and extension, the distal spines of each would reach and scratch the substratum and, on remotion, sweep coarse particles posteriorly and dorsally.

1995, Cladocera as Model Organisms in Biology, →ISBN, page 63:

In other arthropods, promotion-remotion of the leg is accomplished at other joints. For example, in spiders promotion-remotion occurs at the coxa-trochanter joint, insects utilize the body-coxa joint, and […]

2008, John L. Capinera, Encyclopedia of Entomology, volume 4, →ISBN, page 3326:

(zoology, chiefly entomology) Forward motion. (Contrast remotion.)


spatula

spatula (plural spatulas or spatulae or spatulæ)

spatulas (plural)
spatulae (plural)
spatulæ (plural)

/ˈspæt͡ʃʊlə/

/ˈspæt͡ʃələ/

Borrowed from Latin spatula (“a flat piece”), the diminutive form of spatha (“broad or flat tool”), from Ancient Greek σπάθη (spáthē, “a broad wood or metal blade”). Doublet of spauld; compare spatha and spathe.

der

The third instars are similar to other members of the genus except for a three-pronged spatula (typically two-pronged) and five lateral papillae (typically four) and with a nonbristled first instar.

2015 November 2, Donald B. Thomas, John A. Goolsby, “Morphology of the Preimaginal Stages of Lasioptera donacis Coutin (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), a Candidate Biocontrol Agent for Giant Arundo Cane”, in Psyche, →DOI:

(entomology) A sclerotized, T-shaped plate in the prothorax of larvae of flies belonging to family Cecidomyiidae, the gall midges.


entomology

From French entomologie, from Ancient Greek ἔντομον (éntomon, “insect”) + -logie (from Ancient Greek -λογία (-logía, “-logy”)).

Entomology is an important field of study within biology.

The scientific study of insects, and (informal) of other arthropods (and occasionally other invertebrates).


gallery

From Middle English galery, gallerye, from Middle French galerie, gallerie, from Old French galerie, gallerie (“a long portico, a gallery”), from Medieval Latin galeria (“gallery”), perhaps an alteration of galilea (“church porch”), probably from Latin Galilaea, Galilee, region of Israel. More at Galilee.

beetle gallery

en:boring trails produced by an insect in wood

(entomology) The boring trails produced by an insect in wood.


herald

From Latin heraldus, from Middle English herald, herauld, heraud, from Anglo-Norman heraud, from Old French heraut, hiraut (modern French héraut), from Frankish *heriwald, from Proto-Germanic *harjawaldaz, a compound consisting of Proto-Indo-European *ker- (“army”) + *h₂welh₁- (“to be strong”). Doublet of Harold, Harald; compare Walter, which has these elements reversed.

(entomology) A moth of the species Scoliopteryx libatrix.


obelisk

en-verb

obelisk (third-person singular simple present obelisks, present participle obelisking, simple past and past participle obelisked)

obelisks (present singular third-person)
obelisking (participle present)
obelisked (participle past)
obelisked (past)

Hippodrome of Constantinople
Obelisk of Theodosius
Theodosius I
Thutmose III

From Middle French obelisque, from Latin obeliscus (“obelisk”), from Ancient Greek ὀβελίσκος (obelískos), diminutive of ὀβελός (obelós, “needle”). Compare obelus.

Dragonflies that spend the day in full sun may obelisk to minimize the sunlight striking the body. An obelisking dragonfly looks like it's doing a headstand[…]

(entomology, of a dragonfly) To adopt the obelisk posture; to point the tip of the abdomen towards the sun.


quiescence

en-noun

quiescence (countable and uncountable, plural quiescences)

From quiescent + -ence, or borrowed from Latin quiescentia, from quiescens, present participle of quiesco, from quies.

(entomology) In insects, a temporary slowing down of metabolism and development in response to adverse environmental conditions, which, unlike diapause, does not involve physiological changes.


instar

From Latin instar (“form, likeness”), which is of obscure origin.

Any one of the several stages of postembryonic development which an arthropod undergoes, between molts, before it reaches sexual maturity.


cruiser

(entomology) Any of various nymphalid butterflies of the genus Vindula.

(entomology) Any dragonfly of the family Macromiidae; a macromiid.


rugose

en-adj

rugose (comparative more rugose, superlative most rugose)

more rugose (comparative)
most rugose (superlative)

(entomology) Used when combined with another adjective, for example, rugose-reticulate or rugose-punctate.


viscount

viscounts (plural)
V (alternative)
Vis. (alternative)
Visc. (alternative)
Visct (alternative)
Vte (alternative)

From Anglo-Norman viscounte, from Medieval Latin vicecomes, from Latin vice + comes. Equivalent to vice- + count. Doublet of vicecomes and vicomte.

(entomology) Any of various nymphalid butterflies of the genus Tanaecia. Other butterflies in this genus are called earls and counts.


thorax

From Latin thorax, from Ancient Greek θώραξ (thṓrax, “a breastplate, cuirass, corslet”).

der

Holonym: body

Meronyms: prothorax, mesothorax, metathorax

Comeronyms: head, abdomen

(entomology and arachnology) The middle of three distinct divisions in an insect, crustacean or arachnid body to which the legs are attached.


furcula

In essence, a furcula is a long, rigid stick, held underneath the body at high tension. When the springtail releases that pressure, the stick pushes down into the ground, or even the water's surface, like an upside-down medieval catapult, firing the springtail into the air in a semi-controlled manner.

2022, Thomas Halliday, Otherlands, Penguin, published 2023, page 215:

(entomology) The (two-pronged) forked, somewhat tail-like organ held bent forward and secured by a catch beneath most species of Collembola (springtails), with which they jump by releasing the catch abruptly when alarmed.


frass

en-noun

frass (countable and uncountable, plural frasses)

(entomology) The droppings or excrement of insect larvae.


lancer

(entomology) Any of various Asian hesperiid butterflies of the genus Plastingia.


duffer

Cognate with duff, which see (origin is uncertain).

(entomology) Any of various nymphalid butterflies of the genus Discophora.


cercus

From New Latin cercus, from Ancient Greek κέρκος (kérkos, “tail”).

(entomology) A structure on the end of the abdomen of most insects, sometimes long, hairlike sensory organs and sometimes smaller and rigid.


rustic

rustics (plural)
rustick (alternative)
rusticke (alternative)
rustique (alternative)

From Latin rūsticus. Doublet of roister.

(entomology) Any of various nymphalid butterflies having brown and orange wings, especially Cupha erymanthis.


faun

fauns (plural)
faune (alternative)
faunus (alternative)
fawn (alternative)

From Middle English fawn, from Latin faunus.

(entomology) Any of various nymphalid butterflies of the genus Faunis.


M

M (countable and uncountable, plural Ms)


tarsus

kitax̂

the part of the foot between the main part of the hindlimb and the metatarsus

(anatomy, zootomy) The part between the main part of the hindlimb and the metatarsus in terrestrial vertebrates.

(anatomy) A group of small bones in this part of the foot. The seven bones of the human tarsus form the ankle and upper part of the foot.

