Related WordNet synsets for SUMO concept Insect

More specialized WordNet synsets

defoliator: an insect that strips the leaves from plants
pollinator: an insect that carries pollen from one flower to another
Collembola, order Collembola: minute wingless arthropods: springtails
gallfly: any of various insects that deposit their eggs in plants causing galls in which the larvae feed
collembolan, springtail: any of numerous minute wingless primitive insects possessing a special abdominal appendage that allows the characteristic nearly perpetual springing pattern; found in soil rich in organic debris or on the surface of snow or water
Protura, order Protura: minute wingless arthropods: telsontails
proturan, telsontail: any of several minute primitive wingless and eyeless insects having a cone-shaped head; inhabit damp soil or decaying organic matter
tiger beetle: active usually bright-colored beetle that preys on other insects
Coleoptera, order Coleoptera: beetles
beetle: insect having biting mouthparts and front wings modified to form horny covers overlying the membranous rear wings
Cicindelidae, family Cicindelidae: tiger beetles
ladybug, ladybeetle, lady beetle, ladybird, ladybird beetle: small round bright-colored and spotted beetle that usually feeds on aphids and other insect pests
Coccinellidae, family Coccinellidae: the ladybugs
two-spotted ladybug, Adalia bipunctata: red ladybug with a black spot on each wing
Adalia, genus Adalia: genus of ladybugs
Epilachna, genus Epilachna: genus of ladybugs native to Mexico and Central America; both larvae and adults feed on plants
Mexican bean beetle, bean beetle, Epilachna varivestis: introduced into the United States from Mexico; feeds on the foliage of the bean plant
vedalia, Rodolia cardinalis: native to Australia; introduced elsewhere to control scale insects
Hippodamia, genus Hippodamia: genus of ladybugs
Hippodamia convergens: a variety of ladybug
Rodolia, genus Rodolia, genus Vedalia: genus of Australian ladybugs
ground beetle, carabid beetle: predacious shining black or metallic terrestrial beetle that destroys many injurious insects
Carabidae, family Carabidae: ground beetles
bombardier beetle: beetle that ejects audibly a pungent vapor when disturbed
Brachinus, genus Brachinus: bombardier beetles
genus Calosoma: genus of large predaceous ground beetles that feed on injurious caterpillars
firefly, lightning bug: nocturnal beetle common in warm regions having luminescent abdominal organs
calosoma: any beetle of the genus Calosoma
searcher, searcher beetle, Calosoma scrutator: large metallic blue-green beetle that preys on caterpillars; North America
Lampyridae, family Lampyridae: fireflies
pine sawyer: large beetle whose larvae bore holes in pine trees
Cerambycidae, family Cerambycidae: long-horned beetles
long-horned beetle, longicorn, longicorn beetle: long-bodied beetle having very long antennae
Monochamus, genus Monochamus: sawyer beetles
sawyer, sawyer beetle: any of several beetles whose larvae bore holes in dead or dying trees especially conifers
flea beetle: any small leaf beetle having enlarged hind legs and capable of jumping
Chrysomelidae, family Chrysomelidae: leaf beetles
leaf beetle, chrysomelid: brightly colored beetle that feeds on plant leaves; larvae infest roots and stems
carpet beetle, carpet bug: small beetle whose larvae are household pests feeding on woolen fabrics
Leptinotarsa, genus Leptinotarsa: Colorado potato beetles
Colorado potato beetle, Colorado beetle, potato bug, potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata: black-and-yellow beetle that feeds in adult and larval stages on potato leaves; originally of eastern Rocky Mountains; now worldwide
Dermestidae, family Dermestidae: carpet beetles
buffalo carpet beetle, Anthrenus scrophulariae: a small black and red and white carpet beetle
clerid beetle, clerid: predacious on other insects; usually brightly colored or metallic
black carpet beetle: a solid black carpet beetle
Cleridae, family Cleridae: beetles that prey on other insects
lamellicorn beetle: beetle having antennae with hard platelike terminal segments
bee beetle: European beetle; infests beehives
Lamellicornia, superfamily Lamellicornia: scarabaeid beetles and stag beetles
scarabaeid beetle, scarabaeid, scarabaean: any of numerous species of stout-bodied beetles having heads with horny spikes
Scarabaeidae, family Scarabaeidae: scarab or dung beetles
dung beetle: any of numerous beetles that roll balls of dung on which they feed and in which they lay eggs
dorbeetle: Old World dung beetle that flies with a droning sound
genus Scarabaeus: type genus of the Scarabaeidae
scarab, scarabaeus, Scarabaeus sacer: scarabaeid beetle considered divine by ancient Egyptians
tumblebug: any of various dung beetles
June beetle, June bug, May bug, May beetle: any of various large usually brown North American leaf-eating beetles common in late spring; the larvae feed on roots of grasses etc.
green June beetle, figeater: large greenish June beetle of southern United States
Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica: small metallic green and brown beetle native to eastern Asia; serious plant pest in North America
Popillia, genus Popillia: a genus of Scarabaeidae
Oriental beetle, Asiatic beetle, Anomala orientalis: introduced into United States from the Orient; larvae feed on roots of sugarcane and other grasses
Anomala, genus Anomala: genus of beetles whose grubs feed mainly on roots of plants; includes several pests of cultivated grasses
rhinoceros beetle: any of various large chiefly tropical beetles having horns on the head; pest on coconuts
Melolonthidae, subfamily Melolonthidae: considered a separate family in some classification systems
melolonthid beetle: any of various beetles of the family (or subfamily) Melolonthidae
cockchafer, May bug, May beetle, Melolontha melolontha: any of various large European beetles destructive to vegetation as both larvae and adult
Melolontha, genus Melolontha: a genus of Melolonthidae
rose chafer, rose bug, Macrodactylus subspinosus: common North American beetle: larvae feed on roots and adults on leaves and flowers of e.g. rose bushes or apple trees or grape vines
Macrodactylus, genus Macrodactylus: a genus of Melolonthidae
Cetoniidae, subfamily Cetoniidae: considered a separate family in some classification systems
rose chafer, rose beetle, Cetonia aurata: a common metallic green European beetle: larvae feed on plant roots and adults on leaves and flowers of e.g. roses
Cetonia, genus Cetonia: a genus of Cetoniidae
stag beetle: the male has branched mandibles resembling antlers
Lucanidae, family Lucanidae: stag beetles
elaterid beetle, elater, elaterid: any of various widely distributed beetles
Elateridae, family Elateridae: click beetles and certain fireflies
click beetle, skipjack, snapping beetle: able to right itself when on its back by flipping into the air with a clicking sound
firefly, fire beetle, Pyrophorus noctiluca: tropical American click beetle having bright luminous spots
Pyrophorus, genus Pyrophorus: tropical click beetles
water beetle: any of numerous aquatic beetles usually having a smooth oval body and flattened hind legs for swimming
Dytiscidae, family Dytiscidae: water beetles
weevil: any of several families of mostly small beetles that feed on plants and plant products; esp. snout weevils and seed weevils
Gyrinidae, family Gyrinidae: whirligig beetles
whirligig beetle: aquatic beetle that circles rapidly on the water surface
Anobiidae, family Anobiidae: deathwatch beetles
deathwatch beetle, deathwatch, Xestobium rufovillosum: bores through wood making a ticking sound popularly thought to presage death
snout beetle: small weevil having a prolonged snout; destructive to e.g. grains and nuts
Curculionidae, family Curculionidae: true weevils: snout beetles
Anthonomus, genus Anthonomus: weevils destructive of cultivated plants
blister beetle, meloid: beetle that produces a secretion that blisters the skin
boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis: grayish weevil that lays its eggs in cotton bolls destroying the cotton
Meloidae, family Meloidae: blister beetles
oil beetle: any of various beetles that exude an oily substance from the leg joints that deters enemies
