Insecta \In*sec"ta\, n. pl. [NL. See Insect.]
1. (Zool.) 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.
[1913 Webster]
2. (Zool.) In a more restricted sense, the Hexapoda alone.
See Hexapoda.
[1913 Webster]
3. (Zool.) In the most general sense, the Hexapoda,
Myriapoda, and Arachnoidea, combined.
[1913 Webster]
Note: The typical Insecta, or hexapod insects, are divided
into several orders, viz.: Hymenoptera, as the bees
and ants; Diptera, as the common flies, gnats, and
mosquitos; 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 earwigs;
Thysanura, as the springtails, podura, and lepisma.
See these words in the Vocabulary.
[1913 Webster]
|