Chapter L

Labellum -a: the sensitive ridged tip of the mouth structures of certain Diptera: a prolongation of the labium covering the base of rostrum in Coleoptera and Hemiptera.

Labial: referring, pertaining or belonging to the labium.

Labial segment: the 7th segment of head = second maxillary segment.

Labial suture: is between labium and mentum.

Labiate: lip-like or having lip-like sutures.

Labipalp: a labial palpus.

Labis: the slender abdominal forceps in some Lepidoptera.

Labium: the lower lip: a compound structure which forms the floor of the mouth in mandibulate insects, behind the first maxilla and opposed to the labium; formed by a fusion in embryonic life of separate right and left maxilla-like halves: in some of its developments referred to as the tongue.

Labral suture: is between labrum and clypeus.

Labro-frontal lobes: of brain, = trito-cerebrum; q.v.

Labrum: the upper lip; covers the base of the mandible and forms the roof of the mouth.

Labrum-epipharynx: in the mouth of piercing Diptera is the central unpaired lancet.

Lac: a mixture of resin, wax and other substances produced by certain scale insects as a protective covering.

Lacer: a lappet; applied to a margin with irregular, broad and deep emarginations, leaving lappet-like intervals.

Lacerated: ragged; torn in appearance; see lacer.

Lacinia: the inner lobe of first maxilla, articulated to the stipes, bearing brushes of hair or spines: a blade: in Diptera, forms a flat lancet-like piercing structure and is never jointed.

Lacinia exteriores and interiores: in Apidae, the palpiger and paraglossa often used for the gales and lacinia of maxilla.

Laciniated: jagged; cut into irregular fragments.

Lacte: milk-white.

Lacteal: relating to milk; milky in appearance.

Lactescent: secreting or yielding a milky fluid.

Lacteous -eus: white, with a slight bluish tinge, like skim-milk.

Lacunae: irregular impressions or cavities: specifically the non-walled cavities of the body.

Lacunose: pitted; the surface covered with small cavities.

Laemodipodiform: like a laemodipod; similar to the larva of a walking stick.

Laete: bright.

Laevis -igatus: smooth, shining and without elevations: said of a surface.

Lamella: a thin plate or leaf-like process.

Lamellate: antennae with the club formed of closely opposed leaf-like surfaces, the concealed surfaces set with sensory pits.

Lamellicornia: those beetles in which the antennae terminate in a lamellate or leaf-like club.

Lamelliform: made up of or resembling leaves, blades or lamellae.

Lamina -ae: a chitinous plate or plates.

Lamina externa: the paraglossa.

Lamina interna: the ligula.

Lamina subgenitalis: the sub-genital plate; q.v.: in roaches the 7th ventral plate of females and 9th ventral plate of males.

Lamina supra-analis: = supra-anal plate.

Laminate: formed of thin, flat layers or leaves.

Laminato-carinate: with an elevated ridge or keel, formed of thin plates.

Laminiform: layer-like: having the appearance or made up of lamina.

Lana: wool: the long hair on the abdomen of some Lepidoptera.

Lanate -atus: woolly: covered with dense, fine, long hairs, so distinct that they may be separated.

Lanceolate: lance- or spear-shaped: oblong and tapering to the end.

Lanceolate cell: in Hymenoptera (ort.); - 2d anal (Comst.).

Lancet: indiscriminately applied to any piercing mouth structure.

Lanuginose -us: with long, curled hair dispersed over the surface: see crinitus.

Lanugo: slender single hairs.

Laparostict: that series of lamellicorn beetles in which the abdominal spiracles are situated on the connecting membrane between the dorsal and ventral rings.

Lapidicolous: living under deeply imbedded stones.

Larva: the second stage of insect development; comes from the egg or ovum, grows, and according to its kind, changes to a pupa or chrysalis or to an imago; bears various names in the different orders: see nymph; caterpillar slug; maggot; grub.

Larvarium: a tube or case made by a larva as a shelter or retreat.

Larvatae: asked; applied to coarctate and obtect pupae.

Larvina: a maggot: a dipterous larva without distinct head or legs.

Larvule: applied to early stages of Ephemerid larvae when they appear to have no developed respiratory, circulatory or nervous systems.

Lashed: eyes that have a more or less complete fringe of stiff hairs or bristles at the orbits.

Lasureus: a very dark blue [French blue with some black].

Laterad: toward the side and away from the median line.

Lateral: relating, pertaining or attached to the side.

Lateral areas: in Hymenoptera; on the metanotum, the three spaces between the median and lateral long carinae; the upper is the external or first lateral basal area; the second is the external or central lateral area; the third is the middle, internal, apical or third lateral area.

Lateral bristles: in Diptera; situated at or near the lateral margins of the abdominal segments.

Lateral carinae: in Orthoptera; on the head, extend downward from the front margin of the eyes: on prothorax extend along each lateral margin of the dorsum.

Lateral foveolae: in Orthoptera: foveate depressions on the margins of the vertex near the front border of the eye.