Scolytidae, family Scolytidae, Ipidae, family Ipidae: large family of bark-boring or wood-boring short-beaked beetles; very destructive to forest and fruit trees
Spanish fly: green beetle of southern Europe
Scolytus, genus Scolytus: type genus of the Scolytidae comprising numerous small bark beetles
Dutch-elm beetle, Scolytus multistriatus: a vector of the fungus causing Dutch elm disease
Dendroctonus, genus Dendroctonus: genus of small bark beetles destructive especially to mature conifers
Tenebrionidae, family Tenebrionidae: a family of arthropods including darkling beetles and mealworms
bark beetle: small beetle that bores tunnels in the bark and wood of trees; related to weevils
Staphylinidae, family Staphylinidae: rove beetles
rove beetle: active beetle typically having predatory or scavenging habits
darkling beetle, darkling groung beetle, tenebrionid: sluggish hard-bodied black terrestrial weevil whose larvae feed on e.g. decaying plant material or grain
pea weevil, Bruchus pisorum: larvae live in and feed on seeds of the pea plant
Tribolium, genus Tribolium: flour beetles
flour beetle, flour weevil: infests flour and stored grains
Bruchidae, family Bruchidae: seed beetles
seed beetle, seed weevil: infests the seeds of legumes
Bruchus, genus Bruchus: type genus of the Bruchidae
bean weevil, Acanthoscelides obtectus: larvae live in and feed on growing or stored beans
Acanthoscelides, genus Acanthoscelides: a genus of Bruchidae
web spinner: any of a small order of slender typically tropical insects that nest in colonies in silken tunnels that they spin
Sitophylus, genus Sitophylus: a genus of Bruchidae
rice weevil, black weevil, Sitophylus oryzae: brown weevil that infests stored grain esp. rice
Embioptera, order Embioptera, Embiodea, order Embiodea: web spinners
louse, sucking louse: wingless usually flattened blood-sucking insect parasitic on warm-blooded animals
Anoplura, order Anoplura: sucking lice
Pediculidae, family Pediculidae: true lice: human lice and related forms
Pediculus, genus Pediculus: type genus of Pediculidae: true lice infecting humans
body louse, Pediculus corporis: a parasitic louse that infests the body of human beings
common louse, Pediculus humanus: head or body louse
head louse, Pediculus capitis: infests the head and body of humans
crab louse, pubic louse, crab, Phthirius pubis: infests the pubic region of the human body
Phthiriidae, family Phthiriidae: crab lice
Phthirius, genus Phthirius, Phthirus, genus Phthirus: true lice: crab lice
bird louse, biting louse, louse: wingless insect with mouth parts adapted for biting; mostly parasitic on birds
Mallophaga, order Mallophaga: biting lice
Pulicidae, family Pulicidae: many common fleas attacking humans and domestic animals
Menopon, genus Menopon: chicken lice
chicken louse, shaft louse, Menopon palladum, Menopon gallinae: parasitic on poultry
Siphonaptera, order Siphonaptera: fleas
flea: any wingless blood-sucking parasitic insect noted for ability to leap
Pulex irritans: the most common flea attacking humans
Pulex, genus Pulex: type genus of the Pulicidae
Ctenocephalides, genus Ctenocephalides: an arthropod genus formerly called genus Ctenocephalus
dog flea, Ctenocephalides canis: attacks dogs and cats
cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis: breeds chiefly on cats and dogs and rats
chigoe, chigger, chigoe flea, Tunga penetrans: small tropical flea; the fertile female burrows under the skin of the host including humans
Tunga, genus Tunga: a genus of Siphonaptera
sticktight, sticktight flea, Echidnophaga gallinacea: parasitic on esp. the heads of chickens
Echidnophaga, genus Echidnophaga: a genus of Siphonaptera
Diptera, order Diptera: true flies; mosquitoes; gnats; crane flies
dipterous insect, two-winged insects, dipteran, dipteron: insects having usually a single pair of functional wings (anterior pair) with the posterior pair reduced to small knobbed structures and mouth parts adapted for sucking or lapping or piercing
gall midge, gallfly, gall gnat: fragile mosquito-like flies that produce galls on plants
Cecidomyidae, family Cecidomyidae: gall midges
alula, calypter: scale-like structure between the base of the wing and the halter of a two-winged fly
Mayetiola, genus Mayetiola: a genus of Cecidomyidae
Hessian fly, Mayetiola destructor: small fly whose larvae damage wheat and other grains
Muscoidea, superfamily Muscoidea: two-winged flies esp. the families: Muscidae; Gasterophilidae; Calliphoridae; Tachinidae
Muscidae, family Muscidae: two-winged flies esp. the housefly
fly: two-winged insects characterized by active flight
Musca, genus Musca: type genus of the Muscidae: houseflies
Glossinidae, family Glossinidae: flies closely related to the Muscidae: tsetse flies
housefly, Musca domestica: common fly that frequents human habitations and spreads many diseases
genus Glossina: type genus of the Glossinidae: tsetse flies
tsetse fly, tsetse, tzetze fly, tzetze, glossina: blood-sucking African fly; transmits sleeping sickness etc.
Calliphora, genus Calliphora: type genus of the Calliphoridae: blowflies
Calliphoridae, family Calliphoridae: blowflies
blowfly, blow fly: large usually hairy metallic blue or green fly; lays eggs in carrion or dung or wounds
bluebottle, Calliphora vicina: blowfly with iridescent blue body; makes a loud buzzing noise in flight
greenbottle, greenbottle fly: blowfly with brilliant coppery green body
Lucilia, genus Lucilia: greenbottle flies
gadfly: any of various large flies that annoy livestock
Sarcophaga, genus Sarcophaga: flesh flies
flesh fly, Sarcophaga carnaria: fly whose larvae feed on carrion or the flesh of living animals
Tachinidae, family Tachinidae: parasites on other insects
tachina fly: bristly fly whose larvae live parasitically in caterpillars and other insects; important in control of noxious insects
botfly: stout-bodied hairy dipterous fly whose larvae are parasites on humans and other mammals
Gasterophilus, genus Gasterophilus: type genus of the Gasterophilidae: horse botflies
Gasterophilidae, family Gasterophilidae: horse botflies
Dermatobia, genus Dermatobia: larvae live under the skin of domestic mammals and humans
horse botfly, Gasterophilus intestinalis: parasitic chiefly on horses
Cuterebridae, family Cuterebridae: New World botflies
Cuterebra, genus Cuterebra: type genus of the Cuterebridae
human botfly, Dermatobia hominis: large tropical American fly; parasitic on humans and other mammals
Oestrus, genus Oestrus: type genus of the Oestridae: sheep botflies
Oestridae, family Oestridae, Hypodermatidae, family Hypodermatidae: warble flies
warble fly: hairy bee-like fly whose larvae produce lumpy abscesses (warbles) under the skin of cattle
sheep botfly, sheep gadfly, Oestrus ovis: larvae are parasitic on sheep
Hypoderma, genus Hypoderma: in some classifications considered the type genus of the family Hypodermatidae: warble flies
bee fly: hairy nectar-eating fly that resembles a bee; larvae are parasitic on larvae of bees and related insects
Tabanidae, family Tabanidae: horseflies
horsefly, cleg, clegg, horse fly: large swift fly the female of which sucks blood of various animals
Bombyliidae, family Bombyliidae: bee flies
Mediterranean fruit fly, medfly, Ceratitis capitata: small black-and-white fly that damages citrus and other fruits by implanting eggs that hatch inside the fruit
Asilidae, family Asilidae: robber flies
robber fly, bee killer: swift predatory fly having a strong body like a bee with the proboscis hardened for sucking juices of other insects captured on the wing
fruit fly, pomace fly: any of numerous small insects whose larvae feed on fruits
Trypetidae, family Trypetidae, Trephritidae, family Trephritidae: fruit flies; some leafminers
Rhagoletis, genus Rhagoletis: a genus of Trypetidae
Ceratitis, genus Ceratitis: Mediterranean fruit flies
vinegar fly: flies whose larvae feed on pickles and imperfectly sealed preserves
Drosophilidae, family Drosophilidae: fruit flies
genus Drosophila: a genus of Drosophilidae
drosophila, Drosophila melanogaster: small fly used in studying basic mechanisms of inheritance
leaf miner, leafminer: any of various small moths or dipterous flies whose larvae burrow into and feed on leaf tissue esp. of the family Gracilariidae
Philophylla, genus Philophylla: leaf miners
Hippoboscidae, family Hippoboscidae: winged or wingless dipterans: louse flies
louse fly, hippoboscid: blood-sucking dipterous fly parasitic on birds and mammals
