USGS Home
Contact USGS
Search USGS

band - a wide area typically extending more than half the distance along the width or length of the wing and often demarked by lines and associated with a particular area on the wing.
band, inner - a wide area near the base of the wing demarked by lines extending the width of the wing.
bar - a narrow, short mark on the wing; a very short dash.
basal area - see area, basal.
basal line - see line, basal.
butterfly - the adult of a species of Lepidoptera with knobbed antennae, day-flying, and typically brightly colored.

cell, discal - an area of the wing delineated by the discal veins in the discal area.
costal margin - see margin, costal.

dash - a narrow, short mark extending less than half the distance along the width or length of the wing.
dentate - tooth-like markings, typically along one side of a line.
discal area - see area, discal.
discal cell - see cell, discal.
discal spots - see spots, discal.

eyespot - a round multi-colored spot on the forewing or hindwing.

falcate - curved into a sickle-shape, often used to describe a wing with the tip extended into a subtle or elongate, curved point.
femur - the third segment of the true legs preceeded by the coxa and the trochanter. The femur is the first leg segment that is elongate, followed by the tibia which is also elongate.
filiform - thin and threadlike, typically used to describe long and slender antennae.
foreleg - the first pair of true legs nearest the head. The forelegs are ventrally attached to the first thoracic segment.
forewing(s) - the wing(s) attached to the second thoracic segment, the first pair of wings from the head.

head - One of three primary body segments characteristic of insects, along with the thorax and abdomen. The head contains the antennae, mouthparts, eyes, and brain.
hindwing(s) - the wing(s) attached to the third thoracic segment, the second pair of wings from the head.

inner band - see band, inner.
inner margin - see margin, inner.

labial palps - see palps, labial.
line - a narrow mark, extending more than half the distance along the width or length of the wing and associated with a particular area on the wing.
line, basal - a line in the basal area near to where the wing attaches to the thorax.
line, median - a line in the median area of the wing.
line, postmedian - a line in the postmedian area of the wing.
line, submarginal - a line in the submarginal area of the wing.

macromoth - the adult of a species of Lepidoptera with the tips of antennae tapered; in the Pacific Northwest the species occur in one of the following families:  Arctiidae, Dioptidae, Drepanidae, Epiplemidae, Geometridae, Lasiocampidae, Lymantriidae, Noctuidae, Notodontidae, Saturniidae, Sphingidae, and Thyatiridae.
margin, costal - the front edge of the wing.
margin, inner - the back edge of the wing.
margin, outer - the distal edge of the wing.
median area - see area, median.
median line - see line, median.
micromoth - the adult of a species of Lepidoptera with the tips of antennae tapered, typically small bodied; many families of micromoths occur in the Pacific Northwest; not a butterfly or a macromoth.
midcostal area - see area, midcostal.

ocellus spot - see eyespot.
orbicular spot - see spot, orbicular.
outer margin - see margin, outer.

palps, labial - small, segmented, filamentous appendages attached to the labium on the mouthparts.
patch - a small restricted area of the wing demarked by a distinct color but not delineated by lines.
pectinate - comb-like, often used to describe antennae with numerous fine branches arranged asymetrically along one side of antennal segments.
plumose - feather-like, often used to describe antennae with numerous fine branches arranged in opposition along the antennal segments.
postmedian area - see area, postmedian.
postmedian line - see line, postmedian.

reniform spot - see spot, reniform.

skipper - the adult of a species of Lepidoptera in the family Hesperiidae; antennae with a hooked-tip; day-flying, closely related to butterflies.
spot, orbicular - a single near round-shaped spot that occurs just short of half way along the front edge of the forewing within the discal cell.
spot, reniform - a single irregularly shaped spot, often kidney-shaped, that occurs just past half way along the front edge of the forewing at the distal end of the discal cell.
spots, discal - a combination of the reniform and orbicular spots.
stigma - a distinct marking in the median area, of variable shape, often comma or v-shaped, usually silver or white, characteristic of Plusiinae:  Noctuidae.
streak - a narrow long mark extending more than half the distance along the width or length of the wing.
subanal area - see area, subanal.
subapical area - see area, subapical.
submarginal area - see area, submarginal.
submarginal line - see line, submarginal.

thorax - one of the three primary body segments characteristic of insects, along with the head and abdomen. The thorax consists of three segments with a pair of wings attached dorsally to the second and third segments, and a pair of jointed legs attached ventrally to each segment.

wingspan - the distance between the tips of the front wings in a properly spread specimen.