Glossary table of contents

vascular plants

conifers
ferns
flowering plants

blue-eyed marys
grasses
knotweeds
larkspurs
legumes
orchids
owl's clover
sedges
sunflowers

bees
beetles
butterflies and moths
true bugs

true bug glossary

Body parts

Both images by Giancarlodessi, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (top and side).

Head

head: The frontmost of the three major sections of the body, including the eyes, mouth, antennae, etc. Part A in the figures: [top] [side]. [insect glossary]

antenna: One of a pair of long sensory appendages on the front of the head. Part 9 in the figures: [top] [side]. [insect glossary]
antennomere: A segment of an antenna. Numbered from 1 at the antenna base to 4 at the tip.

Thorax

thorax: The middle of the three major sections of the body. Part B in the figures: [top] [side]. [insect glossary]
pronotum: The dorsal sclerite covering the prothorax. Part 25 in the figures: [top] [side]. [insect glossary]
prothorax: The anterior portion of the thorax, supporting the first pair of legs. [insect glossary]

scutellum: The dorsal sclerite covering the center of the body posterior to the pronotum. Part 26 in the figures: [top] [side].

Wing

forewing: One of the front pair of wings. In a true bug at rest, these are folded above the hindwings on top of the body. Most species have forewings with a leathery portion and a membranous portion. [insect glossary]

hindwing: One of the rear pair of wings. In true bugs, these are smaller, fully membranous, and hidden from view when at rest. [insect glossary]

embolium: The leading section of the basal (leathery) portion of the forewing. Part 29 in the figures: [top] [side].

corium: The central section of the basal (leathery) portion of the forewing. Part 28 in the figures: [top] [side].

clavus: The trailing section of the basal (leathery) portion of the forewing. Part 27 in the figures: [top] [side].

wing membrane: The thin, translucent portion of the forewing. Part 30 in the figures: [top] [side].

Abdomen

abdomen: The hindmost of the three major sections of the body. Part C in the figures: [top] [side]. [insect glossary]

connexivum: the flattened border of the abdomen. Part 23 in the figures: [top] [side].