Melophagus, genus Melophagus: an arthropod genus of wingless flies including the sheep ked
Hippobosca, genus Hippobosca: type genus of the Hippoboscidae
horse tick, horsefly, Hippobosca equina: winged fly parasitic on horses
sheep ked, sheeptick, sheep tick, Melophagus Ovinus: wingless fly that is an external parasite on sheep and cattle
Haematobia, genus Haematobia: European genus of bloodsucking flies
Nematocera, suborder Nematocera: mosquitoes; fungus gnats; crane flies; gnats; sand flies
horn fly, Haematobia irritans: small black European fly introduced into North America; sucks blood from cattle especially at the base of the horn
mosquito: two-winged insect whose female has a long proboscis to pierce the skin and suck the blood of humans and animals
Culicidae, family Culicidae: mosquitoes
yellow-fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti: mosquito that transmits yellow fever and dengue
gnat: British usage
Aedes, genus Aedes: yellow-fever mosquitos
Anopheles, genus Anopheles: malaria mosquitoes; distinguished by the adult's head-downward stance and absence of breathing tubes in the larvae
Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus: striped native of Japan thriving in United States southeast and midwest and spreading to the Caribbean; potential carrier of serious diseases
Culex, genus Culex: type genus of the Culicidae: widespread genus of mosquitoes distinguished by holding the body parallel to the resting surface
anopheline: any mosquito of the genus Anopheles
malarial mosquito, malaria mosquito: transmits the malaria parasite
gnat: any of various small biting flies: midges; biting midges; black flies; sand flies
common mosquito, Culex pipiens: common house mosquito
Culex quinquefasciatus, Culex fatigans: widespread tropical mosquito that transmits filarial worms
midge: minute two-winged mosquito-like fly lacking biting mouthparts; appear in dancing swarms esp. near water
Ceratopogonidae, family Ceratopogonidae: biting midges; sand flies
punkie, punky, punkey, no-see-um, biting midge: minute two-winged insect that sucks the blood of mammals and birds and other insects
Ceratopogon, genus Ceratopogon: type genus of the Ceratopogonidae
Chironomidae, family Chironomidae: midges
fungus gnat: mosquito-like insect whose larvae feed on fungi or decaying vegetation
Chironomus, genus Chironomus: type genus of the Chironomidae
Mycetophilidae, family Mycetophylidae: fungus gnats
Psychodidae, family Psychodidae: very small two-winged flies with hairy wings that develop in moss and damp vegetable matter: sand flies
sand fly, sandfly, Phlebotomus papatasii: blood-sucking females can transmit sandfly fever
psychodid: a fly of the family Psychodidae
Phlebotomus, genus Phlebotomus: small blood-sucking sand flies that resemble moths
Sciaridae, family Sciaridae: fungus gnats
genus Sciara: type genus of the Sciaridae: fungus gnat
fungus gnat, sciara, sciarid: minute blackish gregarious flies destructive to mushrooms and seedlings
crane fly, daddy longlegs: long-legged slender flies that resemble large mosquitoes but do not bite
Tipulidae, family Tipulidae: crane flies
Simulium, genus Simulium: type genus of the Simuliidae: blackflies
Simuliidae, family Simuliidae: blackflies and sand flies
blackfly, black fly, buffalo gnat: small blackish stout-bodied biting fly having aquatic larvae; sucks the blood of birds as well as humans and other mammals
hymenopterous insect, hymenopteran, hymenopteron, hymnenopter: insects having two pairs of membranous wings and an ovipositor specialized for stinging or piercing
Hymenoptera, order Hymenoptera: an order of insects including: bees; wasps; ants; ichneumons; sawflies; gall wasps; etc.
bee: any of numerous hairy-bodied insects including social and solitary species
Apoidea, superfamily Apoidea: bees
drone: stingless male bee in a colony of social bees (esp. honeybees) whose sole function is to mate with the queen
worker: sterile member of a colony of social insects that forages for food and cares for the larvae
queen bee: fertile egg-laying female bee
soldier: a wingless sterile ant or termite having a large head and powerful jaws adapted for defending the colony
Apidae, family Apidae: honeybees; carpenter bees; bumblebees
worker bee: sterile bee specialized to collect food and maintain the hive
carpenter bee: large solitary bee that lays eggs in tunnels bored into wood or plant stems
Apis, genus Apis: type genus of the Apidae: honeybees
honeybee, Apis mellifera: social bee often domesticated for the honey it produces
Africanized bee, Africanized honey bee, killer bee, Apis mellifera scutellata, Apis mellifera adansonii: a strain of bees that originated in Brazil in the 1950s as a cross between an aggressive African bee and a honeybee; retains most of the traits of the African bee; now spread as far north as Texas
black bee, German bee: dark-colored ill-tempered honeybee supposedly of German origin
Carniolan bee: grayish quiet-dispositioned highly productive European honeybee
Italian bee: yellowish honeybee resembling the Carniolan bee in its habits
Xylocopa, genus Xylocopa: carpenter bees
bumblebee, humblebee: robust hairy social bee of temperate regions
Bombus, genus Bombus: bumblebees
Psithyrus, genus Psithyrus: a large bee that resembles the bumblebee but lacks pollen-collecting apparatus and a worker caste
cuckoo-bumblebee: a bee that is parasitic in the nests of bumblebees
Andrenidae, family Andrenidae: a large family of solitary short-tongued bees most of which burrow in the ground
genus Andrena: a solitary burrowing short-tongued bee
andrena, andrenid, mining bee: a bee that is a a member of the genus Andrena
Halictidae, family Halictidae: a family of small solitary bees; many are valuable pollinators for agriculture
nomia, genus Nomia: a genus of bee; some are important pollinators of legumes
leaf-cutting bee, leaf-cutter, leaf-cutter bee: bee that cuts rounded pieces from leaves and flowers to line its nest
Nomia melanderi, alkali bee: a common solitary bee important for pollinating alfalfa in the western United States
Megachilidae, family Megachilidae: leaf-cutting and mason bees
Megachile, genus Megachile: type genus of the Megachilidae: leaf-cutting bees
mason bee: any of numerous solitary bees that build nests of hardened mud and sand
potter bee: solitary bee that builds nests of mud or pebbles cemented together and attached to a plant
Anthidium, genus Anthidium: potter bees
wasp: social or solitary hymenopterans typically having a slender body with the abdomen attached by a narrow stalk and having a formidable sting
Vespa, genus Vespa: type genus of the Vespidae: various hornets and yellow jackets
Vespidae, family Vespidae: an arthropod family of the order Hymenoptera including: yellow jackets; hornets; mason wasps
vespid, vespid wasp: mostly social nest-building wasps
paper wasp: any of several social wasps that construct nests of a substance like paper
Vespula, genus Vespula: sometimes considered a subgenus of Vespa: social wasps
hornet: large stinging paper wasp
giant hornet, Vespa crabro: European hornet introduced into the United States
yellow jacket, yellow hornet, Vespula maculifrons: small yellow-marked social wasp commonly nesting in the ground
common wasp, Vespula vulgaris: a variety of vespid wasp
bald-faced hornet, white-faced hornet, Vespula maculata: North American hornet
digger wasp: solitary wasp that digs nests in the soil and stocks them with paralyzed insects for the larvae
Polistes, genus Polistes: a genus of Vespidae
Polistes annularis: a variety of paper wasp
Eumenes, genus Eumenes: mason wasps
mason wasp: any of various solitary wasps that construct nests of hardened mud for their young
potter wasp: any of various solitary wasps that construct vase-shaped cells of mud for their eggs
Sphecoidea, superfamily Sphecoidea: families Sphecidae and Stizidae
sphecoid wasp, sphecoid: any of various solitary wasps
Sphecidae, family Sphecidae: mud daubers; some digger wasps
Sceliphron, genus Sceliphron: mud daubers
mason wasp: solitary wasp that constructs nests of hardened mud or clay for the young
gall wasp, gallfly, cynipid wasp, cynipid gall wasp: small solitary wasp that produces galls on oaks and other plants
Stizidae, family Stizidae: cicada killers
Sphecius, genus Sphecius: large solitary wasps: cicada killer