глезен

any of the seven bones in this part of the foot

On the ledge, the guillemots shuffle awkwardly about on their tarsi, the long bone connecting the ‘ankle’ to the feet.

2020, Tim Ecott, The Land of Maybe, Short Books, published 2021, page 99:

(zootomy) The shank or tarsometatarsus of the leg of a bird or reptile.

(zootomy) The true foot or the fifth joint of the leg of an insect or other arthropod, typically consisting of several small segments and ending in a claw.

(anatomy) A plate of dense connective tissue found in each eyelid, attached to either the superior tarsal muscle (in the upper eyelid) or inferior tarsal muscle (lower eyelid), which aid with sympathetic control.


cocoon

[kʰɘ̞ˈkʰu̟ːn]

From French cocon, diminutive of coque (“shell”).

The silky case spun by the larvae of some insects in which they metamorphose, protecting the pupa within.

Any similar protective case, whether real or metaphorical.

cocon

any similar protective case, whether real or metaphorical


cocoon

en-verb

cocoon (third-person singular simple present cocoons, present participle cocooning, simple past and past participle cocooned)

cocoons (present singular third-person)
cocooning (participle present)
cocooned (participle past)
cocooned (past)

[kʰɘ̞ˈkʰu̟ːn]

(intransitive) To withdraw into such a case.


proboscis

en-noun

proboscis (plural proboscises or proboscides or probosces)

proboscises (plural)
proboscides (plural)
probosces (plural)

From Latin proboscis, from Ancient Greek προβοσκίς (proboskís, “elephant's trunk”) literally "means for taking food," from προ- (pro-, “before”) + βόσκω (bóskō, “to nourish, feed”), from the Proto-Indo-European root *gʷeh₃- from which also comes βοτάνη (botánē, “grass, fodder”).

affix

Unlike the proboscides of Lower brachyceran lineages, which are continuous with the head capsule and tend to dangle (Matsuda 1965), the proboscides of most cyclorrhaphan species are suspended by a membranous region and divided into three functional parts: the basiproboscis (rostrum), medioproboscis (haustellum), and distiproboscis (labellum), each of which is defined by internal muscles but also shares muscles with the other regions (Graham-Smith 1930; Lall and Davies 1971).

2012, Brian Wiegmann, The Evolutionary Biology of Flies, page 225:

(anatomy) An elongated tube from the head or connected to the mouth, of an animal.

(entomology, malacology) The tubular feeding and sucking organ of certain invertebrates like insects, worms and molluscs.


petiole

Borrowed from French pétiole, and its source, Late Latin petiolus (“little foot”), diminutive form of Latin pēs (“foot”).

(entomology, insect anatomy) A narrow or constricted segment of the body of an insect; especially, the metasomal segment of certain Hymenoptera, such as wasps.

(entomology) The stalk at the base of the nest of the paper wasp.


chorion

From Late Latin chorion, from Ancient Greek χόριον (khórion, “membrane surrounding the fetus, afterbirth”).

der

The chorion has a predominantly lamellar structure, the lamellae being two-dimensional networks of protein fibrils.

1994, Klaus Urich, Comparative Animal Biochemistry, page 392:

Even closely related species may have chorions differing in thickness. In the silkmoths, for example, the chorion of Bombyx is about 25 μm thick while that of Hyalophora is 55 μm thick.

1998, R. F. Chapman, The Insects: Structure and Function, page 326:

2008, John L. Capinera, Eggs of Insects, entry in John L. Capinera (editor), Encyclopedia of Entomology, page 1290,
In addition to facilitating gas exchange and water conservation, the chorion must, in some cases, allow uptake of water or liquid nutrients from the environment.

(biology, entomology) The outer case of an insect egg.


alveolus

Borrowed from Latin alveolus (“a small hollow or cavity”), diminutive of alveus (“a hollow, cavity”).

bor

(entomology) The socket of a macrotrichium (seta).

A small cavity or pit.
The socket of a macrotrichium (seta).


arcus

Borrowed from Latin arcus. Doublet of arc and arco. Distantly related to arrow.

(entomology) An elastic band around the base of the arolium, a pad at the end of the leg of certain insects


sharpshooter

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-sharpshooter.wav

sharp + shooter, a calque of German Scharfschütze.

professional wrestling
professional wrestling

(professional wrestling) A submission hold characterized by one wrestler twisting the other's legs upwards while sitting on their back.


courtier

From Middle English courteour, from Anglo-Norman corteour, Old French cortoiier, from cort (“court”).

(entomology) Any of various nymphalid butterflies of the Asian genus Sephisa.


chrysalis

en-noun

chrysalis (plural chrysalises or chrysalides or (rare) chrysalisses)

chrysalises (plural)
chrysalides (plural)
chrysalisses (plural rare)
chrysalid (alternative)
chrysaloid (alternative)

From Latin chrysalis, from Ancient Greek χρυσαλλίς (khrusallís), from χρυσός (khrusós, “gold”), because of the color of some of them.

Amongst the particular signs testifying the same thing, are also those exhibited by worms which feed on herbs, which, when they are to undergo a metamorphosis, encompass themselves as with a womb, that they may be born again, being therein changed into nymphs and chrysalisses, and presently into beautiful butterflies, when they fly into the air as into their heaven, where the female sports with her male companion, as one conjugal partner with another, and they nourish themselves from odoriferous flowers, and lay their eggs, thus providing that their species may live after them: […]

1828, The Athanasian Creed, Extracted from the Apocalypse or Book of Revelations Explained, of Emanuel Swedenborg, Boston, Mass.: Adonis Howard, […], page 174:

The herbaceous or herbiferous produce had such gummy gelatinous properties, that tiniest tiddles incorporated themselves into huge chrysalisses, from whence monster butterflies egged it, all the world over, like snowberries, during a moist September, as soon as the blossom is by!

1857, Charles Hancock, Gaieties and Gravities for Holy Days and Holidays, London: Saunders and Otley, […], page 155:

Caterpillars, chrysalisses soon reveal / The future gandy butterfly.

1865, [Johann Wolfgang von] Goethe, translated by William Barnard Clarke, Translation of Goethe’s Faust, Iˢᵗ and IIⁿᵈ Parts, Freiburg: Schmidt, page 264:

Fanny was afraid. She was like an insect new-hatched from its chrysalis, naked and unprotected in a dawn she could not face.

1929, M. Barnard Eldershaw, chapter VII, in A House is Built, section VIII:

A project on butterflies! And caterpillars and chrysalisses and things, and lots of nice drawings, coloured with felt pens.

1979, Sheila Lavelle, My Best Fiend, London: Hamish Hamilton, →ISBN, page 165:

The pupa of a butterfly or moth, particularly bare and hanging or girdled, as opposed to enclosed in a cocoon, in which metamorphosis takes place.


grenadier

From French grenadier, corresponding to grenade + -ier.

(entomology) Either of two red and black libellulid dragonflies, Agrionoptera insignis and Lathrecista asiatica, of Asia and Australia.


declivity

1610s, from French déclivité, from Latin declivitatem, dēclīvitās,
from dēclivis (“a sloping downward”), from de (“down”) + clīvus (“a slope”), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱleywo-, from Proto-Indo-European *ḱley- (“to lean”) (English lean).

