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Glossary terms beginning with F

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Facet
the hexagonal face on the ommatidia within a compound eye.
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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.
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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.
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Fecundity
the number of eggs or offspring produced by an animal.
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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.
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Filiform
a term used to describe thin, thread-like antennae.
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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.
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Food plant
the type of plant eaten by a particular species.
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Forensic entomology
the use of a knowledge of entomology in the investigation of criminal activity.
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Formicidae
the Formicidae/Ants are a family of insects within the Order Hymenoptera. They form colonies with many flightless workers and a reproductive queen.
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Fossorial
a phrase used to describe the legs of some insects and other invertebrates that are modified for digging.
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Fovea
an area in the compound eye that provides greater visual acuity than the rest of the eye.
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Frass
the droppings of insect larvae.
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Frenulum
a row of bristles used to connect the fore and hind wings in some insects.
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Furcula
the springing organ of Collembola.
Read more on: Furcula

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