John Bernhard Smith

Name: Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology
Author: John Bernhard Smith

Summary

John Bernhard Smith’s Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology is a systematic reference work compiling specialized terminology from the study of insects, focusing on anatomical structures such as segments, sclerites, antennae, and veins. Published in an era of fragmented entomological research, Smith acknowledges the proliferation of conflicting terms across insect orders like Diptera, Lepidoptera, and Hymenoptera, aiming to standardize nomenclature through precise definitions.

The text delves into structural components of insect bodies, including thorax, appendages, and cells, while addressing ecological interactions like cleptobiosis and dulosis. By synthesizing contributions from correspondents and existing literature, Smith offers a comprehensive lexicon that reflects both the complexity of insect morphology and the challenges of interdisciplinary communication in entomology.

Quotes from Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology (John Bernhard Smith)

John Bernhard Smith, Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology

“ No one realizes better than I the fact that as students have increased in each order, each has followed an independent line of research, absolutely without regard to the work done elsewhere. In consequence, we have several terms for the same thing in many cases and, in an equal number, several meanings to the same term. As no one man can now-a-days cover the entire field of Entomology, it goes without saying that I was compelled to rely partly upon books and partly upon the good nature of correspondents to make the work even approximately complete. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

John Bernhard Smith, Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology

“ Vagina: the tubular structure formed by the union of the oviducts in the female, opening externally to admit the passage of the egg to the ovipositor: receives the penis of the male in copulation and is sometimes called oviduct: "every part, the office of which is to cover, protect or defend the tongue": "the bivalve coriaceous sheath or cover of the spicula": generally, a sheath.
Vaginata: sheathed: an obsolete ordinal term for Coleoptera. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

John Bernhard Smith, Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology

“ Cleptobiosis, is where one species of ant lives in or near the nest of another, preying upon its larvae or pupae or stealing the food supply.
Dulosis, is that mingling of colonies which owes its origin to the enslavement of one species by another.
Hamabiosis, is that relation where two species of any insects, one of which may be an ant, live side by side without obvious motive or known advantage to one or both.
Lestobiosis, is where the workers of one ant colony "hold up" those of another species and rob them of the food they are carrying to the nest. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

John Bernhard Smith, Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology

“ Face or Facies: the upper or outer surface of any part or appendage: the front of the head between the compound eyes above the mouth to the vertex; usually applied to insects in which the head is -vertical: in bees extends between the eyes to the base of the antennae; in the Hymenoptera generally the area between antenne and clypeus: in flies the area between base of antennae, the oral margin, eyes and cheeks. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

John Bernhard Smith, Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology

“ Segment: a ring or division bounded by incisions or sutures: a segment of an insect or of any articulate is a transverse portion reaching entirely across the body, originally separated on the exterior by incisions or sutures from the preceding and the succeeding segments, having attached to it not more than one pair of ventral appendages, containing internally not more than one pair of nerve ganglia which supply nerves to the pair of appendages ”

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Source: Gutenberg

John Bernhard Smith, Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology

“ Stethidium: the trunk: the entire thorax with all its appendages.
Stigma: a spiracle or breathing pore: a dense, often discolored portion of the costal margin of a wing, usually at the end of the radius; see anastomosis: in Diptera, a colored wing spot near the tip of the auxiliary vein: in Lepidoptera, the specialized patch of black scales on the primaries of Hesperidae.
Stigmata: the spiracles: also applied to the two spots, orbicular and reniform, in the cell of the primaries of certain moths. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

John Bernhard Smith, Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology

“ Spatha: a median piece in male genitalia of aculeate Hymenoptera, covering the bases of the sagitte.
Spatula: the breast bone (q.v.) of cecidomyid larvae.
Spatulate: rounded and broad at top, attenuate at base.
Specialization: the adaptation of an organ to a definite purpose, or of an organism to fit a determinate environment.
Species: an aggregation of individuals alike in appearance and structure, mating freely and producing young that themselves mate freely and bear fertile offspring resembling each other and their parents: a species includes all its varieties and races. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

