M

Macrolabia. - The term applied to the longer forms of forceps of the Forficulidæ (Earwigs) when these organs are of variable length. (Burr.) (Gr. mackros, long, and L. labia, a lip [?]).

Macula. - A large angular spot, of a dark colour, upon a uniform surface. (L. a spot.)

Maculate. - Possessing maculæ. (L. macula.)

Macular fascia. - A fascia consisting of distinct spots. (L. macula, and fascia, a band.)

Maculate. - Possessing maculæ. (L. macula.)

Maerianum. - The segment of the post-pectus situated one on each side behind the acetabulum and parapleurum; it supports the posterior legs (Say).

Magaritaceous. - (Splendour.) Glossy white with changeable tints of purple, green, and blue. Like the splendour of pearls; like mother-of-pearl. (Gr. margarites, a pearl.)

Maggot. - The term applies to a grub when all trace of limbs has disappeared. (M.E. magot, magat, from Welsh maceiad, macia, a maggot; magiaid, grubs.)

Maggot. - The term applied to larvæ when all trace of limbs has disappeared.

Male pronucleus. - The nucleated head of the active sperm-cell. (Fr. mâle, from L. masculus, and pro, nucleus, a nut.)

Malpighian tubules. - Exceedingly fine glandular tubes for excretory purposes. Generally sixty to seventy in number, opening into the food canal where the stomach joins the small intestine. (Malpighi is the name of the celebrated Italian anatomist, the discoverer of the tubes, and L. tubus, a tube.)

Malleoli. - Halteres. (L. malleolus, a small hammer.)

Mammulæ. - Anal protuberances connected with the spinning of web. Ex. Araneidæ. (From L. mammosus, protuberant.)

Mandibles, Mandibulæ. - The biting jaws, which are two strong corneous bent hooks, their inner margin being more or less dentate; and which articulate with the genæ at their broad basis, and move by ginglymus opposed to each other like the blades of scissors. (L. mando, to chew.)

Mandibular. - Belonging to, or pertaining to the mandibles, or the biting mouth generally.

Mandibular Glands. - A well developed cluster of cells situated on each side of the bead just in front of the optic ganglia. The ducts are grouped in bundles and open separately on to the cribellum of the mandibles.

Mandibular Nerves. - [See Nervi mandibularum.]

Mandibulate, Mandibulated. - Provided with biting jaws. (L. mando.)

Manducate. - Pertaining to the mandibles; capable of biting. (L. manduco, to chew.)

Manitrunk, Manitruncus. - The anterior portion of the trunk bearing the anterior legs, and in which the head inosculates. It includes the prothorax and antepectus. (L. manus, the hand, and truncus.)

Manus. - The “hand”; the articulated termination of the anterior legs. The anterior tarsi including the palma. (L. the hand.)

Marcescent. - Shrivelling; decaying. (L. marcescens, from marcesco, to fade.)

Margin. - The outer edge. (L. margo.)

Marginal cells (cellulæ marginales). - The cells of the wing immediately beyond the stigma, towards the extreme point of the wing, they are generally two or three in number. (L. margo, and cella).

Marginal Cellule. - [See Radical cellule.]

Margined. - Furnished with a distinctly pronounced outer edge.

Margo. - The margin. (L.)

Marmorate, Marmoraceous. - Marble-like in colour and marking; variegated like marble. (Gr. marmaros, marble.)

Marsupium. - The cradle-like pouch, formed by the anal plates of the Coccidæ (genus Orthezia) for carrying the young and eggs. (Gr. marsupion, a bag.)

Mask. - A peculiar modification of the labium of the Dragon-fly-nymph. The structure is attached by its base to a point below the mouth, hiding the face (hence the term). The function of the mask is to assist the insect to catch its prey. (Fr. masque.)

Masked. - (Pupæ.) (Fr. masque.) See Pupæ larvatæ.

Mastagia. - Two anal organs from which arise a retractile thread, seen in some larvæ, and with which they lash their sides, endeavouring to drive off Ichneumons. (Kirby and Spence.)

Maxillæ. - The under jaws, which in many respects resemble the mandibles, but are smaller, and more delicate in structure, consisting of four pieces. Jointed processes following the mandibles behind. (L. maxilla, the jaw, jaw-bone.)

Maxillæ lanceolatæ. - Lanceolate maxillæ. (L., and lancea, a lance.)

Maxillæ setosæ (setæ rostri inferiores). - Setosed maxillæ; maxillæ carrying bristles or hair. (L. and seta, a bristle.)

Maxillæ unguiculatæ. - (L., and unguis, a claw.) See Unguiculate.

