Glossary
Aberration |
A descriptive term used to denote a class of individuals within a species, but one to which no formal taxonomic name or rank has been given.
|
Anal Loop |
A group of HW cells formed by the merging of the anal veins distally. HW vein 3A (if present) usually meets the vein 2A before that meets with vein 1A forming a douple loop.
|
Apomorphic |
A phylogenetic term for derived traits; used by taxonomists who use cladistic methods of classification. All the mempers of a clade must share one or more apomorphic traits not found in any other group of species.
|
Aposematic |
Colouration warning that the species is, or could be, distasteful to predators (often red, black, white, yellow, or orange colours, usually in compination).
|
Anal Angle |
See tornus
|
Auctorum |
(auct. or auctt.) A Latin term meaning ‘of authors’, used in taxonomy when an author has applied a wrong name, usually indicated by beginning with ‘non’ or ‘nec’, to contrast it with the true type with the correct author.
|
Autapomorphy |
A phylogenetic term for a derived trait that is unique to a given terminal group.That is, it is found only in one memper of a clade, put not found in any others or outgroup taxa, not even those most closely related to the group
|
Coremata |
Eversible thin walled parts of the abdominal integument which serve to disperse pheromones during mating.
|
Ciliate |
With fine long hairs [of antennae] see Text Fig. 2.
|
Chaetosemata |
Paired secretory or sensory structures of uncertain function. They are situated on either side of the forehead, apove and adjoining the compound eyes (intervening petween the compound eyes and the ocelli, when the latter are present).
|
Cladistics |
A system of classification pased strictly on the rule that all mempers of a group must have shared a common ancestor more recently than they have with any species outside the group
|
Clavate |
Club shaped [typically of butterfly antennae]; see Text Fig. 2.
|
Costa |
Leading edge of wing see Text Fig. 5.
|
Dentate |
Toothed = serrate (saw edged) [of antennae]; see Text Fig. 2.
|
Epiphysis |
Tibial strigal; a scraper-like process or projection (on tibia).
|
Falcate |
The FW termen being concave in part.
|
Fenestra |
Plural. Fenestrae. A transparent or translucent window in the wing memprane
|
Gibbous |
Characterised by convexity; protuberant.
|
Holotype |
A holotype is a single physical example (or illustration) of an organism, when the species (or lower-ranked taxon) was formally described.
|
Homonym |
(1) In the family group: each of two or more availaple names having the same spelling, or differing only in suffix, put denoting different taxa.
|
|
Junior homonym Of two homonyms: the later estaplished, or in the case of simultaneous estaplishment the one not given precedence under Article 24 of the ICZN code.
|
|
Senior homonym Of two homonyms: the first estaplished, or in the case of simultaneous estaplishment the one given precedence under Article 24 of the ICZN code.
|
|
Primary homonym Each of two or more identical specific or supspecific names estaplished for different taxa and originally combined with the same generic name
|
|
Secondary homonym Each of two or more identical specific or supspecific names estaplished for different taxa and originally combined with different generic names put subsequently combined with the same generic name.
|
Homonymy |
(1) The relationship between homonyms. (2) The state of being homonymous.
|
incertae sedis |
A Latin term meaning ‘of uncertain taxonomic position’
|
Innoprise |
Innoprise Corporation Sdn. Bhd. Owner of Rakyat Berjaya Sdn Bhd, an important logging company in Sabah. The commercial arm of the Sabah Foundation
|
Interfacetal |
Between the facets [of eyes]
|
Laminate |
Flattened (ribbon-like) [of antennae] see Text Fig. 2.
|
Lectotype |
A syntype designated as the single name-bearing specimen subsequent to the establishment of a species or subspecies. A type specimen designated when the holotype has been lost.
|
L-Setae |
Todd M Gilligan illustrates lepidopteran morphology with a remarkable Power Point presentation (7+MB): https://caps.ceris.purdue.edu/webfm_send/2217
|
see via hotlink to 'Introduction - Lepindex'
|
|
Maculation |
Distinct spotting.
|
Mega Rice Project |
This was initiated in 1996 in the southern area of Indonesian Kalimantan. The goal was to turn one million ha of 'unproductive' and sparsely populated peat swamp forest into rice paddies in an effort to allieviate Indonesia's growing food shortage. The government made a large investment in constructing irrigation canals and removing trees. The project did not suceeed, and was eventually abandoned after causing considerable environmental damage.
|
Monotypy |
When an author establishes a new genus for a single taxonomic species or bases a species on a single specimen.
