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Glossary terms beginning with C

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Caddises
cf. Trichoptera - the Trichoptera (caddisflies or, more correctly, Caddises) are an Order of insects. They are well known for their larvae as, in many species, they form a case out of stones of organic matter in which they live.
Caddisflies
cf. Trichoptera - the Trichoptera (caddisflies or, more correctly, Caddises) are an Order of insects. They are well known for their larvae as, in many species, they form a case out of stones of organic matter in which they live.
Calypter
a membranous flap that is located at the base of the wing in some species of fly.
Read more on: Calypter
Camouflage
cf. Crypsis - the ability for a organism to blend in with its environment.
Campodeiform
a term used to describe the body shape of insect larvae that have well developed legs and antennae and a flattened body.
Read more on: Campodeiform
Carabiform
a term used to describe the body shape of insect larvae that have short legs, short cerci and a flattened body.
Read more on: Carabiform
Carl Linnaeus
cf. Linnaeus - the Swedish biologist who first described many species and developed the system of naming organisms that is still used today.
Carnivore
an organism whose diet is primarily composed of meat.
Read more on: Carnivore
Carpet beetle
cf. Dermestidae - a family of beetles often known as carpet beetles or larder beetles.
Case-bearers
cf. Psychidae - a group of small moths, also known as bagworms or case-bearers, whose females never leave their pupal case.
Casters
cf. Puparium - an outer covering that protects the pupae of some flies (the Cyclorrhapha).
Castes
different individuals within the same species of social insect that have a different appearance suited to their behaviour.
Read more on: Castes
Caterpillar
the second stage in the life cycle of butterflies and moths.
Read more on: Caterpillar
CCD
cf. Colony Collapse Disorder - the mass disappearance of worker honey bees from the hive resulting in disintegration of the colony.
Centipede
cf. Chilopoda - the Chilopoda are a group of predatory arthropods more commonly known as centipedes.
Cephalothorax
the anterior most of the two body sections of an arachnid.
Read more on: Cephalothorax
Cerci
paired appendages on the abdomen of many insects.
Read more on: Cerci
Cerumen
a substance created by social bees that is used to make structures within the bee nest.
Read more on: Cerumen
Cetoniinae
cf. Goliath beetle - a subfamily of Scarab beetles. Goliath beetles are some of the largest of the beetles with some larvae weighing as much as 100 grams.
Chafer
cf. Scarab - a family of beetles that have distinctively shaped antennae and are often metallic in colouration.
Chagas disease
a disease, caused by a protozoan parasite, transmitted to humans and other mammals by the action of blood feeding bugs.
Read more on: Chagas disease
Chelae
pincers or claws at the end of arachnid or crustacean appendages.
Read more on: Chelae
Chelicerae
jointed appendages possessed by some arthropods and used for feeding.
Read more on: Chelicerae
Cheliceral fang
cf. Fang - hollow, pointed structures attached to the chelicerae of spiders that are used to deliver venom. Centipedes also possess fangs but these are different in structure.
Chelicerata
a subphylum of the arthropods.
Read more on: Chelicerata
Chiggers
cf. Harvest mite - mites within the Family Trombiculidae. The larvae of these mites, called Chiggers, are parasitic and can cause considerable irritation and swelling.
Child of the Earth
cf. Jerusalem Cricket - a species of cricket found from Nebraska to New Mexico and Mexico, north along the pacific coast to Washington and east to Montana.
Child of the Ground
cf. Jerusalem Cricket - a species of cricket found from Nebraska to New Mexico and Mexico, north along the pacific coast to Washington and east to Montana.
Chilopoda
the Chilopoda are a group of predatory arthropods more commonly known as centipedes.
Read more on: Chilopoda
Chitin
a tough, translucent material found in arthropod exoskeletons.
Read more on: Chitin
Chorion
the outer shell of an insect's egg.
Read more on: Chorion
Chrysalid
cf. Chrysalis - the third stage in the life cycle of a butterfly or moth.
Chrysalis
the third stage in the life cycle of a butterfly or moth.
Read more on: Chrysalis
Cicada
insects in the Order Hemiptera. They are best known for their long life cycles and loud song.
Read more on: Cicada
Clap-net
a clap-net is a type of butterfly net. No known example of a clap-net was thought to exist until one was discovered in 2007.
Read more on: Clap-net
Class
one of the seven taxonomic ranks used to classify living organisms. Class comes after Phylum and before Order.
