Remarks
Anatomical terms, etc., to be divided up by letter of the alphabet.
Hints for use
to see the list of terms, use Browse or Taxonomy tabs
to see all terms, use
Taxonomy tab and then click on
View All link (or use
direct link to all terms).
Click on the term, then its Info tab to see a glossary entry
Use in guide pages and captions
Ideally, insert hyperlinks to terms as you write captions and guide pages. For example, to insert a link to
clypeus (node
110028), write the following code:
[
url=node/view/110028]clypeus[
/url]
To keep the glossary nodes handy, open it in a separate window from your the guide page on which you are working
Suggested format for entries
glossary term goes in Preferred Common Name field
use Representative Images field to show important images--node numbers separated by commas (e.g., 110081,19087,99221,46789,46790)
use Pronunciation field for that, if desired
use Explanation of Names field for etymology (origin of word)
use Identification field for main definition
restate term at top of Identification field, e.g., "clypeus noun, plural clypeuses - (definition)" or some other consistent format
include a thumbnail of an explanatory diagram if available (or place under Representative images)
include thumbnails of relevant photos as examples, if available (or place under Representative images)
use See also field for links to related terms
use Remarks field for other material, if desired
use Print references and Internet references, as desired
Jardine's Dictionary of Entomology is a good place to start for definitions--the material is in the public domain, so can be copied freely, though it usually needs editing and updating--it is far more detailed than we need here, so one must pick and chose entries
see
clypeus as a sample page
Cannot find it here?
If you would like to see a term added to the glossary, please post your request in a comment on
this topic.
Many common terms in biology are defined elsewhere on the Internet and will likely not be added here--the emphasis is on terms most useful for descriptions of terrestrial arthropods.
Note that only BugGuide editors can write or edit glossary entries--just as for other types of guide pages, such as species accounts. Remember, that they are volunteers like everyone else associated with BugGuide
Print References
Gordh & Headrick (2003).
A Dictionary of Entomology (1)
John Bernhard Smith (1906).
Explanation of terms used in entomology (2). Viewable and downloadable in various formats from the
Biodiversity Heritage Library