John Bernhard Smith, Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology

“ Geometrid: larva which, when walking, alternately elevate and straighten the middle of their body: opposed to rectigrade; q.v.
Geodephagous: = adephagous; q.v.
Geodromica: terrestrial Heteroptera in which the antennae are not concealed.
Geophilous: living on the ground: species that live on the surface or come freely into contact with it.
Germanium: an ovary: that portion of an ovarian tube containing the cell elements.
Germ-ball: reproductive cells in larvae from which, exceptionally, young may develop as buds. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

John Bernhard Smith, Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology

“ Ova pilosa: eggs that are covered with hair: usually from the abdomen of the female.
Ovarian tube: a tubular structure in which are developed the cells forming the future ova: a single one of the mass which, taken together, form the ovaries.
Ovaries: a mass of ovarian tubes, lying one on each side of the body cavity of the female, in each of which tubes eggs or ova are developed: the individual tubes of an ovary all converge to one oviduct. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

John Bernhard Smith, Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology

“ Squama: in Odonata, the sclerite that bears the palpus of both maxilla and labium: the scale-like first abdominal segment of some ants: a scale-like appendage covering the base of primaries in Lepidoptera, and so = patagium; q.v.: a small scale above the halteres in Diptera: in this order Packard uses squama for the lobed scale and restricts alula to the lobe-like appendage: Osten-Sacken uses squama for the posterior scale alone and antisquama for the anterior. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

John Bernhard Smith, Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology

“ In the admission that the work is incomplete, no apology is intended for its publication; it is merely a statement of fact to encourage constructive rather than destructive criticism. It is hoped that those who note errors or omissions will communicate them to the writer so that when another edition is needed, as it will be before many years are past, a standard work may be possible. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

John Bernhard Smith, Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology

“ Planta -ae: the basal joint of the posterior tarsus in pollen gathering Hymenoptera: the soles of the posterior tarsal joints: the anal clasping legs of caterpillars.
Plantigrade: species that walk on the entire foot, not on the claws alone.
Plantula: a lobe of the divided tarsal pulvillus; one of the soles or climbing cushions of the foot: see arolium; pulviglus.
Plaques: the small leathery hemelytra in some Naucorids.
Plasma: the liquid portion of animal fluids and cells.
Plasticity: the capacity for being formed, moulded or developed. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

John Bernhard Smith, Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology

“ Lobes: of the maxilla; see galea (outer) and lacinia (inner) : of the mentum in Coleoptera, are the lateral expansions shielding the base of the central organs.
Lobes of pronotum: in Orthoptera; the spaces or areas formed by three transverse impressions on the pronotum: that which borders the head is the anterior lobe, the hindmost is the posterior lobe, those intervening are the middle lobes. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

John Bernhard Smith, Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology

“ Cotypes: are all the specimens before the describer when a species is named, no single one being selected as the type: the type in such case equals the sum of the cotypes: see paratype.
Coxa -ae: the basal segment of the leg, by means of which it is articulated to the body.
Coxal cavity: the opening or space in which the Coxa articulates; in Coleoptera the cavity is open when the epimera do not extend to the sternum; closed or entire when the epimera reach the sternum or join medially as in Rhynchophora ”

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Source: Gutenberg

John Bernhard Smith, Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology

“ Inquiline: a species living in a gall or other structure prepared by a different species, not as a parasite but as, a guest.
Inquiline: living as guests in the homes of others; as in galls.
Insect: a member of the class Insecta strictly limited.
Insecta: broadly defined, contains all articulates that are also tracheates and have the head free from the thorax; more strictly limited to those forms that have only three pairs of thoracic legs in the adult stage and a limited number of segments.
Insectary: a place or building where insects are bred and studied. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