cicada killer, Sphecius speciosis: large black or rust-colored wasp that preys on cicadas
mud dauber: wasp that constructs mud cells on a solid base in which females place eggs laid in paralyzed insect larvae
Cynipidae, family Cynipidae: a family of Hymenoptera
Cynips, genus Cynips: type genus of the Cynipidae: gall wasps
Amphibolips, genus Amphibolips: cynipid gall wasps, esp. causing oak-apple galls
Andricus, genus Andricus: cynipid gall wasps, chiefly affecting oaks
Chalcididae, family Chalcididae, Chalcidae, family Chalcidae: an arthropod family including: chalcidflies
chalcid fly, chalcidfly, chalcid, chalcid wasp: any of various tiny insects whose larvae are parasites on eggs and larvae of other insects; many are beneficial in destroying injurious insects
pharaoh ant, pharaoh's ant, Monomorium pharaonis: small red ant of warm regions; a common household pest
strawworm, jointworm: larva of chalcid flies injurious to the straw of wheat and other grains
Chalcis, genus Chalcis: type genus of the Chalcididae
chalcis fly: a variety of chalcid fly
Ichneumonidae, family Ichneumonidae: ichneumon flies
ichneumon fly: hymenopterous insect that resembles a wasp and whose larvae are parasitic on caterpillars and other insect larvae
Tenthredinidae, family Tenthredinidae: sawflies
sawfly: insect whose female has a saw-like ovipositor for inserting eggs into the leaf or stem tissue of a host plant
Fenusa, genus-Fenusa: birch leaf miner
birch leaf miner, Fenusa pusilla: small black sawfly native to Europe but established in eastern United States; larvae mine the leaves of birches causing serious defoliation
Formicidae, family Formicidae: ants
ant, emmet, pismire: social insect living in organized colonies; characteristically the males and fertile queen have wings during breeding season; wingless sterile females are the workers
Monomorium, genus Monomorium: a genus of Formicidae
little black ant, Monomorium minimum: tiny glossy black ant; nests outdoors but invades houses for food
army ant, driver ant, legionary ant: tropical nomadic ant that preys mainly on other insects
Dorylinae, subfamily Dorylinae: army ants
fire ant: omnivorous ant of tropical and subtropical America that can inflict a painful sting
Camponotus, genus Camponotus: carpenter ants
carpenter ant: ant that nests in decaying wood in which it bores tunnels for depositing eggs
Solenopsis, genus Solenopsis: fire ants
slave ant: any of various ants captured as larvae and enslaved by another species
Formica, genus Formica: type genus of the Formicidae
wood ant, Formica rufa: reddish-brown European ant typically living in anthills in woodlands
slave-making ant, slave-maker: an ant that attacks colonies of other ant species and carries off the young to be reared as slaves
Formica fusca: an ant frequently enslaved
bulldog ant: any of the large fierce Australian ants of the genus Myrmecia
sanguinary ant, Formica sanguinea: slave-making ant widely distributed over the northern hemisphere
Myrmecia, genus Myrmecia: bulldog ants
Amazon ant, Polyergus rufescens: small reddish slave-making ant species
Polyergus, genus Polyergus: Amazon ants
Isoptera, order Isoptera: order of social insects that live in colonies, including: termites; often placed in subclass Exopterygota
Mastotermes darwiniensis: Australian termite; sole living species of Mastotermes; called a living fossil; apparent missing link between cockroaches and termites
Termitidae, family Termitidae: termites
Termes, genus Termes: type genus of the Termitidae
termite, white ant: whitish soft-bodied ant-like social insect that feeds on wood
Reticulitermes, genus Reticulitermes: includes species highly destructive to structures and living trees
Reticulitermes flanipes: destructive United States termite
Reticulitermes lucifugus: destructive European termite
Rhinotermitidae, family Rhinotermitidae: large widely distributed family of termites of temperate to tropical regions
Mastotermitidae, family Mastotermitidae: primitive termites
Mastotermes, genus Mastotermes: primitive genus of termites; mostly extinct; sometimes considered the most primitive Isoptera
Mastotermes electromexicus: extinct termite found in amber in S Mexico
Mastotermes electrodominicus: extinct termite found in amber in the Dominican Republic
Kalotermes, genus Kalotermes: type genus of Kalotermitidae; termites destructive of wood and living trees
Kalotermitidae, family Kalotermitidae: primitive termites of warm regions
Cryptotermes, genus Cryptotermes: genus of dry wood termites; cosmopolitan; sometimes considered a subgenus of Kalotermes
powder-post termite, Cryptotermes brevis: extremely destructive dry-wood termite of warm regions
orthopterous insect, orthopteron, orthopteran: any of various insects having leathery forewings and membranous hind wings and chewing mouthparts
Orthoptera, order Orthoptera: grasshoppers and locusts; crickets
grasshopper: terrestrial plant-eating insect with hind legs adapted for leaping
Acrididae, family Acrididae, Locustidae, family Locustidae: short-horned grasshoppers; true locusts
locust: migratory grasshoppers of warm regions having short antennae
short-horned grasshopper, acridid: grasshopper with short antennae
migratory locust, Locusta migratoria: Old World locust that travels in vast swarms stripping large areas of vegetation
Locusta, genus Locusta: a genus of Acrididae
Melanoplus, genus Melanoplus: New World migratory locusts and common American grasshoppers
migratory grasshopper: serious pest of grain-growing and range areas of central and western United States
long-horned grasshopper, tettigoniid: grasshoppers with long threadlike antennae and well-developed stridulating organs on the forewings of the male
Tettigoniidae, family Tettigoniidae: long-horned grasshoppers; katydids
sand cricket, Jerusalem cricket, Stenopelmatus fuscus: large wingless nocturnal grasshopper that burrows in loose soil along the United States Pacific coast
Microcentrum, genus Microcentrum: katydids
katydid: large green long-horned grasshopper of North America; males produce shrill sounds by rubbing together special organs on the forewings
Anabrus, genus Anabrus: a genus of Tettigoniidae
mormon cricket, Anabrus simplex: large dark wingless cricket-like katydid of arid parts of western United States
Stenopelmatidae, family Stenopelmatidae: long-horned grasshoppers
Stenopelmatus, genus Stenopelmatus: sand crickets
mole cricket: digs in moist soil and feeds on plant roots
Gryllidae, family Gryllidae: crickets
cricket: leaping insect; male makes chirping noises by rubbing the forewings together
European house cricket, Acheta domestica: lives in human dwellings; naturalized in parts of America
Acheta, genus Acheta: common house and field crickets
field cricket, Acheta assimilis: common American black cricket; attacks crops and also enters dwellings
tree cricket: pale arboreal American cricket noted for loud stridulation
Oecanthus, genus Oecanthus: tree crickets
Phasmida, order Phasmida, Phasmatodea, order Phasmatodea: in some classifications considered a suborder of Orthoptera: stick insects; leaf insects
snowy tree cricket, Oecanthus fultoni: pale yellowish tree cricket widely distributed in North America
phasmid, phasmid insect: large cylindrical or flattened mostly tropical insects with long strong legs that feed on plants; walking sticks and leaf insects
walking stick, walkingstick, stick insect: any of various mostly tropical insects having long twiglike bodies
Phasmidae, family Phasmidae, Phasmatidae, family Phasmatidae: stick insects
Exopterygota, subclass Exopterygota, Hemimetabola: subclass of insects characterized by gradual and usually incomplete metamorphosis
genus Diapheromera: a genus of Phasmidae
diapheromera, Diapheromera femorata: a variety of stick insect
Phyllidae, family Phyllidae, Phillidae, family Phillidae: leaf insects
Phyllium, genus Phyllium: type genus of the Phyllidae
walking leaf, leaf insect: tropical insect having a flattened leaflike body; common in southern Asia and the East Indies
Blattodea, suborder Blattodea, Blattaria, suborder Blattaria: cockroaches; in some classifications considered an order
Dictyoptera, order Dictyoptera: in some classifications replaced by the orders (here suborders) Blattodea (cockroaches) and Manteodea (mantids); in former classifications often subsumed under a much broader order Orthoptera