Lateral line: in caterpillars is at the margin of the dorsum between sub-dorsal and supra-stigmatal line.

Lateral lobe: of the labium in Odonata, corresponds to the paraglossa with palpiger and palpus (Gerstaecker) or, more probably, to the palpus alone (Butler).

Lateral lobes: the deflexed portions of pronotum that cover the sides of pro-thorax in many Orthoptera: in certain Hymenoptera, lie on each side of the parapsidal furrows of mesoscutum and = scapulae.

Lateral longitudinal area: of Hymenoptera, extends between the median and pleural carinae of metanotum.

Lateral ridge: in slug caterpillars, extends longitudinally along the lateral series of abdominal tubercles.

Lateral scale: one of the lateral processes of the ovipositor in Cynipidae, lying within and below the anal scale.

Lateral space: in slug caterpillars is the area on each side of the body between the subdorsal and lateral ridges.

Lateral sutures: of the thorax in Odonata, are situated on the sides of thorax, the first separating the metepisternum from the mesepimeron; the second separating the metepisternum from the metepimeron; the first more or less obsolete in the Anisoptera.

Lateral tubercle: lateral on thoracic and abdominal segments of caterpillars: it is 3 of the abdomen, 2a of thorax: constant (Dyar).

Latericeous: = lateritius: q.v.

Lateritius: yellowish-red; yellowish brick color [pale clay yellow with a little red].

Laterodorsal: the point of junction of dorsum and pleurum.

Lateropharyngeal: applied to the 4th pair of salivary glands in bees; situated on each side of the pharynx.

Laterostigmatal: situated on the side, immediately above the spiracle.

Lateroventral: the point of junction of sternum and pleurum.

Latero-ventral metathoracic carina: in Odonata; forms the dividing line between the metepimera and the metasternum.

Latescent: becoming obscure or hidden.

Latreille's segment: the first abdominal segment of those Hymenoptera in which it is fused with the thorax:= median segment, propodeon, propodeum.

Latticed: = cancellate; q.v.

Latus: the side: broad.

Latuscula: the facets of the compound eye.

Leathery: having the appearance or texture of leather.

Lectotype: a co-type chosen, subsequently to the original description, to take the place which in other cases a holotype occupies.

Leg -s: the jointed appendages attached to the thoracic segments, used in walking: the organs of locomotion other than wings: unjointed organs of locomotion are pro-legs or false legs; q.v.

Legion: a group of genera, subequal to a tribe.

Legnum: the margin of a squama.

Lemniscate: ribbon-like: in the form of an 8.

Lenticular: round, doubly convex; like a lens or lentil.

Lepidoptera: scale-winged: an order of insects with spirally coiled haustellate mouth structures; head free; thorax agglutinate; transformations complete four scale-covered wings.

Lepidopteric acid: a green pigment obtained from the wing scales of Lepidoptera; a derivative of uric acid: see Lepidotic acid.

Lepidopteron: a butterfly or moth: one of the Lepidoptera.

Lepidotic: set with minute scales.

Lepidotic acid: a yellow pigment obtained from certain butterfly scales a derivative of uric acid: see Lepidopteric acid.

Lepis: a scale.

Leprous: with loose, irregular scales.

Leptiform: = compodeiform; q.v.

Leptos: small, fine.

Lethargic: torpid or inactive.

Leucine: a white crystalline compound, the product of animal decomposition, found in the malpighian tubes: as a color, cheesy white.

Leucocytes: pale, unicellular bodies, numerous in the insect blood.

Levator: a muscle that raises an organ or a part.

Levigate -us: with a smooth, somewhat shiny surface.

Liber: free.

Ligament: a band or sheet of tough, fibrous tissue between two parts or segments.

Ligneous -eus: wood brown [Vandyke brown].

Lignivorous: feeding upon wood or woody tissues.

Ligula: the central sclerite of the labium, borne upon the mentum, usually single, sometimes paired: often used as synonymous with "glossa" and "tongue": corresponds to the united laciniae of right and left maxillae: see also elytral ligula.

Ligulate: strap-shaped; linear, much longer than broad.

Lilacinous: lilac-colored [lilac].

Limaciform: having the form of a Limax or slug; said of larvae.

Limb: the circumference: the area surrounding the disc.

Limbate: when a disc is surrounded by a margin of different color.

Limbus: the area along the outer and posterior margin of wing beyond the closed cells; Homoptera, Cicada.

Limpid: clear and transparent: applied to wings and ornamentation.

Line: a narrow streak or stripe: as a term of measurement, one-twelfth of an inch; commonly used by English and early American authors.

Linea: a line or narrow stripe.

Linear: straight; in the form of a right line.

Lineate: marked with lines or streaks: lined.

Lineolet: a delicate fine line.

Lingua: the tongue; applied in Hymenoptera, to the ligula: in Lepidoptera and Diptera, to maxillary structures: has also been used for the hypopharynx, and that use might be adopted: a median organ of the hypopharynx in Apterygota.

