N

Naked. - (Pupæ.) - (A.S. nacod, + Du. noakt, Ger. nackt.) See Pupæ nudæ.

Nasus. - The nose; that portion of the face often elevated and remarkable, situated between the labrum, postnasus, and genæ, and with which the labrum articulates. It includes the rhinarium. (L., the nose.)

Natatorial. - Adapted for swimming. (L. no, natum, to swim.)

Navicular. - When two sides meet and form an angle, like the keel of a boat. (L. navicula, a little ship.)

Nebulose. - Cloud-like in colouring, having, lighter, darker, and paler markings resembling the irregular colouring of a cloud. (Gr. nephele, a mist, a cloud.)

Necrophagous. - Feeding on dead or decaying matter. (Gr. nekros, dead, and phago, to eat.)

Nectaries. - The Cornicles. - (From L. nectar, nectar.)

Nervi antennarum. - The antennary nerves. They originate from the anterior margin of each hemisphere of the cerebrum, but more laterally when the antennæ are lateral, and centrically when those organs are inserted in the face. They run as simple undivided filaments, which in the first case pass over the tendons of the mandibles, and in the second proceed contiguously to the great flexors of the mandibles, to the root of the antennæ, immediately beneath the membrane connecting them to the clypeus, but without sending off branches. They run from the base of the antennæ to the apexes, giving off on all sides delicate auxiliary branches to the muscles. (Burmeister.) (L.)

Nervi labii. - The labial nerves; these nerves come, when separated from those of the maxillæ, from the centre of the anterior margins of the cerebellum, and run direct to the labium, and here divide into several-generally two- main branches, the inner ones going to the tongue, and the outer ones to the labial palpi. (Burmeister.) (L.)

Nervi mandibularum. - The mandibular nerves. They pass out of the anterior portion of the cerebellum; they give off several delicate auxiliary branches to the flexors and extendors of the mandibles, and lastly, accompanied by branches of the trachea, pass into the cavity of the mandibles. (Burmeister.) (L.)

Nervi maxillarum. - The maxillary nerves. They sometimes originate in front, and sometimes behind the nerves of the mandibles, from the cerebellum, and run closely to them, passing between the muscles to the maxillæ. (Burmeister.) (L.)

Nervi oculorum. - The optic nerves. They originate from the lateral margins of the hemispheres of the cerebrum, and extend to the orbits, becoming gradually clavate, where they radiate into many branches. (Burmeister.) (L.)

Nervi optici secundarii. - The auxiliary optic nerves. They are peculiar only to insects possessing stemmata, and originate from the central portion of the cerebrum, and extend as simple and very fine filaments to the spot where the stemmata are situated, and then gradually diverge from each other. (Burmeister.) (L.)

Nervous System. - [See Cerebral ganglion.]

Nervures, or Nerves (Nervi). - (Wing.) Corneous tubes for expanding the wing, and keeping it tense. (L. nervus, from Gr. neuron, a sinew, a chord.)

Neurilemma. - The hardish sheath formed of cells and nuclei covering the ganglii. (Gr. neuron, and lemma, a husk, or rind.)

Neuroptera. - A family of Hexapoda. An order of insects having four transparent, finely reticulated, membranous wings. (Gr. neuron, a nerve, and pteron, a wing.)

Nictitant ocellus. - When the eye of colour includes a lunar spot of a different colour. (From L. nicto, to wink, and oculus, an eye.)

Niger. - The colour of lamp-black. (L. black.)

Nigrescent. - Approaching to black in colour. (L. nigresco, to grow black.)

Nigricanite. - Blackish; a bright black inclining to grey. (L. nigror, oris, blackness; dark colour.)

Nigricans. - An impure black colour. (L. niger.)

Nitid. - Shining. - (L. nitidus, shining, from niteo, to shine.)

Nitidum, Nitidus. - Shiny and glossy like metal. (L. niteo, to shine.)

Niveus. - White; snow-like. (L., snow.)

Nodding Horn. - When a horn bends forwards. (M.E. nodden; not in A.S.; but the original form began with hn; and A.S. horn.)

Nodose (Nodosum.) - (Antennæ.) Having the intermediate and terminal joints thicker than the remainder. Knotted, having knots or swelling joints. (L. nodosus, knotty; nodus, a knot.)

Nodular. - Pertaining to a nodule or knot. (L. nodus.)

Nodule. - A small knot or swelling. (L. nodus.)

Nodulose, Nodulous. - Possessing knots. (L. nodus.)

Normal. - This term is used loosely, but its meaning in comparison is always easily understood from the context. (L. normalis, adj. - L. norma, a carpenter's square.)

Nostril. - (E. nostril = nose-thrill, or nose-thirl; A.S. nos-u, nose.) See Rhinarium.

Notum. - The dorsal surface of a segment - the term is little used in this form, it is generally taken with its preceding part, ex. pronotum, etc. (Gr. notum, from notos, the back.)

Nucha. - The nape; the upper part of the collum. it includes the myoglyphides. (Arabic.)

Nucleat, Nucleiform. - Possessing a nucleus; in the form of a nucleus. (L. nucleus, small nut, kernel. - L. nut, stem of nux, a nut.)

Nucleus. - A nerve-centre. (L.)

Nudum. - Naked; having no markings or dust covering. (L. nudus, naked.)

Nutant. - (Head.) In observing the relations of the head to the thorax, the term is used when its longitudinal diameter forms an obtuse angle with the axis of the body. Nodding; bent down. (L. nutans from nuto, to nod.)

Nutant. - Bending over at the apex. (L. nutans.)

Nymph. - The pupal stage of an insect which undergoes incomplete metamorphosis. An ancient term for pupa. (L. nympha, a pupa.)