Glossary terms beginning with C

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.
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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.
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Carabiform

a term used to describe the body shape of insect larvae that have short legs, short cerci and a flattened body.
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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.
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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.
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Caterpillar

the second stage in the life cycle of butterflies and moths.
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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.
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Cerci

paired appendages on the abdomen of many insects.
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Cerumen

a substance created by social bees that is used to make structures within the bee nest.
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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.
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Chelae

pincers or claws at the end of arachnid or crustacean appendages.
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Chelicerae

jointed appendages possessed by some arthropods and used for feeding.
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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.
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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.
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Chorion

the outer shell of an insect's egg.
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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.
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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.
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Class

one of the seven taxonomic ranks used to classify living organisms. Class comes after Phylum and before Order.
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Claw

the final segment in the leg of an insect.
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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.
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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.
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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).
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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.
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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.
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Complete metamorphosis

a type of metamorphosis in which an insect goes through four distinct stages: egg, larva, pupa, imago.
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Compound eye

the main visual organ in insects.
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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.
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Conspecific

organisms of the same species.
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Coprophagous

a feeding behaviour where an organism eats excrement/faeces.
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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.
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Costa

a region or vein at the front of an insect's wing.
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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.
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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.
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Crepuscular

a term describing animals active during dawn and dusk.
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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.
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Crustaceans

a large group within of the Arthropods including crabs, shrimps and lobsters.
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Crypsis

the ability for a organism to blend in with its environment.
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Cryptic speciation

a biological process resulting in a group of species that cannot interbreed but which have individuals that are morphologically identical.
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Cuneus

a triangular region found on the fore wings of some Hemiptera.
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Cursorial

a phrase used to describe the legs of some insects and other invertebrates that are modified for running.
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Cuticle

part of the external skeleton of arthropods.
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