Glossary terms beginning with P

Pabulum

cf. Food plant - the type of plant eaten by a particular species.

Palpal chelae

cf. Chelae - pincers or claws at the end of arachnid or crustacean appendages.

Palps

cf. Pedipalps - appendages attached to the cephalothorax of arachnids.

Parasite

a parasite gets benefit from another organism (host) but has a detrimental effect on that organism. Parasites do not kill their host directly.
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Parasitism

a relationship between two organisms where one organism gets benefit from the other organism (host) but has a detrimental effect on it. Parasites do not kill their host directly.
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Parasitoid

an organism that lives on or in another organism and eventually kills it.
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Paratype

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

Parthenogenesis

the reproduction of an individual whereby offspring are produced without fertilisation by a male.
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Pedicel

the thin structure connecting the thorax and abdomen.
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Pedipalps

appendages attached to the cephalothorax of arachnids.
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Phalangida

cf. Opiliones - eight-legged invertebrates within the Class Arachnida.

Pharate

the adult insect prior to emergence from a pupa.
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Phasmatodea

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

a pheromone is a chemical substance that is released by one organism to influence the biology or behaviour of another.
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Phoresy

one organism using another to transport it to a new location.
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Phthiraptera

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

one of the seven taxonomic ranks used to classify living organisms. Phylum is positioned after Kingdom and before Class.
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Phytophagous

cf. Herbivore - herbivores are animals whose diet is primarily composed of plant matter.

Pincers

cf. Chelae - pincers or claws at the end of arachnid or crustacean appendages.

Pinning stage

a metal or wooden block used to position specimens and labels on pins.
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Pitfall trap

a device used to trap insects that are active on the ground surface.
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Plant lice

cf. Aphid - insects in the Superfamily Aphidoidea within the Suborder Sternorrhyncha. They are often considered pests on plants.

Plastron

an array of hairs or bumps used to trap air next to the body of some aquatic insects where it forms a physical gill.
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Platyform

cf. Onisciform - a term used to describe the body shape of insect larvae that are flat and broad.

Playing dead

cf. Thanatosis - the behaviour of feigning death, usually to deceive a predator.

Playing possum

cf. Thanatosis - the behaviour of feigning death, usually to deceive a predator.

Plecoptera

the Stoneflies (Order Plecoptera) are a small group of aquatic insect. There are a little under 40 British species.
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Plesiotype

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

Pollen basket

a structure on the legs of bees in which pollen is carried.
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Pollination

the process by which pollen from a plant's anther is transferred to another plant's stigma.
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Polyvoltine

cf. Multivoltine - a species having many broods per year.

Pond dipping net

cf. Pond net - a common piece of equipment used by a biologist. The pond net is used to catch animals within water bodies such as ponds, rivers and streams.

Pond net

a common piece of equipment used by a biologist. The pond net is used to catch animals within water bodies such as ponds, rivers and streams.
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Pooter

a device used to pick up small invertebrates without harming them.
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Potato bug

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.

Praying mantis

cf. Mantodea - the Mantodea (or Praying mantids) are an Order of predatory insects. Praying mantids get their common name from the stance they commonly adopt.

Predator

a predator is an animal that eats other animals.
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Proboscis

an elongated feeding tube attached to the head of an animal.
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Proctodaeum

cf. Gut - the main digestive organ in insects.

Pronotum

a plate-like cover of the first thoracic segment.
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Propolis

a type of tree resin used by honey bees.
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Prosoma

cf. Cephalothorax - the anterior most of the two body sections of an arachnid.

Protura

the Protura are one of the three non-insect hexapod classes of invertebrates.
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Pseudoscorpion

a small arachnid that superficially resembles true scorpions but does not possess a sting.
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Psocoptera

the Psocoptera (or booklice and barklice) are an Order of insects. They are small insects but, despite being called lice, are not parasites.
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Psychidae

a group of small moths, also known as bagworms or case-bearers, whose females never leave their pupal case.
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Pterostigma

a dark pigmented spot on the leading edge and towards the tip of the wing in some species of insect.
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Pterygota

the name given to the Subclass of insects that possess wings.
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Puddling

the aggregation of some insects on wet soil or dung to obtain moisture and nutrients.
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Pulvilli

Lobes or pads between the tarsal claws of many insects that help the insect stick to a surface.
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Punkies

cf. Midge - the name given to a number of species of, often biting, fly in the suborder Nematocera.

Pupa

the third stage in the life cycle of insects undergoing complete metamorphosis.
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Puparium

an outer covering that protects the pupae of some flies (the Cyclorrhapha).
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