1979, Entomology Circular, Issue 200, Part 366, Division of Plant Industry, page number not shown,
Males of all species have more developed armature of the elytral declivity than females (Figs. S, 6, 8, 9, 11-14).

Propodeum in profile with upper lobe of declivity elongate and narrow, subspiniform, almost as long as lower lobe.

2000, Barry Bolton, “The Ant Tribe Dacetini”, in American Entomological Institute, volume 65, number 2, page 500:

(entomology) An inward curve of the exoskeleton of an insect, such as between body segments; a segment of an insect's body where the exoskeleton curves inward.


naiad

From Latin Nāïas, from Ancient Greek Νᾱϊάς (Nāïás, “naiad”), from νάω (náō, “to flow”).

(entomology) The aquatic larva (nymph) of a dragonfly or damselfly.


imago

imago (plural imagines or imagos or imagoes)

imagines (plural)
imagos (plural)
imagoes (plural)

‘But still,’ he said to himself, drawing the metamorphoses of a red admiral, egg, caterpillar, chrysalis and imago on his pad, ‘what shall I say to him when we meet?’

(entomology) The final developmental stage of an insect after undergoing metamorphosis.


clanger

From clang (“loud ringing sound”) + -er.

(Australia, entomology) A cicada, Psaltoda claripennis, of New South Wales and Queensland, having an upper body of green and brown and clear wings with green veins.


costal

From French costal, from Medieval Latin costālis, from Latin costa (“rib”). As a Spanish unit, via Spanish costal. Doublet of coastal.

(entomology) Pertaining to the costa or to the wing areas next to it.


intercalary

From Latin intercalārius, from intercalāris, from intercalō, from inter (“among”) + calō (“call out, proclaim”).

...two radial cells, second longer than first; intercalary fork fairly distinct; crossvein r-m vertical...

1953, Willis W. Wirth, “American Biting Midges of the Helid Genus Monohelea”, in Proceedings of the United States National Museum, volume 103, number 3320, pages 135–154:

(sciences, by extension) Inserted between other things

(entomology) of a wing vein: between the major veins common to insect wings.


lepidopterology

From Ancient Greek λεπίς (lepís, “scale”) + πτερόν (pterón, “wing”) + -λογία (-logía, “-logy, branch of study”), or, more recently, from translingual Lepidoptera + -ology.

(biology, zoology, entomology) The scientific study of butterflies and moths (the Lepidoptera).


elytron

Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek ἔλυτρον (élutron, “sheath”).

lbor

In a corner, the Darkling Beetle rustles in its Cage, its Elytra the same unforgiving white as the great sand-waste call’d ‘Kalahari’ lying north of here […]

1997, Thomas Pynchon, chapter 9, in Mason & Dixon, 1st US edition, New York: Henry Holt and Company, →ISBN, part One: Latitudes and Departures, page 88:

[…] the elytra covering the hind wings of the firefly lift like a light leather, suppler than any other beetle’s.

2020, Aimee Nezhukumatathil, World of Wonders: In Praise of Fireflies, Whale Sharks, and Other Astonishments, Minneapolis: Milkweed Editions, →ISBN, page 9:

A sheath or outer covering, especially around the spinal cord or over the hindwings of certain insects.


graminivorous

en-adj

graminivorous (comparative more graminivorous, superlative most graminivorous)

more graminivorous (comparative)
most graminivorous (superlative)

/ɡɹæmɪˈnɪvəɹəs/

From Latin graminivorus, from gramen (“grass”) + -vorus.

We passed a large jaguar, glaring fiercely at a calf ten feet from him; […] Had we powder to waste, we would certainly have rid the graminivorous from many of their carnivorous neighbours, but we were now entering a tract of country celebrated for the depredations of the Texians and Buggles free bands, and every charge of powder thrown away was a chance the less, in case of a fight.

1843, [Frederick] Marryat, chapter XII, in Narrative of the Travels and Adventures of Monsieur Violet, in California, Sonora, & Western Texas. […], volume II, London: Longman, Brown, Green, & Longmans, […], →OCLC, page 257:

"Bitzer," said Thomas Gradgrind. "Your definition of a horse." / "Quadruped. Graminivorous. Forty teeth; namely, twenty-four grinders, four eye-teeth, and twelve incisive. Sheds coat in the spring; in marshy countries, sheds hoofs, too. Hoofs hard, but requiring to be shod with iron. Age known by marks in mouth." Thus (and much more) Bitzer.

1854, Charles Dickens, chapter II, in Hard Times. For These Times, London: Bradbury & Evans, […], →OCLC:

If woman had a free hand in the world's marketing the race would become graminivorous.

1906, Ambrose Bierce, “Abdomen”, in The Cynic’s Word Book, London: Arthur F. Bird […], →OCLC, page 4:

(entomology) That eats grasses and seeds.


tailed

From Middle English tayled; equivalent to tail + -ed.

two-tailed pasha:African long-tailed shrikeband-tailed antshrikeband-tailed manakinbar-tailed godwitblack-tailed flycatcherblack-tailed godwitblack-tailed hawfinchblack-tailed jackrabbitblack-tailed trainbearerbright-eyed and bushy-tailedbright eyed and bushy tailedbrush-tailedbrush-tailed penguinbrush-tailed phascogalebrush-tailed possumbrushtail possumbuff-tailed bumblebeeElliot's short-tailed shrewfan-tailedfan-tailed warblerfat-tailed dunnartfat-tailed dwarf lemurfat-tailed dwarf lemursfat-tailed lemurfat-tailed sheepfiery-tailed awlbillfork-tailed bush katydidgray short-tailed opossumgreat-tailed gracklegreen-tailed towheegreen-tailed trainbearergrey-tailed tattlerhairy-tailed moleHarlan's red-tailed hawkhigh-tailedlarge-tailed antshrikeleaf-tailed geckolion-tailed macaquelobster-tailed potlong-tailedlong-tailed bluelong-tailed chinchillalong-tailed ducklong-tailed hawklong-tailed jaegerlong-tailed macaquelong-tailed meadowlarklong-tailed onelong-tailed pangolinlong-tailed planigalelong-tailed shrikelong-tailed titlong-tailed titmousemosaic-tailed ratnervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairspaddle-tailed newtpen-tailed treeshrewpheasant-tailed jacanapig-tailedpig-tailed macaquepin-tailed sandgrousepin-tailed snipepony-tailedrat-tailed maggotred-tailed hawkred-tailed phascogalered-tailed shrikered-tailed squirrelred-tailed tropicbirdribbon-tailed astrapiaring-tailed lemurring-tailed macaucorufous-tailed hawkrufous-tailed rock thrushrufous-tailed scrub robinSeram long-tailed mosaic-tailed ratsharp-tailed sandpipersharp-tailed sparrowshort-tailed chinchillashort-tailed foxshort-tailed hawkshort-tailed parrotshort-tailed weaselsouthern pig-tailed macaquespiny-tailed lizardspotted-tailed quollstiff-tailed duckstub-tailed morphostump-tailed macaqueswallow-tailedswallow-tailed kitetailed frogtailed pepperthick-tailed bushbabytrumpet-tailed ratwedge-tailed eaglewhip-tailedwhite-tailed blue flycatcherwhite-tailed deerwhite-tailed eaglewhite-tailed hawkwhite-tailed lapwingwhite-tailed ploverwhite-tailed ptarmiganwhite-tailed sea eaglewhite-tailed shrikeyellow-tailed black cockatoozebra-tailed lizardzone-tailed hawk

(entomology) Of certain butterflies, having one or more filamentous projections on the tornal section of each hind wing.


dimerous

From di- + -merous; compare also Ancient Greek διμερής (dimerḗs, “bipartite”).


frenulum

frenula (plural)
frenulums (plural)
fraenulum (alternative)
frænulum (alternative)

Borrowed from New Latin frēnulum, diminutive of frēnum (“a bridle, curb, bit”).