Maxillary. - Pertaining to the maxillæ.

Maxillary Glands. - Two groups of cells situated near the median plane of the head, above the buccal tube, and near the infra-buccal cavity.

Maxillary Lobes. - [See Lobus maxillæ.]

Maxillary Nerves. - [See Nervi maxillarum.]

Maxillary palp, pl. palpi; Maxipalpi. - A five-jointed process carried on the outer edge of the distal end of the stipes.

Mayrian Furrow. - The large Y-shaped groove which the mesonotum in some male ants presents when viewed from above.

Media. - The area lying between the cubitus and the radius of the wing. (L. medius, the middle.)

Median. - Central. (L. medius.)

Median. - (Wing). A cross or radiating nervure of the wing. (L. medius.)

Median Nerve. - The small nerve constituting the superadded nervous system, and from which the respiratory nerves arise. It originates from the subœsophageal ganglion, and is comparatively short, in some instances being only an enlargement of the subœsophageal ganglion.*
* In these instances it is called by Brandt the ganglion of the median nerve.

Median Pair of genital appendages of the Ant, are composed of the volsellæ and the laciniæ, and are situated between the stipites and the internal paramera.

Median Segment. - The Propodeum.

Median Yoke-ridge. - (Embryology.) The free median space formed by an incomplete withdrawal of the mesodermal cells from the median line.

Medio-cubital Nerve. - A transverse or cross-nervure of the wing, connecting the medial and cubital systems. (L. medius, cubitus, a bend, and neuron.)

Medifurca. - A forked process of the anterior surface of the medipectus. (L. medius, and furca, a fork.)

Medipectus. - The underside of the anterior division of the alitruncus. (L. medius, and pectus, the breast.)

Meliphagus. - Honey-sucking. (Gr. meli, honey, and phago, to eat.)

Melissaeus. - (Scent.) Balm-scented. (Gr. melissa, honey.)

Melliferous. - Producing honey. (L. mel, honey, and fero, to bear.)

Membrana. - The membranous parts of the hemelytra. (L., a membrane.)

Membrana vitelli. - The thin skin covering the yolk of the egg, and which lies immediately above the blastoderm. (L. membrana, and vitellus, the yolk of an egg.)

Membranaceous, Membranous. - Thin; semi-transparent; parchment-like; resembling membrane in consistency. (L. membrana.)

Membrane. - A thin, white animal tissue, serving to line or cover the parts or organs. (L. membrana, a skin covering a member.)

Membrane. - The membranaceous apical portion of the elytra of the Hemiptera-Heteroptera. (Saunders.) (L. membrana.)

Membranous. - Pertaining to membrane; of the consistency of membrane. (L. membrana.)

Meniscoidal. - Somewhat globular, with one side concave; concavo-convex; crescent-shaped; having the form or appearance of a meniscus. (Gr. meniskos, a little moon.)

Mentum. - The smaller of the two-jointed plates formed by the two basal parts of the protopodites fusing together. (L., the chin.)

Mentum. - The chin, one of the two parts constituting the labium, being a corneous plate of varying form, connected to the clypeus, by means of a membrane, with the margin of the gula, and forms from beneath the inferior covering of the mouth. (L.)

Meriæum. - The plate or plates constituting the anterior surface of the sockets of the posterior legs, situated behind the acetabulum and parapleura. (Knoch.)

Meroblastic. - The term given to eggs which undergo a partial segmentation. (Gr. meros, a part and blastos, a sprout.) See Partial segmentation.

Mesenteron. - A short thin tube following the gizzard which connects the original anterior and posterior invaginators of the embryo. The mid gut comprising only the stomach. (Gr. mesos, middle, and enteron, intestines.)

Mesepimeron. - [See Mesepisternum.]

Mesepisternum. - One of the two elements placed on each side of the thorax of Ants, between the mesonotum and the mesosternum; the other element is the mesepimeron. The mesepisternum is placed ventrally while the mesepimeron is dorsal. (Wheeler.) (Gr. mesos, middle, and epi, on, and sternum.)

Meso-. - A Greek prefix signifying the middle.

Mesoblast. - (Gr. meso, and blastos, a sprout.) See Mesoderm.

Mesoderm, or Mesoblast. - The middle embryonic cell-layer lying between the endoderm and the ectoderm. (Gr. meso, and derma, skin.)

Mesodermal Streaks. - (Embryology.) The two lateral streaks formed by the mesoderm dividing, due to the withdrawal of its cells from the median line.

Mesonotum. - The upper surface of the mesothorax. (Gr. meso, and notum, from notos, the back.)

