Glossary terms beginning with F
- Facet
- the hexagonal face on the ommatidia within a compound eye.
Read more on: Facet - False eye
- cf. Eyespot - markings on an insect, usually the wings, that have a similar appearance to a mammalian eye. Commonly used to scare off potential predators.
- False scorpion
- cf. Pseudoscorpion - a small arachnid that superficially resembles true scorpions but does not possess a sting.
- Family
- one of the seven taxonomic ranks used to classify living organisms. Family comes after Order and before Genus.
Read more on: Family - 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.
Read more on: Fang - Fecundity
- the number of eggs or offspring produced by an animal.
Read more on: Fecundity - Feelers
- cf. Antenna - paired sensory organs on the head of insects.
- Feigning death
- cf. Thanatosis - the behaviour of feigning death, usually to deceive a predator.
- Female reproductive
- cf. Queen - the reproductive female within a colony of social insects.
- Femur
- part of the insect leg between trochanter and tibia.
Read more on: Femur - Filiform
- a term used to describe thin, thread-like antennae.
Read more on: Filiform - Firebrat
- cf. Thysanura - the Thysanura (or three-pronged bristletails) are an Order of insects. They are wingless and possess three filaments at the end of the abdomen.
- Fireflies
- cf. Lampyridae - a family of beetles, also known as glow-worms, and most notable for their ability to emit light.
- Fishfly
- cf. Megaloptera - the Order Megaloptera are primitive insects. The Order contains about 300 species. Insects in the Order are known by a variety of names including Alderflies, Dobsonflies and Fishflies.
- Fleas
- cf. Siphonaptera - the Siphonaptera (or fleas) are an Order of insects. Fleas are well-known parasites on vertebrate animals including humans.
- Fly
- cf. Diptera - the Diptera/true flies are an Order of insects. Characteristically they have one pair of wings, the hind wings being reduced to balance organs called halteres.
- Flying ant day
- the colloquial name given to the day when winged ants emerge from their colonies and go on their nuptial flight.
Read more on: Flying ant day - Food plant
- the type of plant eaten by a particular species.
Read more on: Food plant - Forensic entomology
- the use of a knowledge of entomology in the investigation of criminal activity.
Read more on: Forensic entomology - Formicidae
- the Formicidae/Ants are a family of insects within the Order Hymenoptera. They form colonies with many flightless workers and a reproductive queen.
Read more on: Formicidae - Fossorial
- a phrase used to describe the legs of some insects and other invertebrates that are modified for digging.
Read more on: Fossorial - Fovea
- an area in the compound eye that provides greater visual acuity than the rest of the eye.
Read more on: Fovea - Frass
- the droppings of insect larvae.
Read more on: Frass - Frenulum
- a row of bristles used to connect the fore and hind wings in some insects.
Read more on: Frenulum - Furcula
- the springing organ of Collembola.
Read more on: Furcula
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