Glossary of Terms

Glossary of Terms

Click here for actual photos of the pests
seen around the home and garden.

Abdomen
This is the hind segment which contains the digestive and reproductive organs. In the most females, the ovipositor is found at the end of the abdomen.

Adult
One of the several stages of an insect's life cycle, the adult and larval stage is generally has the highest impact on humans.
Antennae
All insects are equipped with two antennae which extend from their head. These two structures have a number of different purposes, including: 1) Sensory organs for the females in detecting their environment, and for some species' males in detecting the pheromones which the females emit.

Biodiversity
This term refers to a measurement of the number of species in a given area. Sometimes this is a general measurement in terms of all species, whereas other times it is focused on a particular group of organisms, such as plants. One example could include just butterflies: since 5% of the world's butterflies are found in Costa Rica, it could be said that the country has a very high biodiversity of butterfly species.
Chorion
A thick and durable substance which surrounds and encloses the eggs of all species within the order Lepidoptera. With some eggs this substance is smooth whereas with others it is decorated with symmetrical art-like features. This substance is often the first food that the newly emerged larva will have before beginning to eat its host plant.
Chrysalis
Is the specific type of pupae which is produced by a butterfly. Different from the cocoon of a moth, a chrysalis is not covered in silk. Chryaslids of butterflies come in all shapes, sizes, and colors, and can often be observed moving and "twitching" when disturbed.
Claspers
Are structures found in pairs at the end of the abdomen in an adult male butterfly. These structures are used as the male is coupling with the female, and "clasping" the end of the abdomen of the female and allowing him to remain attached throughout the coupling process.
Cocoon
Is the pupa of moth. Different from the chrysalis of of butterfly which lacks silk, a cocoon is produced only by moths and is formed when the larva spins itself into a silk enclosure. There is a common misconception that butterflies produce cocoons, when they in fact produce chrysalides. (see above)
Coupling
Is the term used to describe the mating process in butterflies. While coupling, the male and female face in opposite directions with abdomens attached. Since the female is larger and stronger than the male, when disturbed while coupling the female will actually carry the male in flight as he is still attached.
Cremaster
Is a small piece of silk that the larva uses to hang itself in pre-pupating and throughout the pupa stage. With this silk and small hooks used to attach the last pseudo-legs to to branch or plant, the larva begins the process of transformation into the adult.
Defense Mechanism
This is a general term to describe different characteristics that organisms use to protect themselves from their predators. In the case of butterflies, defense mechanisms are ubiquitous as they need to defend themselves from the very long list of organisms that call butterflies "food".
Destruction of Habitat
Is a very important concept which can explain why populations of organisms in certain areas of the world are declining (or increasing). All organisms have habitats that they depend upon for survival, some being specific and some very general in these requirements. Habitats provide the resources for the organism to live: food, shelter, etc.. As habitats are lost, so are the organisms that inhabit them. Therefore, in order to protect butterflies or any other wildlife, we must work towards protecting their habitat.
Eclosion
The process of the adult emerging from the pupa. This is also commonly referred to as emergence.
Ecology
Is the study of organisms and their habitats. As there are almost always complex relationships between many organisms in their habitats, the study of ecology most often involves a wide perspective across many levels of the food chain.
Egg
This is the "first" stage in the life cycle of most insects, after the adult and before the larva. The length of time of this stage differs from specie to specie, after which it will emerge into a first instar larvae.
Fertilization
Does not occur in butterflies until the female deposits her eggs on the host plant. The female stores the sperm of the male in a "sac" in her abdomen, thus allowing her the decision of when to fertilize and when to lay eggs as a result.
Food Pyramid
This concept of a pyramid of consumers in an ecosystem is very useful in understanding how an organism fits into a community as a whole. For example, bears and other large mammals are typically at the very top of the food pyramid since they do not have any natural predators (except humans). On the contrary, butterflies feed on plants, making them primary consumers quite low in a food pyramid.
Forewings
Some insects have two sets of wings, and the forewings are those found closest to the head.
Habitat
All organisms require natural areas in which to live. These areas are the "home" or habitat of the organism where it finds its food, shelter, etc.
Head
Is the front section of most insects, representing one of the three main body parts found in all insects. In the head are found the: antennae, eyes, palpi, and proboscis
Hind-wing
Some insects (such as termites) have two sets of wings, and the hind-wings are those found closest to the very end of the abdomen.
Hostplant
Some insects have relationships with specific plants or groups of plants which the eggs are laid upon and the larvae use as food. These plants are called host plants.
Insect
An insect is a cold-blooded organism that has six legs and three body segments. Insects as a group (class Insecta) are by far the largest group of organisms on earth.
Instar
larvae of most insects such as butterflies typically go through six stages which are termed instars. These stages are punctuated by the molting or shedding of the larva's exoskeleton. As a larva is eating and growing, it typically molts five times, providing more room for growth.
Larva
This is the stage after the egg and before the pupa. On average, a larva lives varying lengths of time, and is more or less an "eating machine". In addition to having the characteristics of an insect (six true legs and three body segments), some larvae also have many pairs of pseudo-legs which are used to attach themselves to the host plant they are feeding on.
Mandibles
Because the larvae are very different from the adults and they feed on organic material rather than liquids, mandibles are structures that allow the larvae to break bits of organic material from the plant in order to ingest.

