Butterfly Glossary

Ever wonder what a chitin is? There are many interesting terms when it comes to butterflies and caterpillars! Read on to become an expert in lepidopteran anatomy!

Aestivation

Dormancy during hot, dry periods

Anal Fold

Portion of the hind wing that folds against the abdomen when at rest

Androconium

Specialized scale that produces pheromones

Annual

A plant that lives one year only

Antennae

Sensory appendages (feelers) on apex of butterfly's head

Brood

A generation of young from a common female

Camouflage

Animal disguise; how animals hide by blending with their background

Caterpillar

Also called "larva" (pl. larvae), the second stage of a butterfly's life

Cell

Area of wing encircled by veins

Chitin

The liquid produced by the insect's body which hardens to form the exoskeleton, the chrysalis, and the wing membrance

Chrysalis

The resting stage of a butterfly between the larval and adult stages

Claspers

Appendages at the end of the abdomen of males to secure the female during mating

Cline

Slight change in physical appearance from one geographical region to another

Cocoon

The resting stage of a moth between larva and adult

Compound Eye

An eye made up of many light-sensitive facets

Conservation

The official care and protection of natural resources

Control

To test or verify a scientific experiment by a parallel experiment or other standard of comparison

Costa

Upper edge of wings

Cremaster

Hook-bearing structure which attaches the pupa to a twig when becoming a chrysalis

Crochets

Tiny hooks on prolegs of caterpillars

Diapause

Period of inactivity caused by environmental factors

Dimorphism

The presence of two distinct forms within a species

Disk

Central portion of the wing

Dormant

In a sleeping position; state of minimal activity

Dorsal

Upper side of the wing

Drought

Dry weather, lack of rain

Emigrate

To leave an area, not to return

Endemic

Limited to a specific geographic area

Entomologist

Someone who studies insects

Evaporation

To give off moisture

Exoskeleton

Hard external shell covering the pupa or adult

Experiment

Trial or test procedure to discover something unknown

Frass

Caterpillar poop

Frenate

Bristles on hind wing that lock into hairs of forewing

Germination

The first act of growth of an embryo plant

Girdle

Silken harness spun by some caterpillars to suspend itself from a vertical surface

Gynandromorph

Having both male and female characteristics

Habitat

The natural home of an animal or plant

Hair Pencil

Cluster of hairlike scale utilized during courtship

Hemolymph

Body fluids of lepidoptera (butterfly blood)

Host Plant

Larval food plant

Instar

Period between molts (shedding of old exoskeleton)

Larva

The caterpillar stage of a butterfly's life; the young stage of an insect

Lens

One part of an insect's eye which focuses light

Lepidoptera

Order of insects in which butterflies and moths are classified; the meaning is "scaled wings"

Lepidopterist

A person who studies butterflies and moths

Life Cycle

The stages of an animal's life from birth to death

Lipid

Fats internally retained for fuel during migratory flights

Lunule

Crescent-shaped spot on wing

Margin

Edge of the wing

Mate

To come together to produce young

Metamorphosis

Process of changing from larva to adult

Migration

Movement of animals at different times of the year, usually for breeding or over-wintering

Mimicry

Imitating a harmful insect or plant to escape predators

Molt

Shedding of old exoskeleton to allow a new period of growth

Nectar

Liquid produced by plants that is ingested by butterflies and some moths

Ocelli

Cosmetic eyespots used for protection or the simple eyes of caterpillars

Oviposit

To lay eggs

Ovipositor

Structure at tip of female abdomen which deposits eggs

Osmeterium

Fleshy organ that can be extended from behind the head by swallowtail caterpillars that emits an unfavorable odor to fend off predators

Palpi

Pair of furry facial appendages to clean and protect the proboscis

Perennial

Blossoming annually; continuous, undying

Pesticides

Chemicals used to poison insects or other pests

Pheromones

Scent produced to initiate sexual activity

Pollination

The moving of pollen from the male to the female parts of a flower

Polymorphism

Several forms occurring within the same species

Predators

Animals that kill and eat others

Preserve

(Ecological) - to keep safe from injury or destruction

Proboscis

Long, slender sucking tube used for feeding

Pupa

The resting form before emerging as an adult

Pupate

The act of becoming a pupa (change from a caterpillar to a chrysalis)

Race

Subspecies; a distinctive population

Roost

Gathering spot to spend the night or the winter

Scales

The millions of modified hairs forming shingle-like plates covering moths' and butterflies' wings

Sex Patch

Pad of scent scales on wings

Shelter

Place, home, or dwelling to be safe from the elements

Spiracles

Breathing holes positioned along the abdomen

Spinneret

Gland beneath the caterpillar's head used for producing silk

Stigma

Very defined scent scale patch on the wing of many males

Subspecies

Distinct group which is still able to breed with other members of the species

Tarsus

Hooks at the terminal end of feet to allow climbing

Territory

Piece of land an animal defends against outsiders

Translucent

Semi-transparent; admitting light

Tubercle

Raised knob often covered with spines

Uncus

Hook-shaped projections at the tip of the male abdomen used for securing the female during mating

Valvae

The vise-like uncus

Venation

Arrangements of veins through the wings

Ventral

Underside

Wings

The butterfly appendages of flight