dictyopterous insect: cockroaches and mantids
cockroach, roach: any of numerous chiefly nocturnal insects; some are domestic pests
Blatta, genus Blatta: type genus of the Blattidae: cockroaches infesting buildings worldwide
Blattidae, family Blattidae: domestic cockroaches
Periplaneta, genus Periplaneta: cosmopolitan genus of large cockroaches
oriental cockroach, oriental roach, Asiatic cockroach, blackbeetle, Blatta orientalis: dark brown cockroach originally from orient now nearly cosmopolitan in distribution
American cockroach, Periplaneta americana: large reddish_brown free-flying cockroach originally from southern United States but now widely distributed
Australian cockroach, Periplaneta australasiae: widely distributed in warm countries
genus Mantis: type genus of the Mantidae: mantises
Blattella, genus Blattella: small cockroaches
German cockroach, Croton bug, crotonbug, water bug, Blattella germanica: small light-brown cockroach brought to United States from Europe; a common household pest
Blaberus, genus Blaberus: giant cockroaches
giant cockroach: large tropical American cockroaches
Cryptocercidae, family Cryptocercidae: a family of Blattodea
Cryptocercus, genus Cryptocercus: cockroaches
Manteodea, suborder Manteodea: mantises; in former classifications considered a suborder of Orthoptera
Mantidae, family Mantidae, Manteidae, family Manteidae: mantises
bug: general term for any insect or similar creeping or crawling invertebrate
mantis, mantid: predacious long-bodied large-eyed insect of warm regions; rests with forelimbs raised as in prayer
praying mantis, praying mantid, Mantis religioso: the common mantis
Hemiptera, order Hemiptera: plant bugs; bedbugs; some true bugs; also includes suborders Heteroptera (true bugs) and Homoptera (e.g. aphids; plant lice; cicadas)
leaf bug, plant bug: small bright-colored insect that feeds on plant juices
hemipterous insect, bug, hemipteran, hemipteron: insects with sucking mouthparts and forewings thickened and leathery at the base; usually show incomplete metamorphosis
Miridae, family Miridae, Capsidae, family Capsidae: leaf bugs
lace bug: small bug having body and wings covered with a lacy network of raised lines
mirid bug, mirid, capsid: a variety of leaf bug
Poecilocapsus, genus Poecilocapsus: a genus of Miridae
four-lined plant bug, four-lined leaf bug, Poecilocapsus lineatus: yellow or orange leaf bug with four black stripes down the back; widespread in central and eastern North America
Lygus, genus Lygus: plant-sucking bugs
lygus bug: vector of viral plant diseases
tarnished plant bug, Lygus lineolaris: widespread plant and fruit pest
Tingidae, family Tingidae: lace bugs
lygaeid, lygaeid bug: a true bug: usually bright-colored; pest of cultivated crops and some fruit trees
Lygaeidae, family Lygaeidae: lygaeid bugs
chinch bug, Blissus leucopterus: small black-and-white insect that feeds on cereal grasses
Blissus, genus Blissus: chinch bugs
Cimicidae, family Cimicidae: wingless flat-bodied blood-sucking insects
Coreidae, family Coreidae: squash bugs and leaf-footed bugs
coreid bug, coreid: a true bug
Anasa, genus Anasa: squash bugs
squash bug, Anasa tristis: large black American bug that sucks sap of vines of the gourd family
Leptoglossus, genus Leptoglossus: leaf-footed bugs
leaf-footed bug, leaf-foot bug: large sap-sucking bug with leaflike expansions on the legs
Cimex, genus Cimex: type genus of the Cimicidae: bedbugs
bedbug, bed bug, chinch, Cimex lectularius: bug of temperate regions that infests esp. beds and feeds on human blood
heteropterous insect: true bugs: insects whose forewings are membranous but have leathery tips
Notonectidae, family Notonectidae: aquatic carnivorous insects
Notonecta, genus Notonecta: type genus of the Notonectidae: backswimmers
backswimmer, Notonecta undulata: predaceous aquatic insect that swims on its back and may inflict painful bites
Heteroptera, suborder Heteroptera: true bugs
true bug: any of various insects of the order Hemiptera and esp. of the suborder Heteroptera
water bug: a true bug: large aquatic bug adapted to living in or on the surface of water
giant water bug: large water bug with piercing and sucking mouthparts; feeds on young fishes
Belostomatidae, family Belostomatidae: water bugs
Ranatra, genus Ranatra: elongate very slender water scorpions
Nepidae, family Nepidae: water scorpions
water scorpion: long-legged aquatic insect having the front legs fitted for seizing and holding prey and the abdomen extended by a long breathing tube
Nepa, genus Nepa: type genus of the Nepidae: typical elongate-oval water scorpions
Corixa, genus Corixa: type genus of the Corixidae: boat bugs
Corixidae, family Corixidae: water bugs
water boatman, boat bug: carnivorous aquatic bug having paddle-like hind legs
Gerrididae, family Gerrididae, Gerridae, family Gerridae: an arthropod family that includes water striders
assassin bug, reduviid: a true bug: long-legged predacious bug living mostly on other insects; a few suck blood of mammals
water strider, pond-skater, water skater: long-legged bug that skims about on the surface of water
Gerris, genus Gerris: type genus of the Gerrididae
common pond-skater, Gerris lacustris: a variety of water strider
Reduviidae, family Reduviidae: assassin bugs
wheel bug, Arilus cristatus: large predatory North American bug that sucks the blood of other insects
Triatoma, genus Triatoma: conenoses
conenose, cone-nosed bug, conenose bug, big bedbug, kissing bug: large bloodsucking bug
Arilus, genus Arilus: a genus of Reduviidae
firebug: a true bug: brightly colored bug that can exude a stain
Pyrrhocoridae, family Pyrrhocoridae: firebugs
Homoptera, suborder Homoptera: plant lice (aphids); whiteflies; cicadas; leafhoppers; plant_hoppers; scale insects and mealybugs; spittle insects
Dysdercus, genus Dysdercus: a genus of slender long-legged bugs that feed on the developing seeds of cotton and stain it
cotton stainer: a true bug: bug that damages and stains the lint of developing cotton
whitefly: minute insect that feeds on plant juices; related to scale insects
homopterous insect, homopteran: insects having membranous forewings and hind wings
Aleyrodidae, family Aleyrodidae: whiteflies
Aleyrodes, genus Aleyrodes: type genus of the Aleyrodidae
superbug, Bemisia tabaci, poinsettia strain: a strain accidentally imported into Florida from the Middle East then spread to California where it is a very serious pest feeding on almost all vegetable crops and poinsettias
Dialeurodes, genus Dialeurodes: a genus of Aleyrodidae
citrus whitefly, Dialeurodes citri: whitefly that attacks citrus trees
Trialeurodes, genus Trialeurodes: a genus of Aleyrodidae
greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum: whitefly that inhabits greenhouses
Bemisia, genus Bemisia: sweet-potato whitefly
sweet-potato whitefly: a variety of whitefly
armored scale: insect having a firm covering of wax esp. in the female
cotton strain: feeds primarily on cotton
Coccoidea, superfamily Coccoidea: scale insects and mealybugs
coccid insect: scale insects and mealybugs
scale insect: small homopterous insect that usually lives and feeds on plants and secretes a protective waxy covering
Coccidae, family Coccidae: scale insects
soft scale: an insect active in all stages
genus Coccus: type genus of the Coccidae
brown soft scale, Coccus hesperidum: pest on citrus trees
wax insect: any of various insects that secrete a waxy substance
Diaspididae, family Diaspididae: armored scales
mealybug, mealy bug: scale-like plant-eating insect coated with a powdery waxy secretion; destructive esp. of fruit trees
Aspidiotus, genus Aspidiotus: a genus of Diaspididae
San Jose scale, Aspidiotus perniciosus: small east Asian insect naturalized in the United States that damages fruit trees
Dactylopiidae, family Dactylopiidae: cochineal insects
Dactylopius, genus Dactylopius: type genus of the Dactylopiidae
cochineal insect, cochineal, Dactylopius coccus: Mexican red scale insect that feeds on cacti; the source of a red dye
Pseudococcidae, family Pseudococcidae: scale-like insects: mealybugs
Pseudococcus, genus Pseudococcus: type genus of the Pseudococcidae
citrus mealybug, Planococcus citri: feeds on a wide variety of cultivated plants but esp. destructive to citrus
citrophilous mealybug, citrophilus mealybug, Pseudococcus fragilis: destructive esp. to citrus