(entomology, zootomy) A bristle or row of bristles on the edge of the hindwings of some lepidoptera which unites the wings by interlocking with a catch on the posterior part of the forewings.


myrmecology

/ˌmɜː(ɹ)mɪˈkɒləd͡ʒi/

From Ancient Greek myrmeco- (“ant”) + -logy (“study (of)”).


odonatology

(entomology) The study of dragonflies and often damselflies.


armarium

Unadapted borrowing from Latin armārium. Doublet of ambry, armoire, and almirah.

The proventriculus of both the Blattaria and Isoptera conforms to the basic orthopteran plan and consists of an anterior armarium and the posterior stomodaeal valve; the armarium tapers posteriorly as it merges with the narrow valve.

1963, Memoir - Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station, Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station, →OCLC:

The proventriculi of both Arenivaga bolliana and Hypercomps fieberi appear to lack the anterior dental belt of the armarium; otherwise, they are dissimilar.

1964, F. A. McKittrick, Evolutionary Studies of Cockroaches, page 78:

The sclerotized portion of the proventriculus (armarium) has six cuticular folds each armed with a tooth for crushing food and a pulvillus bearing hairs which forms a fine filter.

1975, Lucy D. Leake, Comparative Histology: An Introduction to the Microscopic Structure of Animals:

Anteriorly it bears an armarium and posteriosly^([sic]) a stomodaeal valve.

1991, H.S. Bhamrah, Introduction to Arthropoda, page 169:


tympanum

Borrowed from Latin tympanum (“a drum, timbrel, tambourine; the eardrum”). Doublet of timbre, timpani, timbal, and tymbal.

قَلْب القَوْصَرَة

triangular space between the sides of a pediment

(anatomy, zootomy) Any of various anatomic structures in various animals with analogy to a drum head:

(zootomy, entomology) A thin tense membrane covering the hearing organ on the leg or body of some insects, sometimes adapted (as in cicadas) for producing sound.


tymbal

Variant of timbale, from French timbale.

(entomology) One of a pair of specialised sound-producing structures located below each side of the anterior abdominal region of various species of cicada.


radial

en-adj

radial (comparative more radial, superlative most radial)

more radial (comparative)
most radial (superlative)

From Medieval Latin radiālis (“radial”), from Latin radius.

(entomology) Of, or relating to the radius (vein), and/or the wing areas next to it.


harlequin

en-noun

harlequin (countable and uncountable, plural harlequins)

From earlier Harlicken, from Middle French Harlequin (in Italian Arlecchino, the name of a popular servant character in commedia dell'arte plays), from Old French Harlequin, Halequin, Herlequin, Hellequin, Hierlekin, Hellekin (a demon, malevolent spirit), probably of Germanic origin, connected to the Old English figure of Herla Cyning (“King Herla”, a mythical figure identified with Woden) or possibly to Old Frisian helle kin, Old English helle cyn, Old Norse heljar kyn (“the kindred of Hell”). Related to Middle English Hurlewain (“a mischievous sprite or goblin”).

cog

(entomology) Any of various riodinid butterflies of the genera Taxila and Praetaxila.


bombardier

Borrowed from Middle French bombardier, from Old French bombarder (“a stone throwing engine”), equivalent to bombard + -er.


chironomid

Fossil chironomids have proven useful as indicators of climatic change.

Devils Lake is where I began my career as a limnologist in 1964, studying the lake’s neotenic salamanders and chironomids, or midge flies. […] The Devils Lake Basin is an endorheic, or closed, basin covering about 9,800 square kilometers in northeastern North Dakota.

2012 January 25, Douglas Larson, “Runaway Devils Lake”, in American Scientist, volume 100, number 1, archived from the original on 2012-05-23, page 46:

(entomology) Any of the non-biting midges or Chironomidae, a family of true flies within the order Diptera.


bullet ant

From bullet + ant.
From being an ant having a poisonous stinging bite, whose pain is described to be comparable to being hit by a bullet.

(entomology, informal) A stinging ant (Paraponera clavata) the toxin of which causes intense pain for about a day, native to Central and South America.


cilium

(entomology) One of the fine hairs along an insect's wing.


labellum

From Latin labellum (“small lip”), diminutive of labrum (“lip”).

(entomology) Part of the mouth of an insect, especially the sucking mouthparts of a fly.


clypeus

Cuisinart stuck a human eyelash to his clypeus with saliva, twisted it into a handlebar mustache, and greeted citizens as they arrived at the rim of the sink.

1990, Daniel Evan Weiss, The Roaches Have No King (Serpent's Tail 2001, p.16)

When viewed from the front, the part of the carapace between the anterior eyes and the front edge of the carapace is called the clypeus.

1996, Michael J. Roberts, Spiders of Britain and Northern Europe (Collins 1996, p. 14)

(entomology) The shield-shaped front part of an insect's head or a spider's cephalothorax.


nasus

Borrowed from Latin nāsus (“the nose; the nozzle or spout”).

bor+

(entomology) A horn-like elongated rostrum on the head of soldier termites of the subfamily Nasutiterminae, capable of producing and spraying noxious secretions for defense.

(entomology) A prolongation on the front of the head of a cranefly.


remotion

en-noun

remotion (countable and uncountable, plural remotions)

From Old French or directly from Latin remōtiō.

Coordinate term: promotion

By simple promotion and remotion, assisted by some flexure and extension, the distal spines of each would reach and scratch the substratum and, on remotion, sweep coarse particles posteriorly and dorsally.

1995, Cladocera as Model Organisms in Biology, →ISBN, page 63:

In other arthropods, promotion-remotion of the leg is accomplished at other joints. For example, in spiders promotion-remotion occurs at the coxa-trochanter joint, insects utilize the body-coxa joint, and […]

2008, John L. Capinera, Encyclopedia of Entomology, volume 4, →ISBN, page 3326:

(zoology, chiefly entomology) Backward motion.


tegula

Borrowed from Latin tegula (“a tile”), from tegō (“to cover”). Doublet of tile.

