Insecta \In*sec"ta\, n. pl. [NL. See Insect.]
1. (Zo["o]l.) One of the classes of Arthropoda, including
those that have one pair of antenn[ae], three pairs of
mouth organs, and breathe air by means of trache[ae],
opening by spiracles along the sides of the body. In this
sense it includes the Hexapoda, or six-legged insects and
the Myriapoda, with numerous legs. See Insect, n.
2. (Zo["o]l.) In a more restricted sense, the Hexapoda alone.
See Hexapoda.
3. (Zo["o]l.) In the most general sense, the Hexapoda,
Myriapoda, and Arachnoidea, combined.
Note: The typical Insecta, or hexapod insects, are divided
into several orders, viz.: Hymenoptera, as the bees
and ants; Diptera, as the common flies and gnats;
Aphaniptera, or fleas; Lepidoptera, or moths and
butterflies; Neuroptera, as the ant-lions and
hellgamite; Coleoptera, or beetles; Hemiptera, as
bugs, lice, aphids; Orthoptera, as grasshoppers and
cockroaches; Pseudoneuroptera, as the dragon flies
and termites; Euplexoptera, or earwings; Thysanura,
as the springtails, podura, and lepisma. See these
words in the Vocabulary.
Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
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Lepidoptera : \Lep`i*dop"te*ra\ (-d[o^]p"t[-e]*r[.a]), n. pl.
[NL., fr. Gr. lepi`s -i`dos, a scale _ ptero`n a feather,
wing.] (Zo["o]l.)
An order of insects, which includes the butterflies and
moths. They have broad wings, covered with minute overlapping
scales, usually brightly colored.
Note: They have a tubular proboscis, or haustellum, formed by
the two slender maxill[ae]. The labial palpi are
usually large, and the proboscis, when not in use, can
be coiled up spirally between them. The mandibles are
rudimentary. The larv[ae], called caterpillars, are
often brightly colored, and they commonly feed on
leaves. The adults feed chiefly on the honey of
flowers.
Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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