John Bernhard Smith, Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology

“ Abdomen: the third or posterior division of the insect body: consists normally of nine or ten apparent segments, but actual number is a mooted question: bears no functional legs in the adult stage.
Abdominal: belonging or pertaining to the abdomen.
Abdominal feet: see pro-legs.
Abdominal groove: the concave lobe of the inner margin of secondaries enveloping the abdomen beneath, in some butterflies.
Abdominal pouch: in female Parnassiids, a sac-like ventral cavity, formed by material secreted during copulation. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

John Bernhard Smith, Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology

“ Neuroblast: the large cell in the early embryo, from which the nervous system develops.
Neuromere: that part of a body segment pertaining to the nervous system.
Neuroptera: nerve-winged: an ordinal term applied to insects with four net-veined wings; mouth mandibulate: head free: thorax loosely agglutinated; metamorphosis complete: in its older use, the term applied to all net-veined insects irrespective of metamorphosis or thoracic structure.
Neuropteroidea: like the Neuroptera in the wide sense; applied to those living insects included by Linnaeus in his Neuroptera ”

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Source: Gutenberg

John Bernhard Smith, Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology

“ Episternum: the anterior and larger lateral thoracic sclerite between the sternum and notum.
Epistoma -is: the lower face between the mouth and eyes: that sclerite immediately behind or above the labrum, whether it be clypeus or an intermediate piece: in Diptera, that part of the face between the front and the labrum; the oral margin and an indefinite space immediately contiguous thereto and so = peristoma: in Odonata; = clypeus: = hypostoma.
Epithelium: the layer of cells which covers a surface or lines a cavity.
Epizoa: insects that infest the body surface of animals. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

John Bernhard Smith, Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology

“ Proboscidea: an ordinal term for the Coccidae.
Proboscis: generally applied to any extended mouth structure; usually applied to the extensile mouth of the Diptera; frequently to the beak of Hemiptera; sometimes to the tongue of Lepidoptera; and rarely, to the mouth of long-tongued bees.
Procephalic: relating or belonging to the procephalon.
Procephalic lobes: in the embryo, form part of the anterior, overhanging portion of the head.
Procephalon: that segment of the head in the embryo which is formed by the coalescence of the first three primitive segments. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

John Bernhard Smith, Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology

“ Antenna-cleaner: a fringed excavation on the interior base of the 1st segment of the anterior tarsi of Hymenoptera which, when covered by the movable process from the end of the tibia, forms an opening through which the antennae may be drawn: similar structures are on the fore tibiae of Carabid beetles: tarsal claws are also used by various insects to clean antennae. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

John Bernhard Smith, Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology

“ Nerinaeum: a ventral thoracic sclerite between the metasternum and posterior coxa in some Coleoptera.
Nerve: a thread-like structure, composed of delicate filaments whose function it is to transmit sensations or stimuli to or from a ganglion or from or to any part of the body or its appendages. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

John Bernhard Smith, Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology

“ Emandibulate: lacking functional mandibles; e.g. butterflies and moths, and applied in any stage.
Emarginate: notched: with an obtuse, rounded or quadrate section cut from a margin.
Embolium: Heteroptera; the narrow sclerite extending along the anterior margin of the hemelytra, from base to cuneus or membrane: the lobes on each side of the prothorax: the special enlargement at the base of the primaries which fits into a cavity in which the wing is moved.
Embossed: ornamented with raised figures.
Embryo: the young animal before leaving the body of the parent or before emerging from the egg. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

John Bernhard Smith, Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology

“ Parapteron -era: small sclerites, articulated to the dorsal extremity of the episternum, just below the wings; absent on prothorax = the tegulae of Hymenoptera, and patagia of Lepidoptera: have been homologized with the elytra of Coleoptera.
Parasita: = parasitica: q.v.
Parasite: a species that lives in or on another animal or insect, and depends upon the tissue of the host for its food supply.
Parasitic: living on or in some other animal or insect in such a way as to derive all nourishment from the tissues of the host.
Parasitica: the sucking lice: wingless; without metamorphosis ”

