Glossary

abdomen: the third and posterior-most body section of an insect

abdominal scent brush: long, paired, brush-like pheromone-emitting organs located at the base of the ventral abdomen in males of some moth species; sometimes called hair pencils, sex tufts, ventral tufts, or many other terms.; can also be used to refer to groups of setae on larvae

antemedial area: the portion of the forewing that is located between the basal and antemedial lines

antemedial line:  a thin transverse line found on the basal third of the forewing, between the median and basal lines

antenna: a thin, paired, elongate, segmented sensory organ on the head that serves primarily for olfaction (smell) to find food and mates, but also aids in navigation and balance

anterior: the 'head' end of an organism, as opposed to the posterior or 'tail' end of an organism

apex: the point furthest from the base; the apex of the wing may be rounded, pointed, or falcate

basal: the part of an appendage nearest to where it connects to the body; often referred to as 'proximal'

basal area: the portion of the wing that is located between the wing base and basal line

basal line: a transverse line extending across the forewing near the base. The transverse line on the forewing closest to the wing base

bipectinate: referring to a structure with two opposite margins toothed like a feather, typically refers to the antenna

claviform spot: an elongate spot or mark extending laterally from the antemedial line into the median area, toward and sometimes reaching the postmedial line

costa: the anterior margin of the forewing; sometimes called the 'leading margin'

crochets: sclerotized, hooklike structures, usually arranged in rows or circles on the prolegs of Lepidoptera larvae

discal cell: a large, central compartment on the wing surrounded by veins

discal spot: a broad spot found at the end of the discal cell. The forewing discal spot is usually referred to as the reniform spot in noctuid moths.

distal: towards the free end of an appendage

dorsal: the back or upper side of an organism

dorsal tuft: a patch or row of raised scales along the dorsal surface of the thorax; especially common in certain subfamilies of noctuids like Plusiinae

filiform: hair-like or thread-like, usually refers to an antenna

forewing: the front wing of an insect; the wing attached to the second segment of the thorax (the mesothorax)

forewing length: the distance of the forewing in a straight line from the base to the tip of the apex

fovea: a modified area on the male forewing; it often appears as a large, raised pit or depression

frenulum: a bristle or a group of bristles on the hindwing of some moths that hooks into the retinaculum, thereby uniting the wings for synchronized movement during flight; males typically have a single bristle, females typically have two or more

fringe: the scales, setae, or hairs that extend beyond the edge of a wing membrane

head: the first and anterior-most body section of an insect

hindwing: the back wing of an insect; the wing attached to the third segment of the thorax (the metathorax)

inner margin: the hind margin of the forewing, opposite the costal margin; also called 'posterior margin' or 'trailing margin'

lateral: on the side of a structure

marginal band: a dark, broad band along the outer margin of the hindwing

medial: in the middle of a structure, along the midline

median area: the portion of the wing between the antemedial and postmedial lines

median line: a transverse line located in the median area of the forewing, typically between the orbicular spot and reniform spot

orbicular spot: a round or oval spot located in the middle of the discal cell of the forewing, between the antemedial and median lines

pinaculum: a small, flat, or slightly elevated chitinized area bearing a seta or setae

posterior: the 'tail' end of an organism, as opposed to the anterior or 'head' end of an organism

postmedial line: a thin, transverse line located distal to the reniform spot, typically on the distal third of the forewing

reniform spot: a spot, often broad bean- or kidney-shaped, found at the distal end of the discal cell

retinaculum: a wing-coupling structure located on the underside of the forewing; acts to 'hook' the frenulum in place to the forewing

scale: flattened, cuticular extensions that cover much of the body and wings of butterflies and moths

spur: a moveable spine; often refers to an enlarged or otherwise modified spine on the legs of some moths

stigma: a distinctive metallic, often silver or gold-colored, marking on the forewing in many species of Plusiinae

subterminal area: the portion of the wing that is located between the postmedial and subterminal lines

subterminal line: a thin, transverse line situated near the distal end of the forewing between the postmedial and terminal lines

termen: distal margin of the wing where the fringe is

terminal area: the portion of the wing that is located distal to the subterminal line and basal of the terminal line

terminal line: a thin, transverse line situated near the margin of the forewing at the base of the fringe

thorax: the second, or middle, body segment of an insect

tibia: the fourth segment of the insect leg; often a large and elongate segment with some ornamentation or identifying structures

tornus: the disto-posterior corner of the wing; also called the 'anal angle'

ventral: refers to the bottom or underside of an organism