Comstock mealybug, Comstock's mealybug, Pseudococcus comstocki: Asiatic insect introduced accidentally into United States; pest on citrus and apple trees
Planococcus, genus Planococcus: a genus of Pseudococcidae
plant louse, louse: any of several small insects esp. aphids that feed by sucking the juices from plants
aphid: any of various small plant-sucking insects
Aphidoidea, superfamily Aphidoidea: plant lice
Aphis, genus Aphis: type genus of the Aphididae: injurious to fruit trees and vegetables
Aphididae, family Aphididae: small soft-bodied plant lice
apple aphid, green apple aphid, Aphis pomi: bright green aphid; feeds on and causes curling of apple leaves
blackfly, bean aphid, Aphis fabae: blackish aphid that infests e.g. beans and sugar beets
greenfly: greenish aphid; pest on garden and crop plants
ant cow: excretes a honeylike substance eaten by ants
pale chrysanthemum aphid: important pest of chrysanthemums
woolly aphid, woolly plant louse: secretes a waxy substance like a mass of fine curly white cotton or woolly threads
Eriosoma, genus Eriosoma: woolly aphids
Adelges, genus Adelges: type genus of the Adelgidae: plant lice
woolly apple aphid, American blight, Eriosoma lanigerum: primarily a bark feeder on aerial parts and roots of apple and other trees
Prociphilus, genus Prociphilus: a genus of Aphididae
woolly alder aphid, Prociphilus tessellatus: attacks alders
Adelgidae, family Adelgidae: plant lice
adelgid: any of various insects that feed and form galls on conifers
woolly adelgid: an insect that feeds on hemlocks; its egg sacs are small fuzzy white balls like artificial snow on a Christmas tree
balsam woolly aphid, Adelges piceae: a variety of adelgid
spruce gall aphid, Adelges abietis: a variety of adelgid
Pineus, genus Pineus: a genus of Adelgidae
pine leaf aphid, Pineus pinifoliae: a variety of adelgid
Phylloxera, genus Phylloxera: type genus of the Phylloxeridae: plant lice
Phylloxeridae, family Phylloxeridae: plant lice
jumping plant louse, psylla, psyllid: small active cicada-like insect with hind legs adapted for leaping; feeds on plant juices
grape louse, grape phylloxera, Phylloxera vitifoleae: destructive to various grape plants
Psyllidae, family Psyllidae, Chermidae, family Chermidae: jumping plant lice
genus Cicada: type genus of the Cicadidae: cicadas
Cicadidae, family Cicadidae: cicadas
cicada, cicala: stout-bodied insect with large membranous wings; male has drum-like organs for producing a high-pitched drone
dog-day cicada, harvest fly: its distinctive song is heard during July and August
Tibicen, genus Tibicen: harvest flies
seventeen-year locust, periodical cicada, Magicicada septendecim: North American cicada; appears in great numbers at infrequent intervals because the nymphs take 13' to 17' years to mature
Magicicada, genus Magicicada: seventeen-year locust
meadow spittlebug, Philaenus spumarius: North American insect that severely damages grasses
Cercopidae, family Cercopidae: froghoppers or spittlebugs
spittle insect, spittlebug: small leaping herbivorous insect that lives in a mass of protective froth which it and its larvae secrete
froghopper: a variety of spittlebug
Philaenus, genus Philaenus: a genus of Cercopidae
pine spittlebug: North American insect that attacks pines
Aphrophora, genus Aphrophora: a genus of Cercopidae
Saratoga spittlebug, Aphrophora saratogensis: feeds on pines in northern United States
Jassidae, family Jassidae: family of small leafhoppers coextensive with the Cicadellidae and not distinguished from it in some classifications
Cicadellidae, family Cicadellidae: leafhoppers
plant hopper, planthopper: related to the leafhoppers and spittlebugs but rarely damages cultivated plants
jassid: a variety of leafhopper
leafhopper: small leaping insect that sucks the juices of plants
treehopper: small leaping insect that sucks juices of branches and twigs
Membracidae, family Membracidae: plant hoppers: treehoppers
lantern fly, lanternfly: large brightly marked tropical insect with a process like a snout that was formerly thought to emit light
Fulgoridae, family Fulgoridae: plant hoppers: lantern flies
Psocoptera, order Psocoptera, Corrodentia, order Corrodentia: an order of insects: includes booklice and barklice
psocopterous insect: small soft-bodied insect with chewing mouthparts and either no wings or two pairs
Psocidae, family Psocidae: a family of small soft-bodied insects that feed on decaying vegetation; related to booklice
psocid: small winged insect living on the bark and leaves of trees and feeding on e.g. fungi and decaying plant matter
barklouse, bark louse: any of several insects living on the bark of plants
booklouse, book louse, deathwatch, Liposcelis divinatorius: minute wingless psocopterous insects injurious to books and papers
Atropidae, family Atropidae: booklice
Liposcelis, genus Liposcelis: a genus of Psocidae
Plectophera: in some former classifications: name for the Ephemeroptera
Trogium, genus Trogium: a genus of Psocidae
common booklouse, Trogium pulsatorium: a variety of booklouse
Ephemeroptera, order Ephemeroptera, Ephemerida, order Ephemerida: mayflies
mayfly, dayfly, shadfly: slender insect with delicate membranous wings having an aquatic larval stage and terrestrial adult stage usually lasting less than two days
ephemerid, ephemeropteran: short-lived insect
Ephemeridae, family Ephemeridae: mayflies
stonefly, stone fly, plecopteran: primitive winged insect with a flattened body; used as bait by fishermen; aquatic gilled larvae are carnivorous and live beneath stones
Plecoptera, order Plecoptera: stoneflies
Neuroptera, order Neuroptera: an order of insects including: lacewings; antlions; dobsonflies; alderflies; fishflies; mantispids; spongeflies
Myrmeleon, genus Myrmeleon: type genus of the Myrmeleontidae: antlions
neuropteron, neuropteran, neuropterous insect: insect having biting mouthparts and four large membranous wings with netlike veins
Myrmeleontidae, family Myrmeleontidae: antlions
ant lion, antlion, antlion fly: winged insect resembling a dragonfly; the larvae (doodlebugs) dig conical pits where they wait to catch e.g. ants
doodlebug, ant lion, antlion: the larva of an ant lion or of any of several other insects
lacewing, lacewing fly: any of two families of gauzy-winged insects (Chrysopidae and Hemerobiidae); larvae feed on insect pests such as aphids
Megaloptera, suborder Megaloptera: in some classifications considered a separate order: alderflies; dobsonflies; snake flies
aphid lion, aphis lion: carnivorous larva of lacewing flies
Chrysopidae, family Chrysopidae: green lacewings
green lacewing, chrysopid, stink fly: pale green unpleasant-smelling lacewing fly having carnivorous larvae
goldeneye, golden-eyed fly: a variety of green lacewing
Hemerobiidae, family Hemerobiidae: brown lacewings
brown lacewing, hemerobiid, hemerobiid fly: small dark-colored lacewing fly
dobson, dobsonfly, dobson fly, Corydalus cornutus: large soft-bodied insect having long slender mandibles in the male; aquatic larvae often used as bait
Corydalidae, family Corydalidae: dobsons
Corydalus, genus Corydalus, Corydalis, genus Corydalis: type genus of the Corydalidae
fishfly: similar to but smaller than the dobsonfly
Sialidae, family Sialidae: an arthropod family including: alderflies
alderfly, alder fly, Sialis lutaria: dark-colored insect having predaceous aquatic larvae
Sialis, genus Sialis: type genus of the Sialidae
Raphidiidae, family Raphidiidae: familyof arthropods of the suborder Megaloptera, including snakeflies
snakefly: predatory insect of western North America having a long necklike prothorax
mantispid: insect that resembles a mantis; larvae are parasites in the nests of spiders and wasps
Mantispidae, family Mantispidae: mantispids
spongefly, spongillafly: hairy-bodied insect whose larvae feed on freshwater sponges
Sisyridae, family Sisyridae: an arthropod family of the order Neuroptera that includes spongeflies
odonate: large primitive predatory aquatic insect having two pairs of membranous wings
Odonata, order Odonata: dragonflies and damselflies
dragonfly, darning needle, devil's darning needle, sewing needle, snake feeder, snake doctor, mosquito hawk, skeeter hawk: slender-bodied non-stinging insect having iridescent wings that are outspread at rest; adults and nymphs feed on mosquitoes etc.