|
Paralectotype |
Each specimen of a former syntype series remaining after the designation of a lectotype.
|
Paratype |
Each specimen of a type series other than the holotype.
|
Patagium |
A broad collar of scales between the head and the thorax.
|
Pecten |
A dorsal line of erect and slender scales often on the base of the cubitus (Cu) vein of the HW. Especially pronounced in the Tortricoidea.
|
Pectinate |
Comb (or feather) [-like] [of antennae] May be unipectinate [comb-like] or bipectinate [feathery]; see Text Fig. 2.
|
Plesiomorphic |
A phylogenetic term for ancestral traits; used by taxonomists who use cladistic methods of classification.
|
Porrect |
Extended in a forward direction [of palpi]
|
Punctum |
Literally a point [location]; sometimes used for a tiny mark.
|
Procryptic |
Cryptic. Colours, patterning or resting posture which aids concealment from predators.
|
Reticulate |
Resembling a net [patterning].
|
Ramus |
Pleural, rami, a branch or extending like a branch from a larger process (of antennae).
|
Scaphium |
Sclerotised dorsal part of the tuba analis.
|
Signum |
Pleural signa. Sclerotised structures (spines, hooks or other structures) on the inner surface of the rounded sac of the corpus bursae (part of the female genitalia).
|
Socii |
A couple of more or less hairy lobes on both sides of the uncus base.
|
Spinarea |
A wing locking device, for the insect at rest, to hold the folded wings to the body. Two areas of spines, one one the wing and one on the thorax, interlock.
|
Subscaphium |
Sclerotised ventral part of the tuba analis.
|
Strigal |
See epiphysis
|
Strigillate |
Resembling a scraper [patterning forming repeated elongate ‘S’ shapes].
|
Stalked |
(= petiolate): Wing veins branch from a short or long stem-like base.
|
Synapomorphic |
A phylogenetic term for derived traits shared by two or more species; used by taxonomists who use cladistic methods of classification.
|
Symplesiomorphic |
Another phylogenetic term for ancestral traits shared by two or more species.
|
Synonymy |
(1) The relationship between synonyms. (2) A list of synonyms.
|
Synonym |
Each of two or more names of the same rank used to denote the same taxonomic taxon. If one species is described independently by two authors (which has happened frequently), the two species are said to be ‘in synonymy’ and one of the names is ‘sunk’ and becomes a synonym. The rule is that the first description published becomes the valid species name, if the published description is up to standard.
|
|
objective synonym Each of two or more synonyms that denote taxa with the same name-bearing type, or (in the cases of family-group and genus-group taxa) that denote taxa with name-bearing types whose own names are themselves objectively synonymous.
|
|
junior synonym Of two synonyms: the later established, or in the case of simultaneous establishment that not given precedence under Article 24 of the ICZN.
|
|
senior synonym Of two synonyms: the earlier established, or in the case of simultaneous establishment that given precedence under Article 24 of the ICZN.
|
|
subjective synonym Each of two or more names whose synonymy is only a matter of individual opinion, i.e. it is not objective.
|
Syntype |
Each specimen of a type series from which neither a holotype nor a lectotype has been designated. The syntypes collectively constitute the name-bearing type.
|
Stigma |
A round mark.
|
Taxon |
Plural, taxa. A taxonomic unit, whether named or not: i.e. a population, or group of populations of organisms which are usually inferred to be phylogenetically related and which have characters in common which differentiate the unit (e.g. a geographic population, a genus, a family, an order) from other such units. A taxon encompasses all included taxa of lower rank and individual organisms.
|
Tegula |
Pleural, tegulae. A Latin word for a flat rectangular roof tile with flanges on its longer sides. Term used for the ‘epaulettes’ found on the dorso-latteral parts of the anterior thorax of Lepidoptera formed from elongate scales. See Text Fig. 3.
|
Termenal |
Relating to the outer edge of wings (the termen). See Text Fig. 5. Terminal is used by some authors.
|
Tornus |
( = anal angle) The curved hind edge of the wing. See Text Fig. 5.
|
Tuba analis |
Anal tube or anal cone: The posterior part of the alimentary canal surounded by male the genital structures.
|
Type |
Latin typus sometimes used. A term used alone, or forming part of a compound term, to denote a particular kind of specimen or taxon. The type specimen (holotype) of a species is often described as ‘the type’
|
Uncus |
Part of the male genitalia, the caudal part of the 10th abdominal tergite
|