node
A rounded, knob-like structure; such as, the petiolar node (the upper rounded portion of the petiole or the slender stem that supports the blade of a leaf).
nomadic phase
The period (as opposed to the
statary phase) in the activity cycle of an army ant colony during which the colony forages more actively for food and moves frequently from one bivouac site to another.
At this time the queen does not lay eggs, and the bulk of the brood is in the larval stage.
nomadism
The relatively frequent movement by an entire colony from one nest site to another.
nuptial flight
The mating flight of the winged queens and males.
nymph
In general entomology, the young stage of any insect species with
hemimetabolous development.
In termites, used in a slightly more restricted sense to designate immature individuals who possess external wing buds and enlarged gonads and who are capable of developing into functional reproductives by further molting.
occipital lobes
The rear corners of the head.
ocellus (s), ocelli (pl)
One of the three simple eyes of adult insects, located on or near the center line of the dorsal surface of the head.
The ocelli (eyes having a single lens) should be distinguished from the laterally placed compound eyes.
odor trail
A chemical trace laid down by one insect and followed by another.
The odorous material is referred to either as the "trail pheromone" or the "trail substance".
oligogyny
The occurrence in a single colony of two or a few other functional queens.
Oligogyny is characterized by worker tolerance toward more than one queen, and antagonism among queens, so that multiple queens cannot coexist in the same immediate vicinity and must spread out.
oligogyny, oligogynous
The presence of a few queens within a single colony of ants.
ommatidium
One of the basic visual units, or facets, of the insect compound eye.
The ommatidia are bounded externally by the facets that together make up the glassy, rounded outer surface of the eye.
oophagy
Egg cannibalism; the eating by a colony member of her own eggs or those laid by a nest mate.
ortstreue
The tendency to return repeatedly to the same site during foraging or guard duty.
ovariole
One of the egg tubes which, together, form the ovary in female insects.
palp formula
The number of segments in the maxillary (second pair of jaws under the principal pair) and labial palps respectively.
If the formula had six,four; it would mean six segments in the maxillary palp and four in the labial palp.
Here are two additional word units that deal directly with "ants":
formic- and myrmeco-.
Index of additional Scientific and Technological Topics.
Bibliography of Entomology or Insect Terms (The Ants).