(entomology) A small sclerite situated above the base of the costal vein in the wings of various insects, and attached to the anterolateral portion of the mesonotum.

tégula

sclerite in the wings of various insects


tornus

(entomology) The bottom corner of a wing.


cuneus

Borrowed from Latin cuneus. Doublet of coign and coin.

(entomology) A wedge-shaped section of the forewing of certain heteropteran bugs.


pharate

en-adj

pharate (comparative more pharate, superlative most pharate)

more pharate (comparative)
most pharate (superlative)

From Ancient Greek φᾶρος (phâros, “mantle, cloth, web”) + -ate (verb-forming suffix), suggesting the process of being about to shed the old skin.

af

1968 Hinton, H. E. Spiracular Gills, Advances in Insect Physiology Vol. 5 Academic Press
Each new instar or stage of an arthropod begins enclosed within the cuticle of the previous instar or stage. That part of it that is spent enveloped by the cuticle of the previous instar or stage is known as the pharate phase or stage, or simply as the pharate larva, pupa, or adult, as the case may be.

Many Trichoptera swim to the surface as pharate adults, the middle legs of the pupae of these species being fringed to facilitate swimming, and the insect may continue to swim at the surface until it finds a suitable object to crawl out on.

2013, R. F. Chapman, The Insects: Structure and Function, Cambridge University Press, →ISBN, page 435:

(of an adult insect) In the final stages of conversion from pupa to adult, e.g. waiting to emerge from a cocoon, or escaping from an aquatic pupal stage to terrestrial adulthood.


doodlebug

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-doodlebug.wav

(entomology) An antlion larva (Myrmeleontidae).

(entomology, UK) A cockchafer (genus Melolontha).

Common names for woodlice vary throughout the English-speaking world. They include roly-poly, pill bug (usually applied only to the genus Armadillidium), sow bug, doodle bug, carpenter (Newfoundland),[…] cheesybug (Kent), and cheeselog.

2018 June 25, “Pillbugs”, in Niles Biological, Inc.:


mushroom body

From mushroom + body, after German pilzhutförmiger Körper.

In fruit flies the cyclic AMP system seems to be especially active in brain regions called mushroom bodies, toadstool-shaped extrusions of neurons in the fruit fly brain.

1999, Matt Ridley, Genome, Harper Perennial, published 2004, page 226:

(entomology) Either of a pair of structures in the brains of insects and some other arthropods thought to be involved in learning and memory.


reduviid

Borrowed from translingual Reduviidae, from Reduvius (genus name) + -idae (taxonomic suffix), from Latin reduvia (“a remainder, remnant, fragment”), describing the habit of the nymph of Reduvius personatus camouflaging itself with small pieces of debris.

der

(entomology) of, relating to, or characteristic of the family Reduviidae


reduviid

(entomology) any member of the Reduviidae family of insects, which comprises predatory and blood-sucking bugs, including the vectors of Chagas disease


clipper

Dutch: (nautical) klipper, klipperaak m or f

From Middle English clipper, equivalent to clip (“cut, shorten”) + -er (suffix forming agent nouns). The type of sailing ship is probably also from clip, in the sense of “move or run rapidly”. Perhaps influenced by Middle Dutch klepper (“swift horse”), from kleppen (“to clap”), which is onomatopoeic.

suffix

er<id:agent noun><pos:suffix forming agent nouns>

(entomology) An Asian butterfly of species Parthenos sylvia, family Nymphalidae.


cloudless sulfur

en-noun

cloudless sulfur (plural cloudless sulfurs)

(entomology) A yellow pierid butterfly, Phoebis sennae, found in the Americas.


recurrent

From Latin recurrens, present participle of recurrere. Morphologically recur + -ent.

(entomology) Turned back toward the base.


venation

venation (countable and uncountable, plural venations)

For instance, native plants in the Mascarenes developed several adaptations, such as serrated leafs^([sic]) and leafs^([sic]) with red venation, to deter tortoise browsing (Cheke & Hume, 2010).

2017 March 1, Hanneke Meijer, The Guardian:

(botany, entomology) The arrangement of veins in a leaf, wing, or similar structure.


barrette

barrettes (plural)
barette (alternative)

Borrowed from French barrette, from barre (“bar”) + -ette, literally “small bar”.


anopheles

From Ancient Greek ἀνωφελής (anōphelḗs, “useless”).

der

Analogy with the malaria-carrying mosquito points to the various kinds of anopheles, and perhaps to some species of the ordinary mosquito or culex, as being possible bearers of the disease.

1901 May 24, H. Watkins-Pitchford, “Horse-sickness investigation”, in The Agricultural Journal and Mining Record, volume 4, number 6, page 162:

‘I brought it back from the desert – they have been planting rice like fools, and now you get anopheles right up to the gates of Alexandria!’

1983, Lawrence Durrell, Sebastian, Faber & Faber 2004 (Avignon Quintet), p. 1125

(entomology) Loose terminology for species in the Anopheles genus of mosquitoes, some of which may transmit various parasites, Plasmodium, that are the cause of malaria. More strictly speaking, as Anopheles is a proper name it should be capitalised.

малари́чен кома́р

member of the Anopheles genus of mosquitos


galea

Borrowed from Latin galea. Doublet of galley.

(entomology) A mouthpart found in some species of insect; a flap that is part of the maxilla, so-called after the flaps attached to the sides of a Roman helmet.


frons

Borrowed from Latin frōns (“the forehead, brow, front”). Doublet of front.

bor

In a generalized insect the frons extends from the vertex to the frontoclypeal (epistomal) suture, between the two anterior tentorial pits.

1981, J. F. McAlpine, Manual of Nearctic Diptera, volume 1, →ISBN, page 14:

(entomology) The front part of the epicranium or head capsule of many insects; generally speaking, the area below or between the antennae and above the clypeus. Typically it lies between the genal or "cheek" areas on either side of the head.

In most blondeliines (and in most Tachinidae in general), males have a narrower frons than conspecific females […]

1985, D. M. Wood, “A taxonomic conspectus of the Blondeliini of North and Central America and the West Indies (Diptera: Tachinidae)”, in Memoirs of the Entomological Society of Canada, volume 117, →DOI, page 9:

(entomology) (of Diptera) The postfrons.


polylectic

en-adj

polylectic (comparative more polylectic, superlative most polylectic)

more polylectic (comparative)
most polylectic (superlative)

From Ancient Greek πολύς (polús, “a lot of, much”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *polh₁ús (“many, much”), from the root *pleh₁- (“to fill”)) + λέγειν (légein), from λέγω (légō, “to arrange, choose, gather; to count, reckon”) (from Proto-Indo-European *leǵ- (“to gather”)) + -ic.

der

(entomology) Of or relating to an insect (especially a bee) which collects pollen from the flowers of a variety of unrelated plants.


skimmer

(entomology) Any of the dragonflies in the family Libellulidae.


stinkbug

stinkbugs (plural)
stink bug (alternative)
stink-bug (alternative)

(entomology) Any of various insects of the order Hemiptera (the "true bugs"), in the suborder Heteroptera, principally in the superfamily Pentatomoidea or Coreoidea.


chrysomelid

Borrowed from translingual Chrysomelidae, from the type genus of Chrysomela, from the root word of Ancient Greek χρῡσόμηλον (khrūsómēlon).