Anisoptera, suborder Anisoptera: dragonflies
Trichoptera, order Trichoptera: an order of insects consisting of caddis flies
Zygoptera, suborder Zygoptera: damselflies
damselfly: slender non-stinging insect similar to but smaller than the dragonfly but having wings folded when at rest
caddis fly, caddisfly, caddice fly, caddicefly: small moth-like insect having two pairs of hairy membranous wings and aquatic larvae
trichopterous insect, trichopteran, trichopteron: caddis fly
thysanuran insect, thysanuron: primitive wingless insects: bristletail
Thysanura, order Thysanura: firebrats; silverfish; machilids
Lepisma, genus Lepisma: type genus of the Lepismatidae: silverfish
bristletail: small wingless insect with a long bristlelike tail
Lepismatidae, family Lepismatidae: firebrats
firebrat, Thermobia domestica: lives in warm moist areas e.g. around furnaces
silverfish, Lepisma saccharina: silver-gray wingless insect found in houses feeding on book bindings and starched clothing
Thermobia, genus Thermobia: a genus of Lepismatidae
thrips, thrip, thripid: any of various small to minute sucking insects with narrow feathery wings if any; they feed on plant sap and many are destructive
Machilidae, family Machilidae: jumping bristletails
jumping bristletail, machilid: wingless insect living in dark moist places as under dead tree trunks; they make erratic leaps when disturbed
Thysanoptera, order Thysanoptera: thrips
thysanopter, thysanopteron, thysanopterous insect: an insect of the order Thysanoptera
Thripidae, family Thripidae: thrips
tobacco thrips, Frankliniella fusca: injurious to growing tobacco and peanuts
Frankliniella, genus Frankliniella: tobacco thrips
onion thrips, onion louse, Thrips tobaci: injurious to onion plants and sometimes tobacco
genus Thrips: type genus of the Thripidae
earwig: any of numerous insects of the order Dermaptera having elongate bodies and slender many-jointed antennae and a pair of large pincers at the rear of the abdomen
Dermaptera, order Dermaptera: earwigs and a few related forms
Forficulidae, family Forficulidae: typical earwigs
Forficula, genus Forficula: type genus of Forficulidae
common European earwig, Forficula auricularia: sometimes destructive to cultivated bulbs
lepidopterous insect, lepidopteron, lepidopteran: insect that in the adult state has four wings more or less covered with tiny scales
Lepidoptera, order Lepidoptera: moths and butterflies
butterfly: diurnal insect typically having a slender body with knobbed antennae and broad colorful wings
Nymphalidae, family Nymphalidae: large beautifully colored butterflies
Nymphalis, genus Nymphalis: type genus of the Nymphalidae: mourning cloak butterflies
nymphalid, nymphalid butterfly, brush-footed butterfly, four-footed butterfly: medium to large butterflies found worldwide typically having brightly colored wings and much-reduced nonfunctional forelegs carried folded on the breast
mourning cloak, mourning cloak butterfly, Camberwell beauty, Nymphalis antiopa: of temperate regions; having dark purple wings with yellow borders
tortoiseshell, tortoiseshell butterfly: brilliantly colored; larvae feed on nettles
painted beauty, Vanessa virginiensis: American butterfly having dark brown wings with white and golden orange spots
Vanessa, genus Vanessa: painted beauty and red admiral
admiral: any of several brightly colored butterflies
red admiral, Vanessa atalanta: of temperate Europe and Asia; having black wings with red and white markings
banded purple, white admiral, Limenitis arthemis: North American butterfly with blue-black wings crossed by a broad white band
Limenitis, genus Limenitis: mainly dark northern butterflies with white wing bars
white admiral, Limenitis camilla: Eurasian butterfly with brown wings and white markings
red-spotted purple, Limenitis astyanax: similar to the banded purple but with red spots on underwing surfaces
anglewing: nymphalid butterfly having angular notches on the outer edges of the forewings
viceroy, Limenitis archippus: showy American butterfly resembling the monarch but smaller
comma, comma butterfly, Polygonia comma: anglewing butterfly with a comma-shaped mark on the underside of each hind wing
Polygonia, genus Polygonia: comma butterflies
fritillary: butterfly with brownish wings marked with black and silver
purple emperor, Apatura iris: large European butterfly the male of which has wings shaded with purple
Spyeria, genus Spyeria: fritillaries
silverspot: butterfly with silver spots on the underside of the hind wings
Argynnis, genus Argynnis: fritillaries
Apatura, genus Apatura: large Old World butterflies
emperor butterfly, emperor: large richly colored butterfly
peacock, peacock butterfly, Inachis io: European butterfly having reddish-brown wings each marked with a purple eyespot
Inachis, genus Inachis: a genus of Nymphalidae
danaid, danaid butterfly: large tropical butterfly with degenerate forelegs and an unpleasant taste
Danaidae, family Danaidae: small family of usually tropical butterflies: monarch butterflies
monarch, monarch butterfly, milkweed butterfly, Danaus plexippus: large migratory American butterfly having deep orange wings with black and white markings; the larvae feed on milkweed
Danaus, genus Danaus: type genus of the Danaidae: monarch butterflies
Pieridae, family Pieridae: cabbage butterflies; sulphur butterflies
pierid, pierid butterfly: any of numerous pale-colored butterflies having three pairs of well-developed legs
Lycaenidae, family Lycaenidae: family of small usually brilliantly colored butterflies; males have short forelegs
cabbage butterfly: white butterfly whose larvae (cabbageworms) feed on cabbage
Pieris, genus Pieris: type genus of the Pieridae
small white, Pieris rapae: small widely distributed form
large white, Pieris brassicae: Old World form
southern cabbage butterfly, Pieris protodice: common North American form
sulphur butterfly, sulfur butterfly: any of numerous yellow or orange butterflies
lycaenid, lycaenid butterfly: any of various butterflies of the family Lycaenidae
Lycaena, genus Lycaena: type genus of the Lycaenidae; small slender butterflies with upper surface of wings usually metallic blue or green or copper
American copper, Lycaena hypophlaeas: common copper butterfly of central and eastern North America
blue: any of numerous small chiefly blue butterflies of the family Lycaenidae
copper: any of various small butterflies of the family Lycaenidae having copper colored wings
Strymon, genus Strymon: large and widely distributed genus of hairstreak butterflies
hairstreak, hairstreak butterfly: small butterflies having striped markings under the wings
Strymon melinus: larvae are pests of various economic plants
moth: typically crepuscular or nocturnal insect having a stout body and feathery or hairlike antennae
tortricid, tortricid moth: any of numerous small moths having lightly fringed wings; larvae are leafrollers or live in fruits and galls
Tortricidae, family Tortricidae: leaf rollers and codling moths
tea tortrix, tortrix, Homona coffearia: small Indian moth infesting e.g. tea and coffee plants
leaf roller, leafroller: moth whose larvae form nests by rolling and tying leaves with spun silk
genus Tortrix: type genus of the Tortricidae
Homona, genus Homona: tea tortrix
orange tortrix, tortrix, Argyrotaenia citrana: California moth whose larvae live in esp. oranges
Argyrotaenia, genus Argyrotaenia: orange tortrix
codling moth, Carpocapsa pomonella: small moth whose larvae live in apples and English walnuts
Carpocapsa, genus Carpocapsa: codling moths
Lymantria, genus Lymantria: type genus of the Lymantriidae; a pest (Lymantria means `destroyer')
Lymantriidae, family Lymantriidae: tussock moths
lymantriid, tussock moth: dull-colored moth whose larvae have tufts of hair on the body and feed on the leaves of many deciduous trees
gold-tail moth, Euproctis chrysorrhoea: white furry-bodied European moth with a yellow tail tuft
gypsy moth, gipsy moth, Lymantria dispar: European moth introduced into North America; a serious pest of shade trees
Euproctis, genus Euproctis: a genus of Lymantriidae
browntail, brown-tail moth, Euproctis phaeorrhoea: small brown-and_white European moth introduced into eastern United States; pest of various shade and fruit trees
geometrid, geometrid moth: slender-bodied broad-winged moth whose larvae are called measuring worms
Paleacrita vernata: moth whose larvae are spring cankerworms
Paleacrita, genus Paleacrita: geometrid moths
Alsophila pometaria: North American moth with gray-winged males and wingless females; larvae are fall cankerworms
Alsophila, genus Alsophila: geometrid moths
bee moth, wax moth, Galleria mellonella: moth whose larvae live in and feed on bee honeycombs
Pyralidae, family Pyralidae, Pyralididae, family Pyralididae: bee moths; corn borers; flour moths
pyralid, pyralid moth: usually tropical slender-bodied long-legged moth whose larvae are crop pests
Pyralis, genus Pyralis: type genus of the Pyralidae
Galleria, genus Galleria: a genus of Pyralidae
