Insects, General Applicable Terms

The region of the body of an arthropod behind the thorax: The abdomen of a small air-breathing insect comprises up to ten segments.

The invasion, through time, of a wide diversity of adaptive zones and niches by a group of organisms undergoing evolutionary diversification: Adaptive radiation is very important in creating biodiversity patterns throughout a variety of geographical areas and ecosystems.

A reference to activities which take place in flight: While sitting on the sand at the beach, jack and Jill watched the seagulls putting on a terrific aerial display in the air.

The thin-walled expansion of the tracheal system of an arthropod which increases or strengthens the inspiration and the exhalation of air: Air sacs give buoyancy to aquatic insects, and in dragonflies, and air sacs provide insulation around the thoracic wing muscles.

A tube adapted for digestion, through which food passes: The alimentary canal is a complex organ consisting of the mouth cavity, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, and the small and large intestines.

1. Of or relating to nourishment or nutrition: In school, Tom learned about the alimentary canal which consisted of the mouth, the esophagus, the stomach, and the intestine.
2. Concerning the supply of sustenance or maintenance: Jack went to the alimentary store to buy some food for the weekend.

Apparently a self-sacrificing behavior performed by one creature for the benefit of others: Altruism> can be an instinctive act or behavior that is harmful to one living form of life but encourages the survival of its genes, as by helping or being beneficial to its relatives.

A reference to insects having no metamorphosis (no major change in physical form): The ametabolous Apterygota is wingless and its larvae hatch from eggs in a form essentially identical to the adult except for the size and undeveloped genitalia. The llarvae develop in which the size increases at each molting, or periodically shed a part or all of the outer covering of their bodies (hair, skin, or feathers, etc.) which is then replaced with a new growth.

One of about twenty compounds comprising both a basic amino group and an acidic carboxyl group (organic compound with acidic properties), which combine in their hundreds to form proteins: Amino acids are substances which contain nitrogen and hydrogen and that are found in proteins.

Amino acids materialize naturally in the body.

A reference to the capability of living in both water and land: Some amphibious creatures include frogs, toads, salamanders, and caecilians.

Pertaining to organisms, such as many bacteria that are able to live in an environment that lacks free oxygen: Such anaerobic one-celled organisms can thrive in an environment without oxygen, like in injured tissues of people.

A type of worm characterized by numerous appendage-bearing or leg-bearing body segments; ringed worm; segmented worm: An annelid is an invertebrate organism with a flat body that is divided into segments.

Earthworms and leeches are annelids of the Phylum "Anelida".

An ingrowth or other rigid process of the exoskeleton: An apodeme is typically adaptedd for serving as a muscle attachment.

Any limb or articulated outgrowth of the insect body: Such appendages can be the antennae or wings.

A member of the class Arachnida of the phylum Chelicerata: Spiders, scorpions, ticks, and mites are all arachnids.