There was a paucity of chrysomelids at Greek sites and a distinctively northern faunal composition at sites north of Poland.

2016 September 28, Roy Canty, Enrico Ruzzier, Quentin Cronk, Diana Percy, “Salix transect of Europe: patterns in the most abundant chrysomelid beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) herbivores of willow from Greece to Arctic Norway”, in Biodiversity Data Journal:

Working the low areas around the parking lot, I beat a fair number and diversity of beetles and hemipterans—mostly chrysomelids—but only a single Agrilus sp. off of Prosopis glandulosa.

2022 May 14, Ted C. MacRae, Cupressaceae:

Chrysomelids use their faeces as a biomaterial for constructions and self-decoration behaviours that serve as defensive coats, mobile debris shields, and protective domiciles.

2023 August 30, Caroline Simmrita Chaboo, Sally Adam, Kenji Nishida, Luke Schletzbaum, “Architecture, construction, retention, and repair of faecal shields in three tribes of tortoise beetles (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Cassidinae: Cassidini, Mesomphaliini, Spilophorini)”, in Zookeys:

(entomology) Any leaf beetle of the family Chrysomelidae.


chrysomelid

en-adj

chrysomelid (comparative more chrysomelid, superlative most chrysomelid)

more chrysomelid (comparative)
most chrysomelid (superlative)

In all, 34 willow-associated chrysomelid species were encountered, of which eight were very abundant.

Defensive shields and domiciles may help explain the uneven radiation of chrysomelid subfamilial and tribal clades.

(entomology) Belonging or relating to the family Chrysomelidae.


pruinose

pruinose (comparative more pruinose, superlative most pruinose)

more pruinose (comparative)
most pruinose (superlative)

(zoology, entomology) Covered with a very fine whitish layer of wax particles.


geometrid

(entomology) Any of the family Geometridae of moths


proleg

(entomology) An appendage of the abdomen of some insect larvae, such as caterpillars, which is used like a leg.


tergum

Borrowed from Latin tergum (“back, rear; surface”).

(entomology) The upper or dorsal surface of an articulated animal such as an arthropod.


pupal

(entomology) Of or pertaining to the pupa stage of insect metamorphosis.


shagreen

en-noun

shagreen (countable and uncountable, plural shagreens)

1677, Anglicized form of chagrin, from French chagrin, from Ottoman Turkish صاغری (modern Turkish sağrı).
However, the etymology of French chagrin is complex and disputed, likely of Germanic origin – whether there was any influence between an existing French word of Germanic origin and a Turkish loan is unclear.

If the shagreen dots be carefully observed they will be found to possess an annular arrangement.

1883 November 7, Edward B. Poulton, “Notes upon, or suggested hy, the colours, markings, and protective attitudes of certain lepidopterous larvæ and pupæ, and of a phytophagous hymenopterous larva”, in Transactions of the Entomological Society of London:

The shagreen of the abdominal tergites generally consists of small spinules, singly or in caudally convex arcs.

1985, “The Immature Chironomids of the Eastern United States VI. Pentaneurini-Genus Ablabesmyia”, in Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, volume 137, number 2, →JSTOR, pages 153–212:

(entomology) A rough or spiny surface of an insect's cuticle.


diapause

diapause (countable and uncountable, plural diapauses)

(biology, entomology, ichthyology) A temporary pause in the growth and development of an organism due to adverse environmental conditions (especially in insects and in the embryos of many of the oviparous species of fish in the order Cyprinodontiformes)

diapaussi

a temporary pause in the growth and development of an organism


puddle

en-verb

puddle (third-person singular simple present puddles, present participle puddling, simple past and past participle puddled)

puddles (present singular third-person)
puddling (participle present)
puddled (participle past)
puddled (past)

From Middle English podel, diminutive of Old English pudd (“ditch”), from Proto-Germanic *puddaz (compare Low German Pudel (“puddle”), Middle High German podel (“quagmire, mudhole”), Hunsrik Puttel, dialectal German Pfudel (“puddle”), German pudeln (“to splash about”)), ultimately imitative.

onomatopoeic

imitative

(entomology) Of butterflies, to congregate on a puddle or moist substance to pick up nutrients.


holometabolism

(entomology) The complete metamorphosis of an insect


staff sergeant

(entomology) A nymphalid butterfly, Athyma selenophora, of tropical and subtropical Asia.


alate

en-adj

alate (comparative more alate, superlative most alate)

more alate (comparative)
most alate (superlative)

Beetles fly, many ants send forth massive swarms of reproductive alate females and males, arachnids and insect predators emerge from their hidden refugia, and termite swarm.

2016, Justin O. Schmidt, The Sting of the Wild, Johns Hopkins University Press, →ISBN, page 113:

(entomology, botany) Having wings or winglike extensions or parts; winged.


colour sergeant

en-noun

colour sergeant (plural colour sergeants)

(entomology) A nymphalid butterfly, Athyma nefte, of tropical Asia.


ringlet

From ring + -let. Compare Middle English ryngyl, ryngyll, rengel (“ringlet”).

(entomology) Any of various butterflies with small rings on the wings, in the tribe Satyrini of the family Nymphalidae, such as Aphantopus hyperantus.


coleopterist

Recently, another coleopterist collected Brachys barberi—more typically a southwestern species—on Quercus harvardii (shinnery oak) at this spot.


tritocerebrum

(entomology) The third set of fused ganglia comprising the insect brain.


pars intercerebralis

(entomology) a neurosecretory center of the insect brain, located along the anterior midline.


planate

This species has several distinctively coloured planates across the head.

The planate, measuring several kilometres across, was formed by wind erosion.

(entomology, geography) flat or flattened area.


drip tip

(entomology) An elongated extension to the wall of a structure, such that unwanted water drips off, as found in the nests of some species of rainforest paper wasps.


arista

From New Latin arista. Doublet of arête.

The eyes of the male are separated by a distance equal to one-fourth of the diameter of the head, in the female by one-third. The frontal stripe is black, the cheeks and margins of the orbits silvery-white. The antennæ are black, the arista feathered on the upper side only.

1915, O. A. Johannsen, William A. Riley, Handbook of Medical Entomology:

(entomology) A bristle on the third segment of a fly's antenna.

Fühlerborste

a bristle on the third segment of a fly's antenna


hymenopterous

(entomology) Of the order Hymenoptera; hymenopteran.


cornicle

From Latin corniculum, diminutive of cornū.

(entomology) one of a pair of small upright backward-pointing tubes found on the dorsal side of the 5th or 6th abdominal segments of aphids


gena

Borrowed from Latin gena (“cheek”). Doublet of chin.

(entomology) The part of the head to which the jaws of an insect are attached.

