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The Lepidoptera and other insects of the U.K.

By Dave Hatton

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ABDOMEN:

The last, and largest part of the body.

MANDIBLE:

Jaws, used to crush and consume food.

ABERRATION:

A specimen that is different to the normal appearance of others of its species.

MELANIC:

A black, or dark grey form of a species, i.e. the

AESTIVATION:

A summer resting period between stages of development, when no activity takes place.

METATHORAX:

The lower of the three components, or parts that make up an insects thorax.

ANAL CLASPERS:

Referring to the last pair of legs on the rear end of a caterpillar.

MOULTING:

When a larva sheds its skin, which is replaced from underneath with a new one.

ANISOPTERA:

The scientific term for dragonflies.

NIGRA:

A dark or melanic form of a species which is different to the normal appearance, i.e. the Scalloped Hazel moth.

APEX:

The top corner of the fore wing, where the side and leading edge join.

NYMPH:

The larval stage of some insects, i.e. dragonflies, damselflies and shield bugs.

BROOD:

A new generation of adult insects, some species have more than one generation each year.

OCELLI:

Referring to the tiny primitive eyes of a larvae.

CARBONARIA:

A black, or dark grey form of a species, i.e. the Peppered Moth.

ODONTA:

A collective term for damselflies and dragonflies.

CHRYSALIS:

Pupa, the stage between larva and adult.

OVA:

Egg.

CILIA:

The fine fringe of hair like scales around the edge of some moths and butterflies.

OVIPOSITING:

Egg laying.

CILIARY:

Relating to the cilia fringe; for instance dark ciliary lines found at the base of the hind wing of Agonopterix Ciliella.

OVIPOSITOR:

A tube, or duct female insects use to deposit their eggs.

CLAVIFORM:

Club shaped marking.

OVUM:

Eggs (plural).

COCOON:

Construction made by a larva in which to pupate.

POSTMEDIAN:

The part of the wing that falls between the centre and the outer edge.

COSTA:

Leading edge of the wing, opposite to dorsum.

PROBOSCIS:

Tongue, or feeding tube of a moth, or butterfly.

DIAPAUSE:

A summer resting period between stages of development, when no activity takes place.

PROLEGS:

The rear set of legs on the abdomen of a caterpillar, not including the anal claspers.

DIMORPHIC:

Different, i.e. the male and female Common Blue are sexually dimorphic, they differ in appearance.

PATAGIUM:

A part, or component of the upper thorax.

DORSAL:

Top of the Back.

PUPA:

Chrysalis, the stage between larva and adult.

DORSUM:

Trailing edge of the wing, or opposite to ventrum meaning front, or belly.

RENIFORM:

Kidney, or bean shaped mark.

FASCIA:

Outer, or visible surface area.

SCUTELLUM:

The scutellum is a small triangular plate on the thorax of some insects (i.e. shield bugs) behind the outer edges of the thorax,  and between the forewing bases.

FILAMENT/S:

Long thin fleshy protrusions that project from some larvae, i.e. the larvae of the Alder moth and the Light Emerald have filaments.

SEGMENTS:

The individual sections that make up the thorax and abdomen of some insects, like caterpillars and dragonflies.

FOODPLANT:

Plant, or types of plant consumed by some larvae.

SEMI-LOOPER:

A caterpillar that is not of the geometridae family, but doe's not have four pairs of true legs.

FRASS:

Waste products, or droppings (stools) passed by larvae.

SPIRACLE/S:

A row of small holes along the sides of caterpillars, used to breath.

FRENULUM:

A bristle present at the root of the hind wing of most moths which engages with a small hook on the forewing to join the wings together.

STIGMA:

A small spot, or mark.

GENITALS:

Sexual reproductive organs.

SUBRENIFORM:

Kidney, or bean shaped marking near the trailing edge of the wing.

HERMAPHRODITE:

Part male and part female.

SUBTERMINAL:

Near to the apex of the wing on the costa.

HETEROPTERA:

Referring to the family of insects that includes shield bugs.

TEGULA:

A part, or component of the thorax.

HIBERNATION:

A period of deep sleep and totally inactivity, resembling a comatose condition,  used to pass through the cold winter months.

TENERAL:

Some adult insects such as dragonflies, and shield bugs do not achieve their mature colouration immediately on emergence. At this immature adult stage they are referred to as 'Teneral'.

IMAGO:

An adult (mature) insect.

TERMEN:

The outer edge of the wing, adjoining the leading and trailing edges of the wing.

INCUBATE:

The period after eggs being laid, and up to hatching out.

THORACIC:

Relating to the thorax.

INSTAR:

The stages of a larva between skin moults.

THORAX:

The second largest of the three main body parts of an insect, that comes between the head and the abdomen.

LARVA:

A young insect, between the egg and pupal stages. Only moth and butterfly larvae are called caterpillars.

TORNUS:

The lower corner of the outer edge of the wing, adjoining the trailing edge and outer edge of the wing.

LARVAE:

More than one caterpillar (plural of larva).

TORPID:

A temporary state of dormancy, inactivity or sluggishness. Insects that play dead as a defensive measure are said to be torpid, also become torpid when the temperatures are to low for them.

LEPIDOPTERA:

A collective term for butterflies and moths.

TRUE LEGS:

Legs on the thorax.

LEPIDOPTERAN:

A member of the family of lepidoptera.

ZYGOPTERA:

The scientific term for damselflies.

LOOPER:

A geometridae caterpillar with only two pairs of true legs.

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