Read more on: Class
Claw
the final segment in the leg of an insect.
Read more on: Claw
Cleptoparasite
cf. Kleptoparasite - an animal that steals food or prey from another animal.
Click beetle
a family of beetles known for their ability to fling themselves into the air. Their larvae are called wireworms.
Read more on: Click beetle
Clypeus
one of the plates forming the 'face' of an insect.
Read more on: Clypeus
Coccinellidae
cf. Ladybird - beetles within the family Coccinellidae are known as ladybirds. They are amongst the most recognisable insects due to their distinctive colouration (commonly black dots on a red or yellow background).
Cockchafer
cf. Scarab - a family of beetles that have distinctively shaped antennae and are often metallic in colouration.
Cockroach
cf. Blattodea - an Order of insects that contains the cockroaches. Cockroaches are some of the most despised insects despite there being only about 25 species that are considered pests.
Cocoon
the protective covering around the pupae or chrysalis of some insects.
Read more on: Cocoon
Cold-blooded
cf. Ectothermic - animals that cannot regulate their body temperature relative to the environment.
Coleoptera
the Coleoptera/beetles are regarded as the most species rich of all the Orders of insects.
Read more on: Coleoptera
Coleopterist
a coleopterist is someone who studies beetles (Coleoptera).
Read more on: Coleopterist
Coleorrhyncha
a suborder of the true bugs (Order Hemiptera). The Coleorrhyncha contains just 30 species.
Read more on: Coleorrhyncha
Collembola
the Collembola/springtails are one of the three non-insect hexapod classes of invertebrates.
Read more on: Collembola
Colony Collapse Disorder
the mass disappearance of worker honey bees from the hive resulting in disintegration of the colony.
Read more on: Colony Collapse Disorder
Commensalism
symbiotic relationship between two organisms where one organism benefits from the relationship and the other is unaffected.
Read more on: Commensalism
Complete metamorphosis
a type of metamorphosis in which an insect goes through four distinct stages: egg, larva, pupa, imago.
Read more on: Complete metamorphosis
Compound eye
the main visual organ in insects.
Read more on: Compound eye
Cone-nosed bugs
cf. Assassin bug - insects in the Order Hemiptera (True bugs) that feed on the bodily fluids of other animals.
Conservation
the maintenance and protection of biodiversity.
Read more on: Conservation
Conspecific
organisms of the same species.
Read more on: Conspecific
Coprophagous
a feeding behaviour where an organism eats excrement/faeces.
Read more on: Coprophagous
Corbicula
cf. Pollen basket - a structure on the legs of bees in which pollen is carried.
Corneal facet
cf. Facet - the hexagonal face on the ommatidia within a compound eye.
Cornicle
tubular projections from the abdomen of an aphid.
Read more on: Cornicle
Costa
a region or vein at the front of an insect's wing.
Read more on: Costa
Costal
cf. Costa - a region or vein at the front of an insect's wing.
Coxa
the first segment (closest to the body) of an insect leg.
Read more on: Coxa
Crane fly
a family of true flies that are known for their long thin legs.
Read more on: Crane fly
Creepy crawly
cf. Minibeast - a general term, with no true biological meaning, used to describe a variety of different invertebrates.
Cremaster
a series of hooks used to attach the pupa of a butterfly or moth to a twig or other structure.
Read more on: Cremaster
Crepuscular
a term describing animals active during dawn and dusk.
Read more on: Crepuscular
Crickets
cf. Orthoptera - the Orthoptera (or grasshoppers and crickets) are an Order of insects. They commonly have large hind legs that are used for jumping.
Crop
part of an insect's gut. The crop is often used as a temporary store for food.
Read more on: Crop
Crustaceans
a large group within of the Arthropods including crabs, shrimps and lobsters.
Read more on: Crustaceans
Crypsis
the ability for a organism to blend in with its environment.
Read more on: Crypsis
Cryptic speciation
a biological process resulting in a group of species that cannot interbreed but which have individuals that are morphologically identical.
Read more on: Cryptic speciation
Cuneus
a triangular region found on the fore wings of some Hemiptera.
Read more on: Cuneus
Cursorial
a phrase used to describe the legs of some insects and other invertebrates that are modified for running.
Read more on: Cursorial
Cuticle
part of the external skeleton of arthropods.
Read more on: Cuticle

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