Glossary terms beginning with L

Labium

an insect's lower lip.
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Labrum

an insect's upper lip.
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Lacewing

cf. Neuroptera - the Order Neuroptera are primitive insects. The Order contains about 4,000 species. Insects in the Order are known by a variety of names including Lacewings, Antlions and Mantidflies.

Lady beetles

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).

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).
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Ladybugs

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).

Lamarckism

an out-dated theory of how characteristics are passed to offspring. Now superseded by modern evolutionary thought and specifically Darwinism.
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Lampyridae

a family of beetles, also known as glow-worms, and most notable for their ability to emit light.
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Larder beetle

cf. Dermestidae - a family of beetles often known as carpet beetles or larder beetles.

Larva

the juvenile form of an insect.
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Larviparous

cf. Viviparity - giving birth to live young (not eggs).

Lateral

the side of an organism.
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Leaf insect

cf. Phasmatodea - the Stick and Leaf insects (Order Phasmatodea) are insects well known for their camouflage. They are commonly kept as pets.

Leaf miner

the larvae of an insect living between the upper and lower surfaces of a leaf.
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Leather beetle

cf. Dermestidae - a family of beetles often known as carpet beetles or larder beetles.

Leather jacket

the common name given to the larvae of flies in the family Tipulidae.
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Lectotype

cf. Type specimen - a specimen that acts as the name bearer for a species.

Lek

a gathering of male insects in order to compete for a mate.
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Lens

cf. Hand lens - a small device used by an entomologist to make it easier to see features of insects or other invertebrates.

Lepidoptera

butterflies and Moths/Order Lepidoptera are probably the most widely studied order of invertebrates. The Order comprises some 160,000 species.
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Lepidopterist

someone who studies butterflies and moths (insects in the Order Lepidoptera).
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Lice

cf. Phthiraptera - wingless ectoparasites. There are two main kinds of lice (Order Phthiraptera); the biting lice and the sucking lice.

Life cycle

the stages of the life of an organism.
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Life stage

an individual stage in the life of insects, each usually having a very different appearance to the other stages.
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Lightning bugs

cf. Lampyridae - a family of beetles, also known as glow-worms, and most notable for their ability to emit light.

Linn

cf. Linnaeus - the Swedish biologist who first described many species and developed the system of naming organisms that is still used today.

Linnaeus

the Swedish biologist who first described many species and developed the system of naming organisms that is still used today.
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Locust

the migratory phase of some large grasshoppers. Locusts are known for their swarming behaviour.
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Long-horned grasshoppers

cf. Katydid - a family of large crickets.

Looper

cf. Geometer - the larvae of Geometrid moths.

Loupe

cf. Hand lens - a small device used by an entomologist to make it easier to see features of insects or other invertebrates.

Lycaenidae

cf. Blues - the collective name given to butterflies within the family Lycaenidae that have blue wings.

Lyme disease

a disease caused by bacteria transmitted to a mammalian host by a tick.
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