Mesothoracis cerebroida. - The third cerebroida. (L. meso, and thorax, and from cerebrum, a brain.) [PM]

Mesoparapteron. - A small sclerite placed behind the mesonotum of Ants; the præscutellum. (Wheeler.) (Gr. meso, para, beside, beyond, and pteron, a wing.)

Mesopedes. - The middle or intermediate legs. (Gr. meso, and pedes, from pous, a foot.)

Mesopedum nervi. - The two nerves descending to the feet from the mesothoracis cerebroida. (Gr. meso, and pedum, from pous, a foot; and neuron, a cord.)

Mesophragma. - A separating partition running parallel with the prophragma, and descending from the anterior margin of the metathorax. (Gr. meso, and phragma, an enclosure.)

Mesopleura. - The lateral surfaces of the mesothorax. (Gr. meso, and pleura, side.)

Mesoscutellum. - The scutellum of the mesothorax. (Gr. meso, and scutellum.)

Mesoscutum. - The scutum of the mesothorax. (Gr. meso, and scutum.)

Mesosternum. - The prominent central ridge of the medipectus. (Gr. meso, and L. sternum.)

Mesostethium. - The central piece between the intermediate and posterior legs. (Gr. meso, middle, and stethos, the breast.) See Acetabulum.

Mesothoracis scutellum. - The scutellum of the mesothorax. (Gr. meso, and L. thorax; and scutella, a flat plate.)

Mesothoracis scutum. - The scutum of the mesothorax. (Gr. meso, and L. thorax; and scutum, a shield.)

Mesothoracotheca. - The mesothoracic-case; that portion of the theca enclosing the mesothorax. (Gr. meso, thorax, and theca, a case.)

Mesothorax. - The third segment in insects. The middle segment of the thorax. (Gr. meso, and L. thorax.)

Meta-. - A Greek prefix signifying with, beyond, after, and among.

Metabolous. - With complete metamorphosis. (Gr. metabole, change.) See Holometabolous.

Metalæ. - The posterior or hind wings, arising from the sides of the metathorax, one behind each of the fore-wings (proalæ); they occasionally possess characters the fore-wings have not. (Gr. meta, and L. ala, a wing.)

Metameres. - The typical rings or segments of the insect body. (Gr. meta, and meros, a part.)

Metameric Sacs. - The osmeteria which the caterpillars of Orgyia and its allies protrude when aggravated. They are red, eversible tubercles, situated on the sixth and seventh abdominal segments.

Metamorphosis. - The transformation from the imperfect or larval state to the perfect or imagal state. An alteration in the appearance of an insect, owing to the development of parts previously concealed, by a sudden vernantia, or casting of the skin. There are only two divisions of metamorphosis recognised in Entomology: - perfect, when the pupa is quiescent, and imperfect, when it is active. (Gr. meta and morphe, shape; L. a transformation.)

Metanotum. - The upper surface of the metathorax. (Gr. meta, and notos, the back.)

Metaparapteron. - The term given to the post-scutellum of Ants. (Wheeler.) (Gr. meta, para, beside, beyond, and pteron, a wing.)

Metapedes. - The posterior or hind legs. (Gr. meta, and pous, a foot.)

Metaphragma. - A separating partition running parallel with the mesophragma, and descending from the anterior margin of the first abdominal segment. (Gr. meta, and phragma, an enclosure.) [PM]

Metaplanta. - The second joint of the tarsus. (Gr. meta, and L. planta, a sprout.)

Metapleura. - The lateral surfaces of the metathorax. (Gr. meta, and pleura, side.)

Metapneustic. - A term given to one of the intermediate types between the holopneustic and apneustic tracheal systems: - When only a single pair of open stigmata are situated at the end of the body. (Larvæ of Tipula, Culex, Coleoptera, Dyticus.) (Gr. meta, and pneuma, air.)

Metapnystega. - A corneous scale covering the pneumatic organs in the metathorax. (Kirby.)

Metapodeon. - The seventh segment in insects. (Gr. meta, and podeon.)

Metascutellum. - The scutellum of the metathorax. (Gr. meta, and scutellum.)

Metascutum. - The scutum of the metathorax. (Gr. meta, and scutum.)

Metasternum. - The under surface of the metathorax. (Gr. meta, and L. sternum breast-bone.)

Metatarsus. - The first joint of the tarsus. (Theobald.) (Gr. meta, and tarsus.)

Metathoracis cerebroida. - The second cerebroida; the cerebroida of the metathorax. (Gr. meta, thorax, and L. cerebrum, the brain.)

