Insecta \In*sec"ta\, n. pl. [NL. See Insect.]
1. (Zo["o]l.) One of the classes of Arthropoda, including
those that have one pair of antenn[ae], three pairs of
mouth organs, and breathe air by means of trache[ae],
opening by spiracles along the sides of the body. In this
sense it includes the Hexapoda, or six-legged insects and
the Myriapoda, with numerous legs. See Insect, n.
2. (Zo["o]l.) In a more restricted sense, the Hexapoda alone.
See Hexapoda.
3. (Zo["o]l.) In the most general sense, the Hexapoda,
Myriapoda, and Arachnoidea, combined.
Note: The typical Insecta, or hexapod insects, are divided
into several orders, viz.: Hymenoptera, as the bees
and ants; Diptera, as the common flies and gnats;
Aphaniptera, or fleas; Lepidoptera, or moths and
butterflies; Neuroptera, as the ant-lions and
hellgamite; Coleoptera, or beetles; Hemiptera, as
bugs, lice, aphids; Orthoptera, as grasshoppers and
cockroaches; Pseudoneuroptera, as the dragon flies
and termites; Euplexoptera, or earwings; Thysanura,
as the springtails, podura, and lepisma. See these
words in the Vocabulary.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
|
Diptera \Dip"te*ra\, n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. ? with two wings, di-
= di`s- twice + ? feather, wing: cf. F. dipt[`e]re.]
(Zo["o]l.)
An extensive order of insects having only two functional
wings and two balancers, as the house fly, mosquito, etc.
They have a suctorial proboscis, often including two pairs of
sharp organs (mandibles and maxill[ae]) with which they
pierce the skin of animals. They undergo a complete
metamorphosis, their larv[ae] (called maggots) being usually
without feet.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
|