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.
Orthoptera \Or*thop"te*ra\, n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. 'orqo`s
straight + ? feather, wing.] (Zo["o]l.)
An order of mandibulate insects including grasshoppers,
locusts, cockroaches, etc. See Illust. under Insect.
Note: The anterior wings are usually thickened and protect
the posterior wings, which are larger and fold
longitudinally like a fan. The Orthoptera undergo no
metamorphosis.
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