(entomology) The part of the head below the compound eyes of Diptera, or an analogous part of the head of larvae without compound eyes.


squama

Borrowed from Latin squāma (“scale”). Doublet of squame.


termen

(entomology) The outer edge of the wing of a butterfly or moth, joining the apex to the tornus.


dipteran

PIE word
 *dwóh₁
Immediately from translingual Diptera + -an, for denoting taxonomic specification, as opposed to instances where "fly" is used informally. From Ancient Greek δίπτερος (dípteros, “two-winged”) + -an, from δι- (di-, “two, di-”) + πτερόν (pterón, “feather, wing”) + -ος (-os, “adjectival suffix”).

af

two, <i class="Latn mention" lang="en">di-</i>

(entomology) An insect of the large order Diptera; a fly.


dipteran

(entomology) Relating to or denoting dipterans.


domatium

/dəʊˈmeɪʃəm/

Borrowed from New Latin dōmatium, from Ancient Greek δωμάτιον (dōmátion, “chamber, bedroom”), diminutive of δῶμα (dôma, “house, dwelling place of animals”); akin to δόμος (dómos, “house”).

der

A domatium typically takes the form of a hollow under a leaf, or a system of tunnels in a thorn or stem. Ideally, it is a mutualistic adaptation and should not be confused with simple damage by a borer or gall-forming pest, although commonly there is no sharp distinction between domatia of value to the plant and galls caused by harmful aphids and mites, for example.

All are ordinary anatomical features of the plants that the ants exploit, apparently in a unilateral manner. In contrast, the domatia listed comprehensively in Table 14-1 do appear uniquely to serve as ant nests.

1990, Bert Hölldobler, Edward O. Wilson, The Ants, Harvard University Press, page 535:

Although the earliest work on mites and leaf domatia was inspired by a belief that mites protected trees from fungal disease (O'Dowd and Willson 1989), mite–fungus–plant interactions received experimental attention only recently.

2004, David Evans Walter, “11: Hidden in Plain Sight: Mites in the Canopy”, in Margaret D. Lowman, H. Bruce Rinker, editors, Forest Canopies, Elsevier (Academic Press), page 237:

Domatia and extrafloral nectaries are plant structures that provide shelter and food to predaceous arthropods and thus affect herbivorous insects only indirectly.

2005, Louis M. Schoonhoven, Joop J. A. van Loon, Marcel Dicke, Insect-Plant Biology, Oxford University Press, page 40:

(entomology, botany) A chamber produced by a plant in which insects, mites, or fungi live.

domatie

chamber produced by a plant, in which insects, mites or fungi live


sterigma

en-noun

sterigma (plural sterigmata or sterigmas)

(entomology) Part of the genitalia of moths.


trabecula

trabecula (plural trabeculae or trabeculas)

From Latin trabēcula (“small beam”), diminutive of trabs (“beam, timber”).

(entomology) Either of a pair of movable appendages on the head, in front of the antennae, of some mallophagous insects.


exarate

en-adj

exarate (comparative more exarate, superlative most exarate)

more exarate (comparative)
most exarate (superlative)

(entomology, of a pupa) Having the appendages free and not attached to the body wall.


obtect

obtect (comparative more obtect, superlative most obtect)

more obtect (comparative)
most obtect (superlative)

(entomology, of a pupa) Having the legs and other appendages more or less strongly cemented to the body.


prostriate

(entomology) Describing ticks (of the order Ixodida) in which the anal groove of the adult is in front of the anus


capitulum

en-noun

capitulum (plural capitulums or capitula)

Borrowed from Latin capitulum. Doublet of chapiter and chapter.

(entomology, obsolete) The enlarged end of a proboscis.


Red Baron

From Red Baron, nickname of Baron Manfred von Richthofen, who flew a red fighter.

(entomology) A red-coloured dragonfly, Urothemis aliena, family Libellulidae, of New Guinea and north and eastern Australia.


labrum

(entomology) The uppermost of the mouthparts (trophi) of a typical insect, such as a cockroach. Typically resembles an upper lip and forms part of the roof of the mouth in such insects.

labro

the uppermost of the mouthparts of insects


phasmid

From Latin phasma (“apparition, specter, phantom”) + -id (nominal suffix), from Ancient Greek φάσμα (phásma, “apparition, phantom”).

der

A giant phasmid (or stick insect) from India whose cage was over two metres tall spent long hours standing upon a perpendicular branch and staring into Mother's eyes.

1993, Rikki Ducornet, The Jade Cabinet, Dalkey Archive Press, page 19:

(entomology) Any insect of the order Phasmida: a leaf insect or walking stick (stick insect).


monogoneutic

From mono- + Ancient Greek γονεύω (goneúō, “to produce offspring”) + -tic, from γονεύς (goneús, “parent”).

af

(entomology) Having only one brood per season.


haltere

From Ancient Greek ἁλτῆρες (haltêres, “weights held in the hand to give an impetus in leaping”). Note that in the original Greek, there seems to have been no singular for ἁλτῆρες (haltêres), and some authorities maintain that halteres is a plurale tantum, but in English entomological usage, haltere sometimes appears as a back-formation. Sometimes the singular halter is used instead, but this may lead to confusion with other, unrelated meanings of halter.

uder

Whenever the fly changes direction at an angle to the hinge, the shaking bends the halteres at their base and turns them into a gyroscope.

2022, Thomas Halliday, Otherlands, Penguin, published 2023, page 166:

(entomology) A small knobbed structure in some two-winged insects, one of a pair that are flapped rapidly and function as accelerometers to maintain stability in flight.


hyperparasite

From hyper- (prefix meaning ‘over, above, or beyond’) + parasite.

prefix

Parasites and Hyperparasites.— [...] How the Pteromalus contrived to introduce its eggs into the Tetrastichus, and how the Tetrastichus managed to oust the Microgaster must for the present remain open questions for the consideration of the learned.

1863, Edward Newman, “Parasites and Hyperparasites”, in Edward Newman, editor, The Zoologist: A Popular Miscellany of Natural History, volume XXI, London: John Van Voorst, […], →OCLC, page 8609:

Though itself attacked by several hymenopterous hyperparasites, it [Paratheresia claripalpis, a species of fly] is still capable of maintaining a high rate of borer parasitization, one recorded instance being 73.7%; [...]

1951 February, H. M[artin]-L[eake], “The Sugar Cane Mouth Borer in Peru”, in James P. Ogilvie, editor, The International Sugar Journal: A Technical & Commercial Periodical Devoted Entirely to the Sugar Industry, volume LIII, number 626, London: The International Sugar Journal Ltd., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 42, column 2:

Secondary parasites, or hyperparasites, are parasites of primary parasites and have quite the opposite ecological effect since they constrain the population of the primary parasite. [...] A few species are able to function as facultative hyperparasites, attacking both the host and its primary parasites.

1982, John Feltwell, “Parasitic Control”, in Large White Butterfly: The Biology, Biochemistry, and Physiology of Pieris brassicae (Linnaeus) (Entomologica; 18), The Hague, Boston, Mass.: Dr. W. Junk Publishers, →ISBN, page 402:

Eupteromalus parnarae Gahan [...] is also a recorded hyperparasite of Apanteles rifucrus Haliday on Naranga aenescens Moore, [...]

