Adjacent Words

Hymenoptera definitions

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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: an order of insects including: bees; wasps; ants; ichneumons; sawflies; gall wasps; etc. [syn: Hymenoptera, order Hymenoptera]

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

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.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Hymenoptera Hy`me*nop"te*ra, n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. ? membrane-winged; ? skin, membrane + ? wing.] (Zo["o]l.) An extensive order of insects, including the bees, ants, ichneumons, sawflies, etc. Note: They have four membranous wings, with few reticulations, and usually with a thickened, dark spot on the front edge of the anterior wings. In most of the species, the tongue, or lingua, is converted into an organ for sucking honey, or other liquid food, and the mandibles are adapted for biting or cutting. In one large division (Aculeata), including the bees, wasps, and ants, the females and workers usually have a sting, which is only a modified ovipositor.