Methathoracis scutum. - The scutum of the metathorax. (Gr. meta, L. thorax, and scutum, a shield.)

Metathorax. - The fourth segment in insects. (Gr. meta, and L. thorax.)

Metazona. - The posterior portion of the pronotum of Forficulidæ (Earwigs). (Gr. meta, and zone, a belt, girdle, etc.)

Micropyles. - The openings in the chorion of ova, through which the spermatozoa may enter. (Gr. micro, small, and pule, an opening.)

Mid-intestine (or stomach). - A simple tube varying much in size and shape, and not usually lined with chitin as are the fore- and hind-intestines. Generally two or more cæcal tubes (compound stomach) open into the anterior end, or the whole outer surface is beset with villi. (A.S. mid, midd, and intestine).

Miniatus. - Of the colour of red-lead. (L., of a vermilion red.)

Modioliform. - Somewhat globular, but truncated at both ends like the nave of a wheel. (L. modius, the Roman corn measure, and forma, form.)

Mola. - The grinding surf ace of the mandibles. (L. mola, a mill.)

Monarsenous. - That kind of polygamy in which one male suffices for many females (Say). (Gr. monos, single, and arsen, a male.)

Mono-. - A Greek prefix for monos, signifying alone.

Monodactyle. - Armed with a movable nail or claw which closes on the tip (Say); it differs from chelate in having but one process. (Gr. monodaktulos, one fingered; mono, and daktulos, a finger.)

Monogamous. - Propagating by the union of one male and one female only. (Gr. monos, and gamos, marriage.)

Moniliform. - (Antennæ.) Having each joint oval or globose, resembling a necklace; bead-like in shape. (L. monile, a necklace, and form.)

Monomerous. - Of a single piece or joint. (Gr. mono, and meros a part.)

Monothelious. - That kind of polygamy in which the female is fecundated by many males (Say). (Gr. monos, one, and thelos, female.) See Monarsenous.

Monotypic. - Having one representative only, as a genus with a single species. (Gr. mono, and typos, an impression, from typto, to strike.)

Moschaite. - Possessing a musk-like smell. (L. moschus, musk.)

Moula. - “The knee-ball”; the convex and sometimes bent head of the tibia, armed with a horny process on either side for its attachment to the femur. (L.)

Moult, Moulting. - See Ecdysis. [PM]

Mucro. - A short, stout, sharp-pointed process. (L., a point.)

Mucro. - The central posterior point of the epigastrium - seen in many of the orders - which reposes between the posterior legs; and according to some authorities is useful to the insect during flight. (L.)

Mucronate. - Abruptly terminating in a sharp point; possessing pointed processes. (L. mucro.)

Multi-. - A Latin prefix for multus, signifying many, much.

Multiarticulate. - Possessing many joints. (L. multi, and articulo, articulare, to divide into joints.)

Multifid, Multifidous. - (Incision.) Cut into more than four, or many marginal segments. (L. multus, many, and findo, to cleave.)

Multipartite. - Divided into more than four partita. (L. multi, and pars, a part.)

Mumia. - See See Pupæ excaratæ. [PM]

Mumiæ pseudonymphæ. - The term Lamarck gives to those pupæ which in their last stage of pupation possess some degree of locomotion.

Muricate. - Having dispersed elevations rising in sharp points. (L. murex, a pointed rock.)

Muricatus. - When the surface is covered with pointed pustules. (L. murex.)

Murinus. - Grey with a yellowish tinge; of the colour of the mouse. (L. mus, muris, a mouse.)

Musculis antlia. - The muscles of the antlia. (L. muscles; and Gr. antlia.)

Mushroom Bodies rise from each side of the central mass caused by the procerebral lobes fusing together; these bodies consist of a rounded lobular mass (called the trabecula) of the procerebral lobe from which arises a double stalk, the larger being called the cauliculus, the smaller the peduncle or pedicel; these support the cup or calyx. (O.F. mouscheron; F. mousseron, from mousse, moss.)

Mutic. - Without point or spine; unarmed. (From L. mutilus, maimed.)

Muticum. - (From L. mutilus.) See Inermis.

Myoglyphides. - The muscle-notches; notches in the posterior margin of the collum, usually two in number, to which the elevator muscles are attached. It is chiefly observable in Coleoptera. (Gr. mys, a muscle, and glyphis, a notch.)

Myriapoda. - A class of the Articulata, including such as have an indeterminate number of jointed feet. (Gr. myrios, many, and pous, a foot.)

Mystax. - Hair situated on the clypeus, over the mouth; whiskers. (Gr. the beard upon the upper lip.)