1983 December, A. T. Barrion, J. A. Litsinger, “Trichornalopsis apanteloctena (Crawford) [Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae]: Correct Name for the Larval Parasite of the Rice Skipper”, in International Rice Research Newsletter, volume 8, number 6, Manila: International Rice Research Institute, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 14:

[page 12] The colour loss of the rust on Araza was found to be accelerated by the presence of a hyperparasite indicated by the white mycelia surrounding the urediospores [...] [page 13] The hyperparasite on the Uromyces sp. affecting Araza is yet to be identified but may have potential in the future for the development of biological control programs for this organism.

1995 May, Paulette Ann Tai Chun, “Results and Discussion”, in Pre and Post Harvest Pests and Diseases of Araza (Eugenia stipitata) in Costa Rica: Report on Activities at the Agronomic Center for Tropical Agriculture Research and Training (CATIE): […], Costa Rica: Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture Headquarters, pages 12 and 13:

(entomology, specifically) An insect that parasitizes another parasitic insect.


dulosis

From Ancient Greek δοῦλος (doûlos, “servant, slave, thrall”) + -osis.

der

(entomology) process by which parasitic ants steal pupae from the nests of other ants and raise them in their own nest, so that they become part of the colony and perform tasks in it.


corbicula

A learned borrowing from Latin corbicula, diminutive of corbis, a basket. Doublet of corbeil.

(entomology) A bee's pollen basket; in honeybees and close relatives, the corbiculae are located on the outer (lateral) surface of the hind tibia.


hind wing

hind wings (plural)
hindwing (alternative)

(entomology, in an insect with two pairs of wings) Either member of the pair of wings closer to the tail.


fore wing

fore wings (plural)
forewing (alternative)

hind wing

antonym(s) of “wing closest to the head”

(entomology, in an insect) Either member of the pair of wings closest to the head.


imaginal disc

1982, John Feltwell, Large White Butterfly: The Biology, Biochemistry, and Physiology of Pieris brassicae (Linnaeus), Kluwer Academic (Dr W. Junk Publishers), page 142,
The arrangement of the imaginal discs (buds) in situ in the anterior of the larva of P. brassicae has been illustrated by Gonin (1894) and their development has been shown in a series of six diagrams by Mercier in Portier (1949).

Experiments in which cells have been selectively destroyed by X-irradiation have shown that formation of imaginal discs occurs very early in embryogenesis and at specific sites.

2005, Cedric Gillott, Entomology, 3rd edition, Springer, page 634:

The developing BO^([Bolwig's organ, or larval eye]) is drawn inward at head involution, whereas the future imaginal disc cells invaginate to form a pouch in the late embryo that later forms the eye antenna imaginal disc.

2005, David J. Merritt, “Chapter 7: Evolution and Development of the Dipteran Nervous System”, in Brian Wiegmann, David K. Yeates, editors, The Evolutionary Biology of Flies, Columbia University Press, page 189:

(entomology) Any of several pairs of discs within the body of a larva that become part of the outside during the pupal stage of holometabolism (complete metamorphosis).


giraffe weevil

It derives its name from an extended neck, much like that of the common giraffe.

(entomology) A weevil (Trachelophorus giraffa) endemic to Madagascar.


reclinate

en-adj

reclinate (comparative more reclinate, superlative most reclinate)

more reclinate (comparative)
most reclinate (superlative)

reclinate bristles

reclinate leaves

reclinate setae

(botany, entomology) bent downward, so that the point is lower than the base.


metabola

From Ancient Greek μεταβολή (metabolḗ, “change”); μετά (metá, “beyond”) + βολέω (boléō, “throw”).

bor

(in the plural, entomology) Insects that metamorphose.


sphingid

(entomology) Any of many hawk moths of the family Sphingidae


hymenopteran

From translingual Hymenoptera + -an, from neuter plural of Ancient Greek ὑμενόπτερος (humenópteros, “membrane-winged”), from ὑμήν (humḗn, “thin skin, membrane”) + πτερόν (pterón, “feather, wing”) + -ος (-os, adjectival suffix).

af

(entomology) Any insect of the order Hymenoptera: the bees, wasps and ants etc.


hymenopteran

(entomology) Relating to or denoting hymenopterans.


porrect

en-adj

porrect (comparative more porrect, superlative most porrect)

more porrect (comparative)
most porrect (superlative)

From Latin porrectus, past participle of porrigō (“stretch out”).

The palpi of moths in the genus Thumatha are porrect and slender.

(entomology, botany) stretched out or forward


metasoma

(entomology) The posterior part of the three-part body-structure of many arthropods, the other two parts being prosoma and mesosoma.


hawkmoth

hawkmoths (plural)
hawk moth (alternative)

(entomology) Any of several moths, of the family Sphingidae, that hover over flowers when sucking nectar through a long proboscis.


gaster

Borrowing from Ancient Greek γᾰστήρ (găstḗr, “paunch, belly”).

bor

(zootomy, entomology) The enlarged part of the abdomen behind the petiole in hymenopterous insects (such as ants).


dolichoderine

(entomology) Any ant of the subfamily Dolichoderinae


geometrid moth

(entomology) Any of the various moths of the family Geometridae.


geometer moth

(entomology) A geometrid moth of family Geometridae.


snout moth

(entomology) An eggar (family Lasiocampidae).


myrmecological

en-adj

myrmecological (comparative more myrmecological, superlative most myrmecological)

more myrmecological (comparative)
most myrmecological (superlative)


macraner

(entomology) An unusually large male ant.


micraner

(entomology) An unusually small male ant.


macrergate

(entomology) An unusually large worker ant.


micrergate

(entomology) An unusually small worker ant.


pseudovirgin

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-pseudovirgin.wav

(entomology) A female of certain species that has mated but has not received sperm.


metathorax

en-noun

metathorax (plural metathoraxes or metathoraces)

metathoraxes (plural)
metathoraces (plural)

Holonym: thorax

Comeronyms: prothorax, mesothorax

(entomology) The hindmost of the three sections of the thorax of an insect, carrying the posterior pair of legs and the hindwings when present.

zadohruď

the hindmost of the three sections of the thorax of an insect


alatae

(entomology) An insect that possesses wings.


meron

Back-formed from epimeron, ultimately from μῆρος (mêros, “thigh”).

(entomology) A sclerite on the side of the thorax of an insect, above the coxae of the mid and hind legs.


orthopteran

From translingual Orthoptera (“order of insects”) + -an.

affix

(entomology) Any of many insects of the order Orthoptera.


pleid

(entomology) Any member of the family Pleidae, the pygmy backswimmers


subadult

en-adj

subadult (comparative more subadult, superlative most subadult)

more subadult (comparative)
most subadult (superlative)
sub-adult (alternative)

(entomology) Final instar before reaching sexual maturity.


green bottle fly

en-noun

green bottle fly (plural green bottle flies)

green bottle flies (plural)
green-bottle fly (alternative)
greenbottle fly (alternative)

(entomology) Any of the flies in the genus Lucilia (alias Phaenicia).

groene vleesvlieg

flies in the genera Lucilia and Phaenicia