corn borer, European corn borer, corn borer moth, Pyrausta nubilalis: native to Europe; in America the larvae bore into the stem and crown of corn and other plants
Pyrausta, genus Pyrausta: moths whose larvae are corn borers
Ephestia, genus Ephestia: small moths whose larvae spin silken tunnels and feed on stored food products
Anagasta, genus Anagasta: moth whose larvae are flour moths
Mediterranean flour moth, Anagasta kuehniella: small moth whose larvae damage stored grain and flour
almond moth, fig moth, Cadra cautella: moth whose larvae feed on and mat together with webbing various stored foods
tobacco moth, cacao moth, Ephestia elutella: small moth whose larvae feed on tobacco and other dried plant products
Cadra, genus Cadra: a genus of Pyralidae
raisin moth, Cadra figulilella: moth whose larvae attack dried fruits and cereal products
Tineoidea, superfamily Tineoidea: clothes moths; carpet moths; leaf miners
tineoid, tineoid moth: small dull-colored moth with chewing mouthparts
tineid, tineid moth: small yellowish moths whose larvae feed on wool or fur
Tineidae, family Tineidae: clothes moths
clothes moth: any of several small yellowish or buff-colored moths whose larvae eat organic matter e.g. woolens
Tinea, genus Tinea: type genus of the Tineidae: clothes moths
casemaking clothes moth, Tinea pellionella: the larvae live in tubes of its food material fastened with silk that it spins
webbing clothes moth, webbing moth, Tineola bisselliella: moth that forms a web in which it lives
Tineola, genus Tineola: webbing clothes moths
carpet moth, tapestry moth, Trichophaga tapetzella: larvae feed on carpets and other woolens
Trichophaga, genus Trichophaga: carpet moths
gracilariid, gracilariid moth: small dull or metallic-colored tineoid moths whose larvae mine in plant leaves
Gracilariidae, Gracillariidae, family Gracilariidae: leaf miners
Gelechia gossypiella: small brown moth whose larvae bore into flowers and bolls of cotton
Gelechiidae, family Gelechiidae: important economic pests
gelechiid, gelechiid moth: small slender-winged moths whose larvae are agricultural pests
Gelechia, genus Gelechia: type genus of the Gelechiidae: pink bollworms
angoumois moth, angoumois grain moth, Sitotroga cerealella: small moth whose larvae feed on kernels of stored grains
grain moth: moth whose larvae feed on grain
Sitotroga, genus Sitotroga: grain moths
potato moth, potato tuber moth, splitworm, Phthorimaea operculella: grayish-brown moth whose larva is the potato tuberworm
Phthorimaea, genus Phthorimaea: potato moths
cutworm: North American moth whose larvae feed on young plant stems cutting them off at the ground
Noctuidae, family Noctuidae: cutworms; armyworms
noctuid moth, noctuid, owlet moth: usually dull-colored medium-sized nocturnal moth; the usually smooth-bodied larvae are destructive agricultural pests
Noctua, genus Noctua: type genus of the Noctuidae: moths whose larvae are cutworms
Catacala, genus Catacala: moths whose larvae are cutworms: underwings
underwing: moth having dull forewings and brightly colored hind wings
red underwing, Catocala nupta: moth having dull forewings and red-marked hind wings
antler moth, Cerapteryx graminis: European moth with white antler-like markings on the forewings; the larvae damage pastures and grasslands
Cerapteryx, genus Cerapteryx: antler moths
heliothis moth, Heliothis zia: medium-sized moth whose larvae are corn earworms
Heliothis, genus Heliothis: a genus of Noctuidae
Chorizagrotis, genus Chorizagrotis: moths whose larvae are army cutworms
army cutworm, Chorizagrotis auxiliaris: moth whose larvae destroy grains and forage plants
armyworm, Pseudaletia unipuncta: moth whose destructive larvae travel in multitudes
Pseudaletia, genus Pseudaletia: moths whose larvae are armyworms
Spodoptera exigua: moth whose larvae are beet armyworms
Spodoptera, genus Spodoptera: moths whose larvae are armyworms
Spodoptera frugiperda: moth whose larvae are fall armyworms
hawkmoth, hawk moth, sphingid, sphinx moth, hummingbird moth: any of various moths with long narrow forewings capable of powerful flight and hovering over flowers to feed
Sphingidae, family Sphingidae: hawkmoths
Manduca sexta: moth whose larvae are tobacco hornworms
Manduca, genus Manduca: moths whose larvae are tobacco hornworms or tomato hornworms
Manduca quinquemaculata: moth whose larvae are tomato hornworms
bombycid, bombycid moth, silkworm moth: moderate-sized Asiatic moth whose larvae feed on mulberry leaves and produce silk
Acherontia, genus Acherontia: death's-head moth
death's-head moth, Acherontia atropos: European hawkmoth with markings on the back resembling a human skull
Bombycidae, family Bombycidae: Chinese silkworm moth
Bombyx, genus Bombyx: type genus of the Bombycidae: Chinese silkworm moth
domestic silkworm moth, Bombyx mori: stocky creamy-white Asiatic moth found almost entirely under human care; the source of most of the silk of commerce
Saturniidae, family Saturniidae: important and widely distributed family of moths including some of the largest insects known
Saturnia, genus Saturnia: type genus of the Saturniidae: emperor moth
saturniid, saturniid moth: large brightly colored and usually tropical moth; larvae spin silken cocoons
emperor, emperor moth, Saturnia pavonia: large moth of temperate forests of Eurasia having heavily scaled transparent wings
imperial moth, Eacles imperialis: large American moth having yellow wings with purplish or brownish markings; larvae feed on e.g. maple and pine trees
Eacles, genus Eacles: imperial moths
giant silkworm moth, silkworm moth: any silkworm moth of the family Saturniidae
cecropia, cecropia moth, Hyalophora cecropia: North American silkworm moth; larvae feed on the leaves of forest trees
Actias, genus Actias: luna moths
luna moth, Luna moth, Actias luna: large pale-green American moth with long-tailed hind wings and a yellow crescent-shaped mark on each fore wing
Hyalophora, genus Hyalophora: American silkworm moth
cynthia moth, Samia cynthia, Samia walkeri: large Asiatic moth introduced into the United States; larvae feed on the ailanthus
Samia, genus Samia: silkworm moths
Antheraea, genus Antheraea: large moths whose larvae produce silk of high quality
Automeris, genus Automeris: io moth
io moth, Automeris io: large yellow American moth having a large eyelike spot on each hind wing; the larvae have stinging spines
pernyi moth, Antheraea pernyi: a Chinese moth that produces a brownish silk
polyphemus moth, Antheraea polyphemus: very large yellowish-brown American silkworm moth with large eyespots on hind wings; larvae feed on fruit and shade trees
tussah, tusseh, tussur, tussore, tusser, Antheraea mylitta: oriental moth that produces brownish silk
atlas moth, Atticus atlas: giant saturniid moth widespread in Asia; sometimes cultured for silk
Atticus, genus Atticus: atlas moth
tiger moth: medium-sized moth with long richly colored and intricately patterned wings; larvae are called woolly bears
Arctiidae, family Arctiidae: tiger moths
arctiid, arctiid moth: stout-bodied broad-winged moth with conspicuously striped or spotted wings; larvae are hairy caterpillars
cinnabar, cinnabar moth, Callimorpha jacobeae: large red-and-black European moth; larvae feed on leaves of ragwort; introduced into United States to control ragwort
Callimorpha, genus Callimorpha: cinnabar moths
Lasiocampidae, family Lasiocampidae: tent caterpillars; eggars; lappet moths
lasiocampid, lasiocampid moth: medium-sized stout-bodied neutral-colored moths comb-like antennae
Lasiocampa, genus Lasiocampa: type genus of the Lasiocampidae: eggars
eggar, egger: moth having nonfunctional mouthparts as adults; larvae feed on tree foliage and spin egg-shaped cocoons
tent-caterpillar moth, Malacosoma americana: moth whose larvae are tent caterpillars
tent-caterpillar moth, Malacosoma disstria: moth whose gregarious larvae spin carpets
Loxostege similalis: moth whose larvae are garden webworms
lappet, lappet moth: medium-sized hairy moths; larvae are lappet caterpillars
Hyphantria, genus Hyphantria: fall webworms
webworm moth: a variety of moth that spins a web in which it lives
Hyphantria cunea: moth whose larvae are fall webworms
fall webworm, Hyphantria cunea: a variety of webworm
queen: the only fertile female in a colony of social insects such as bees and ants and termites; its function is to lay eggs
heterometabolous, heterometabolic: (of an insect) undergoing incomplete metamorphosis in which the nymph is essentially like the adult and there is no pupal stage
hemimetabolous, hemimetabolic, hemimetamorphous, hemimetamorphic: (of an insect with aquatic young) undergoing incomplete metamorphosis in which the young does not resemble the adult
holometabolic, holometabolous: (of an insect) undergoing complete metamorphosis
coarctate: (of an insect pupa) enclosed in a rigid case
apian: relating to or having the characteristics of bees
formic: of or relating to or derived from ants
hymenopterous: of or relating to insects of the order Hymenoptera
dictyopteran: of or relating to or belonging to the order Dictyoptera
isopteran: relating to or characteristic of insects of the order Isoptera