Lingua spiralis: the spiral tongue of Lepidoptera: see glossa.

Linguiform: tongue-shaped: linear, with the extremities obtusely rounded.

Lingula: in Aleurodidae, a more or less slender tongue or strap-shaped organ, attached cephalad within the vasiform orifice: a term proposed by Leuckart for the ligula of the bees.

Lipochromus: without color.

Lipoptera: = Mallophaga; q.v.

Literate: ornamented with characters like letters.

Littoral: living along the sea-coast or in the shore debris: strictly, between tide marks.

Littoralia: Heteroptera that live in marshes.

Litura: an indistinct spot, paler at its margin.

Livid: yellowish gray with a violet tinge: greenish gray.

Lobate -us: divided by deep, undulating and successive incisions.

Lobe: any prominent rounded process or excrescence on a margin: specifically, the rounded, tooth-like processes on the margin of the pygidium of the Diaspinae: also applied to lateral expansions of the abdominal segments.

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.

Lobiform: shaped like a lobe or rounded process.

Lobulate: divided into, or with many small lobes or lobules.

Lobule: in Coccidae, one of the two distinct parts of which a lobe is sometimes composed.

Lobulus: the partly separated portion of the wings of some flies and of secondaries in some Hymenoptera: also used as = alula; q.v.

Lobus: of maxilla = galea; q.v.

Locomotion: organs of, are legs and wings.

Longicorn -ia: having the antennae as long or longer than the body; specifically the Cerambycid beetles.

Longitudinal: in the direction of the long axis.

Longitudinal veins: are those that extend lengthwise through the wing either directly from base or as branches of one that does start there: they are named or numbered, and differently in the different orders.

Loop: applied to that structure at base of innerside of primaries into which the frenulum of male moths is fitted: see retinaculum.

Looper: applied to geometrid and other caterpillars in which some or all the middle abdominal legs are wanting and which move by bringing tail to thorax and forming a loop of the intervening segments.

Lora: the chitinous bands connecting the submentum with the cardo of maxilla (Comst.): the submentum: small cords upon which the base of the proboscis is seated (Say): the anterior part of the genae at the edge of the mouth: the corneous processes to which the muscles flexing the mouth in certain Diptera are attached, and in that sense the palpifer of the maxilla: in Homoptera, the small sclerite at side of clypeus and front, extending laterally to the genae.

Lorum: in bees: the angular piece upon which the sub-mentum rests.

Lower austral zone: occupies southern part of United States from Chesapeake Bay to the great interior valley of California. Is interrupted by the continental divide in eastern Arizona and west New Mexico and divided according to conditions of humidity into an eastern or Austroriparian and western or lower Sonoran area.

Lower field: in termini; see costal field.

Lower fronto-orbital bristles: in Diptera: are on the lower part of front, above the antennae, along the orbit.

Lower margin: of tegmina (Thomas), is the costal or anterior margin of other authors.

Lower radial vein: in Lepidoptera (Holland) media 2 (Comst.).

Lower sector of triangle: in Odonata - = cubitus 2 (Comst.).

Lower Sonoran faunal area: comprises the most arid deserts of North America, beginning west of lat. 98 degrees in Texas: sends narrow arms into southern New Mexico, is interrupted by the Continental Divide; covers a large part of w. and s. Ariz., s. w. Nev., s. w. Calif., a portion of central Calif., and most of Lower Calif. These areas are irregular and incapable of brief definition.

Lubricate -ous: covered with a slippery mucus.

Lucid: shining; applied to luminous insects.

Luciferase: a substance in the nature of an enzyme, existing in the luminous organs of light-giving beetles.

Luciferine: a substance in the blood of luminous beetles which, when brought into contact with luciferase, produces light.

Luciferous: light giving.

Lucifugous: fleeing the light: applied to nocturnal forms or those that live in concealment.

Lumen: the cavity of an organ: the inner surface of a tube: the hollow portion of a gland or vesicular structure.

Luminescence: applied to the light of fire-flies, as a substitute for phosphorescence.

Lumper: one who, in describing species or genera recognizes only prominent or obvious characters to the exclusion of minor color or variable characters of maculation or structure: see splitter.

Lunaris or Lunate: crescent-shaped: formed like a new moon.

Lunula: a small lunule or crescent.

Lunulae: in Hymenoptera, crescent-shaped marks near the orbits.

Lunulate: a line, when made up of a series of small lunules.

Lunule: a lunate mark or crescent.

Lurid -us: dirty brown with a bluish tinge [pale brown + a little French blue]: also used to indicate an obscuring of bright colors.

Luteo -testaceous: dark clay yellow.

Luteous -eus: clay yellow [pale clay yellow].

Lutescent: becoming or appearing to be clay yellow.

Lutose -us: apparently or really covered with dirt.

Lymphatic: producing, carrying or relating to the lymph.

Lyrate: lyre-shaped: cut into several transverse segments, and gradually enlarging towards the extremity.

Lyre: the upper wall or border of the spinning tube of caterpillars.