Aorta: Part of the circulatory system that moves haemolymph (insect blood) around the body.

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1 RLB&I JARGON BUSTER A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H-I-J-K-L-M-N-O-P-Q-R-S-T-U-V-W-X-Y-Z A Algae: Plants, usually aquatic, without stems or roots. Anthropomorphic: Something such as an object or animal that has been given human characteristics. Aorta: Part of the circulatory system that moves haemolymph (insect blood) around the body. Aposematism: A natural and conspicuous means of defence bright colours, loud sounds or noxious odour used by animals. It is a warning to stay away! Apterous: Having no wings. Aquatic: Based in or around water. Appendages: Parts of an organism that stick out from the body. Arbivorous: Animals which eat trees. Arboreal: Relating to trees. Arid: Area with very low rainfall. Arista: Antenna segment with a sensory function Asymmetry: A lack of symmetry, that is when something is out of balance or harmony. Atrophied: Wasted away, especially through evolution B Batesian mimicry: The tactic used by a vulnerable prey animal to imitate a more dangerous animal that predators try to avoid. Biodiversity: The variety of plants and animals in an area. Bioluminescence: The ability of an organism to give out light. Bivalve: An aquatic creature that has two hinged shells, such as an oyster or mussel. Buccula: Cheek plates C Calypters: Projections protecting the halters Caste: In insects, a group within a society that has a certain function. Cecidia: Another name for the structures built by gall wasps. Cecidogenic: Ability to force another organism to produce a gall. Cellulose: Hard-to-digest substance that is the main component of cell walls in plants. Cephalothorax: Segment formed by the fusion of head and thorax. Chitin: Hard, semi-transparent material which forms the exoskeleton of arthropods.

2 Chromatic: Relating to or produced by colour. Clot: When a liquid, especially blood, turns solid or semi-solid. Coagulate: Plate at the front of an insect s head which strengthens the whole structure. Clypeus: Transformation of a liquid into a solid mass. Compound eyes: Large eyes that give a wide field of vision. They are made up of many tiny lenses. Acutely sensitive to movement. Converge: Meet at a single point. Crustacean: An arthropod that has a hard shell and numerous legs, for example lobsters and crabs. They usually live in the sea. Cultivate: To deliberately grow and develop. Cuticle: A protective structure covering the body of most invertebrates, often made largely of chitin. Cylindrical: A shape that has straight parallel sides and a circular or oval top and bottom. D Decapitating: Removing the head of something. Dehydration: Having lost a large amount of water. Dengue fever: Tropical disease causing fever and aching joints. Devour: Eat. Dichoptic: Eyes that are separate and receive different light stimuli. Dimorphism: When the males and females of a species look different. Disperse: Spread out. Distribution: The way in which a group of organisms is spread through an area. Diurnal: Organisms that are active during the day. Ducts: Tubes. E Eclosion: Emerging as an adult insect from a pupa or as a larva from the egg. Ecology: The bit of biology that deals with the relationships of organisms to each other and their environment. Ecosystem: A particular physical environment and its population of interacting organisms. Ectoparasite: A parasite that lives on the outside of its host, like a flea or tick. Endemic: A species found only in a certain area, for example, kangaroos are endemic to Australia. Epigyne: Organ used for mating in female spiders. Excrete: To expel unwanted substances from the body.

3 F Femur: Thigh. Filariasis: Tropical disease caused by worms and transmitted by mosquitoes. Can lead to severe body swellings. Frons: The central part of an insect s face between the eyes. Fusion: Joining of two or more things to form one. G Gaster: Bulbous rear section of the abdomen in wasps, bees and ants. Gallery: Tunnel dug or eaten by organism in wood or earth. Gelatinous: Jelly-like. Gnathosoma: The head section of an acarid s body. H Halteres: Modified hind wings used for balance during flight. Hemielytra: Wings that have become partially hardened to protect a second pair of wings. Hemispheric: Shaped like half of a sphere. Hemispherical: Something that has a shape like a sphere cut in half. Herbaceous: A type of plant that grows from a seed and dies down after flowering. Herbivorous: Feeding only on plants. Holoptic: Eyes that are joined. Honeydew: Sugary substance secreted by homopteran bugs feeding on plant sap. Humid: Atmosphere with high levels of water vapour. Hydraulic: Process using movement of liquid to produce energy. Hydrophobic: Something that repels or fails to mix with water. I Idiosoma:The abdomen section of an acarid s body. Imago: The last stage of an insect s development. Insecticides: Substances that are used to kill insects. Instars: Stages (after a moulting) of an insect s larval development. Irritant: A substance that can cause swelling and discomfort to an animal. J