Micropyle
On the surface of the egg, there is a small indention with a miniscule hole known as the micropyle. This hole allows for the developing embryo inside to respire.
Mortality Rate
In their natural habitats, different insects typically have varying mortality rates. If the rate is 98%. This means that if 100 eggs were laid by a female, one might expect only 2 individuals to survive long enough to become reproductive and produce offspring themselves.
Moth
Sharing the order Lepidoptera with butterflies, moths have many characteristics that are similar to butterflies. However, there are a few distinct differences that separate them.
Nectar
The diet of an of some insects (such as butterflies) is strictly liquids. While the types of liquids that butterflies use as food varies significantly, nectar is a very common source of food that is rich in sugar and therefore rich is energy.
Nectar Plant
In a typical flight area of a butterfly farm, there are two general categories of plants: host plants and nectar plants. Nectar plants are plants which flower abundantly and provide rich sources of food for the adults.
Olfactory
This is a term that refers to the ability of organisms to detect chemicals in the air that with a "sense of smell". Most insects use their antennae for this purpose.
Osmeteria
These are structures usually found in pairs on the head of the larvae. Sometimes these structures are visible and always present, while others are only protruded in the event of the larva defending itself.
Ova
This is the scientific term to describe the egg which the female lays.
Oviposition
When a female insect deposits eggs, we call this process oviposition. Insects, such as female butterflies have a structure at the very end of their abdomen known as the ovipositor, which she will use to deposit her egg(s).
Palpi
Are structures found between the eyes of adult butterflies. Palpi are usually covered in scales and provide various means of cleaning the eyes.
Parasite
Is a type of predator that kills its prey slowly. A typical parasite will lay its eggs inside the host (prey), thereby ensuring a constant supply of food for the developing larva.
Pathogen
Like viruses and diseases, pathogens represent a danger to insects in many stages. Pathogens are sicknesses which attack, slowly weakening its ability to maintain its health. Larvae are particularly prone to attacks of pathogens.
Pheromone
This is a chemical attractant that the female adult will send out to attract the male for mating. Each species has its own unique pheromone, thus ensuring that there will be no cross-breeding in populations.
Pollination
Bees and other smaller insects are the "workhorses" of pollination, as they are smaller and can immerse parts of their bodies in the flower collecting and distributing pollen from flower to flower.
Predators
When describing the biology of an organism, a predator is something that feeds or preys upon that organism. In their natural habitats, almost all species have a long list of of predators.
Pre-pupa
Is the stage directly following the larva and just before the pupa stage. As a larva finishes eating and growing, it begins the pre-pupa stage by looking for a place to hang itself and become a pupa.
Primary Consumer
This is an organism which is found near the very bottom of the food pyramid which consumes plant material. n
Proboscis
This is the feeding structure insects have found in the head between the eyes. It is somewhat like a straw, used for ingesting the liquids which the adults feed on.
Pro-legs
In addition to the six true legs that the larvae have, they also have a number of pairs of pro-legs or pseudo-legs found on the abdomen. These legs are not "true" legs, but function as legs as they serve in attaching the larva to its host plant while feeding.
Pupa
This is the stage immediately following the pre-pupa stage and before the adult. It is the stage in which the butterfly is transforming its body parts into those which it will need as an adult.
Scales
These are tiny three-dimensional structures which are found on the wings of butterflies and moths. In some cases, the brilliant colors of Neotropical butterflies are created entirely by scales and the way in which they refract light differently.
Secondary Consumers
These are organisms in the food chain which feed on primary consumers. Birds, which are predators of butterflies are all secondary consumers, as they do not feed directly on plants (the producers) themselves.
Spermathecae
Is a small sac found within the abdomen of the female adult butterfly. Here the female stores the sperm until she is ready to fertilize them and deposit them on the host plant.
Spiracles
These are small openings found in the thorax of both the larvae and the adult species of insects. These openings allow the air to enter into the respiratory system of the body.
Thorax
Is one of the three main body segments all insects share.

Toxicity
Many butterfly species in the world are toxic to the many predators which prey on them. Often the butterflies collect these toxins slowly from their host-plants as they are feeding in the larvae stage, and upon becoming adults are toxic to the predators.

Veins
There are numerous veins which are found in wings of different insect species, running from the wing base out to the final margins. These veins are very important in the classification of different species.

HOME ][ CONTACT US ][ ABOUT US ][ LINKS
RESOURCES ][ SERVICES ][ NEWS LETTER ][ EMAIL