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Source: Gutenberg

John Bernhard Smith, Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology

“ Ocular tubercles: in Aphids, are a group of prominent facets on the hinder part of each eye.
Oculi -us: the eyes: an eye: refers to the compound eyes.
Oculocephalic: applied to that pair of imaginal buds destined to produce the cephalic region in Hymenoptera.
Odona: toothed: applied to Odonata by Fabricius because of the long teeth on the maxilla and labium.
Odonata: net-veined insects with mandibulate mouth; head free; thorax agglutinate; wings similar, elongate, flat; metamorphosis incomplete; copulatory organs of male near base of abdomen, separate from the testes. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

John Bernhard Smith, Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology

“ Monoecious: when both sexual elements or glands exist in one individual.
Monogamous: a union where a female is fertilized by one male only.
Monomeri: insects with one-jointed tarsi.
Monomorphic: species of which only one sex (female) is known to exist.
Monophagous: insects feeding upon only one species or genus of plants.
Monothelious: a union where one female is fecundated by many males.
Monotrocha -ous: Hymenoptera in which the trochanters are single: having legs in which the trochanter is one-jointed. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

John Bernhard Smith, Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology

“ Sucking pump: in sucking insects, a thick-walled muscular enlargement of the oesophagus that serves to draw up the liquid food = pharyngeal pump.
Sucking spears: the mandibles and maxillae of Hemerobiid larvae, used for puncturing prey and sucking its juices.
Sucking stomach: a thin-walled muscular pouch connected with the end of the oesophagus; serves as a food reservoir and is not commonly present except in some Lepidoptera. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

John Bernhard Smith, Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology

“ Discoidal field: see discoidal area.
Discoidal nervule: Lepidoptera; = media 1 (Comst.) .
Discoidal triangle: Odonata - see triangle.
Discoidal vein: Diptera (Schiner) , = media 2 (Comst.) anterior intercalary vein (Loew) ; Hymenopteran (Norton) , = media 2 (Comst.) , beyond the junction with the medial cross-vein: Trichoptera; the first and largest branch of the humeral vein.
Discoideous: =discoidal.
Discolored -orous: a different color from the surrounding, more or less contrasting; not concolorous.
Discota: insects in which development of the adults is from imaginal discs: see adiscota. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

John Bernhard Smith, Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology

“ Fungicolous: living in or on fungi.
Funicle: the joints between the scape and club in Funiculate antennae: a small cord: a slender stalk.
Funiculate: whip-like: long, slender, composed of many flexible joints.
Funicule: a small, cord-like structure; especially when sheathed.
Funiculus: the main tendon of abdomen: in Hymenoptera a slender ligament connecting the propodeum to petiole on its dorsal aspect.
Furca: a fork: the anal appendage used for leaping in Thysanura; see furcula: the forked ental processes of the sternum. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

John Bernhard Smith, Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology

“ Sting: the modified ovipositor in aculeate Hymenoptera.
Stipes: the foot-stalk of the maxilla; articulated partly to the head, partly to the cardo, and bearing the movable parts: modified into a piercing structure in some Diptera and into a lever for flexing the proboscis in others.
Stipitate: supported on a stalk or pedicle.
Stipites: the outer pair of forceps in male genitalia of aculeate Hymenoptera see sagittae.
S. T. line: sub-terminal line; crosses the primaries of many moths just before the outer margin.
S. T. space: the area between the t.p. line and s. t. line in moths. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

John Bernhard Smith, Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology

“ Axillary lobe: the sclerite covering the base of the wing in Diptera; see also alula and posterior lobe.
Axillary vein: one or two longitudinal veins toward the inner margin from the anal vein (Ephemeridae) ; a group of several (10-20) radiate veins that occupy the anal field in Orthoptera.
Axis: a small process at base of elytron, upon which it turns.
Azure -eus: clear sky-blue [cobalt blue] .
Azygos: unpaired; a structure without a fellow; sometimes applied to an unpaired oviduct specifically the enlarged portion of the vagina at the junction of the oviducts and thus = uterus. ”

John Bernhard Smith

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