4 K L Labrum: Upper lip of an insect. Latitude: A horizontal measurement to define how far a place is north or south of the equator. High latitudes are found in the far north or south of the world. Lens: Structure inside an eye used for focusing light. Lichens: Slow-growing plants which live on the surface of walls, rocks or trees. M Matriarchal: A society dominated by females. Maxillae (singular Maxilla): Mouthparts used for chewing. Membranous: Milky or filmy skin that covers body parts on animals. Microfauna: Microscopic animals living in the soil. Micropterous: Having small wings or fins. Mimicry: When one creature looks like another, usually to deter predators. Monophagous: An organism that eats only one type of food. N Nits: The egg of a head louse, found in human hair. O Ocelli: Simple eyes OR spots on the body that look like eyes. Oesophagus: A tube down which food passes on the way from the mouth to the stomach. Olfactory: Relating to the sense of smell. Ommatidia: Tiny lenses, which together form a compound eye. Oothecae: Cocoons made of silk in which female spiders protect their eggs. Opisthosoma: The rear section of an acarid s abdomen. Ovipositor/Oviscapt: An appendage, which sometimes looks like a stinger, used by some arthropod females to lay their eggs. Ovoviviparous: An animal whose eggs develop inside the body, only emerging as they are about to hatch. Oxygenated: Having high levels of oxygen. P Parasitism: the strategy of living on a host organism and taking nutrients from it.. Parasitoids: Insect larvae living as parasites in another organism which cause the death of their host. Pasture: Grassy area used for grazing animals like cows. Pathogenic: A living thing that can cause disease.

5 Peduncle: A stem or stalk-like part where tissue or an organ is attached to the body. In botany, it is the stalk of a flower or fruit. Petiole: Thin segment joining the thorax and abdomen, especially in ants or wasps. Petioles: Stalks joining leaves to stem. Pharynx: Section of digestive system immediately behind the mouth in invertebrates Pheromones: A chemical given off to transmit messages to members of the same species. Phytophagous: An insect or invertebrate that feeds on plants. Plantation: An area in which trees are planted to provide wood for human needs e.g. making furniture. Plumose: Having a feathery appearance. Podosoma: The front section of an acarid s abdomen. Proboscis: In insects, a long mouthpart that is tube-shaped and flexible, used for sucking. Propodeum: First abdominal segment of wasps, actually fused to the thorax. Prothorax: Section of an insect s thorax where first pair of legs is located. Pseudopod: A structure like a leg that helps a larva move around. Pupa: Inactive stage of an insect between being a larva and being an adult. Ptilinum: Structure on a fly's head that helps it break out of the pupal capsule Q Quarantine: A state when some creature or location is isolated from others to check the spread of disease. R Resonate: To make or be filled with deep, full, clear sound. Respiration: The act of breathing. Respiratory organs: Parts of the body used for taking in oxygen and expelling carbon dioxide. Rostrum: Snout or beak of an insect. S Scape: The base segment of an antenna. Scutellum: A triangular plate of chitin behind the pronotum. Sexual dimorphism: When the males and females of a species look different. Silo: A tall tower or pit on a farm used to store grain. Simple eyes (ocelli): Tiny eyes that are only useful for detecting changes in light density. They work with the compound eyes to give information, such as approaching prey, to the insect. Siphon: A tube through which air is taken in or expelled. Spinneret(s): Organ(s) producing silk or thread.

6 Spiracle: Opening on the body to breathe through. Spur: A protrusion on a planthopper s leg, like the spike on a cowboy s boot. Stabilimentum: Conspicuous zigzag patterns made out of silk in the centre of a spider s web. Sternum: The breastbone Stridulate/Stridulation: To rub a leg against a wing or other leg to make a sound. Stigma: Thoracic openings used for breathing. Stridulate: To rub a leg against a wing or other leg to make a sound. Stylets: Mouthparts adapted for piercing. Styli: Appendages used for mating. Subspecies: Usually a population of a species isolated from others of its kind. Subterranean: Existing or happening under the earth s surface. Symbiotic: Organisms living close to each other, which both benefit from the relationship. T Tactile: To do with the sense of touch. Tarsi: Segments making up an insect s foot. Tarsus: the last segment of an insect s leg, usually ending in a claw. Tegmina: Tough, leathery front wings of an insect used to protect the flight wings. Termitary: The nest in which a termite colony lives. Terrain: The physical features of an area of land. Terrarium: Glass tank for keeping small live animals in. Tibia: Fourth segment of an insect s leg. Trachea: Windpipe, or tube for taking in air. Troglodyte: A cave dweller. U V Valves: A mechanism controlling the flow of fluid. Vertebrates: Any animal with a spinal column or backbone, for example birds, fishes, reptiles and mammals (including humans). W Watercourse: A stream or brook, or manmade water channel. Wireworm: The larva of a click beetle.

7 X Xylophagous: An animal that eats wood. Y Z. Click here to go back