Insecta 
Insecta (in-sek'tft), n. pi. [L., pi. of h 
insect: ROO insect.] A C!RHH or other large di- 
vision of invertobrated animata, to which dif- 
ferent limitM havo been assigned, (a) With Lin- 
nieiiB, a class divided into eight orders: Coleoptera, llftnift- 
tera, Lejndoptera, M'-nmpt, ni t ffyVMM>p6rv, fHptera, 
and Aptera. JJut thu last of these ordei-8 included crus- 
taceans and arachnklans, so that in this sen HO Insecta cor- 
responds to the Cuvierian Artie ulata, the Lntrelllean Con- 
tlyti'jwia, or the modern Arthropoda, oue of the main 
branches of thu ani- 
mal kingdom. (/') 
\Vilh Liti-tille, by 
exclusion of Crus- 
tacea and Arach' 
nulit (but with re- 
tention of Myn'apo- 
da), the third class 
of articulated ani- 
mals with articulat- 
ed lugs, divided into 
twelve orders : My- 
riapoda, Thysanura, 
Parasita, Suctoria, 
Coleoptera. Orthop* 
te ra, Hemiptera , 
Neuroptera, Ryme- 
noptera, Lepidoptera, 
Rhipiptera, ana Dip 
tera. (c) by exclu 
liou of Myriapoda, 
the six-footed ar- 
ticulated animals ; 
hexapod arthropods, 
or llexapoda. In 
this, the current use 
of the word, the /n- 
secta constitute the 
liirpest class of the 
Arthropoda. They 
have the head, tho- 
rax, and abdomen 
distinct or distin- 
guishable from one 
another; 3 pairs of 
legs in the adult, all 
situated upon the 
thorax ; a pair of an- 
temiED ; trachea! res- 
piration ; and dis- 
tinct sexes. The so- 
mites or segments of 
the body number not 
more than 20, 11 be- 
ing assumed as the 
typical number. The 
head, apparently a 
single segment, is 
presumed to consist 
of several coalesced 
somites: besides the 
antenme, it bears a 
pair of eyes, simple 
or oftener com- 
pound, and the usu- 
ally complicated 
mouth- parts. The 
thorax is composed 
of three definable 
sm 
Morphology of Parts of the Head of an la- 
sect, giving nomenclature. 
I.. II., III., side, upper, and under views 
of head of cockroach \Btatta oritfttalis). 
I. and II. : a. epicrantat suture on the epi- 
cranium, e , branching to A. the fcnestrae ; f, 
antennae; e, eyes; Ib, labrum ; ttttt, man- 
dibl 
, , , 
es; ta, cardo ; st, stipes ; /fa, galea; 
pi, palpus of maxilla; /, palpus of labiuni, 
IT I.ihi.il palp, borne upon the palpiger; ?. 
bubmentum of l.ibiutn ; , the 
segments, the pro- marRins of the occTpital forarneni'iVr.'tw 
thorax, mesothorax, inferior cervical sclerites; te, lateral cervi- 
cal sclerites; fn, pronotum of prothorux. 
III. L.tlmim and right maxilla, from be- 
low: letters as before, except la, lacinia 
of maxilla ; fg t , paraglo&sa ; /, ligula ; /, 
mentum ; srrt, submentum. 
and metathonix, the 
last two of which 
usually bear each a 
pair of wines, either 
fitted for flight, or. 
in the case of the anterior pair, modified into wine-covers 
or elytra, which may or may not cover all the abdominal 
segments. The abdominal segments, in adult insects, 
have no wings or legs ; but some of the terminal segments 
may be modified into external sexual organs (of either 
sex), as ovipositor, etc., or bear long filaments. The legs 
are always Jointed, and normally consist of 5 principal 
divisions: coxa, trochanter, femur, tibia, and tarsus; the 
tarsal segment being composed of from 1 to 5 joints, 
and usually ending in a pair of claws. Insects are always 
produced from eggs, though in some the phenomenon of 
parthenogenesis occurs, as In plant-lice. Nearly all In- 
sects undergo metamorphosis, or more or less complete 
transformation from the embryo to the imago. Among 
tlu' many classifications of laieeta which have been pro- 
posed, that which is primarily based upon the absence, 
incompleteness, or perfection of metamorphosis is now 
usually adopted, giving the three subclasses Ametabola, 
ll-'nn :i" i t<ih,-!ti. and Metabola (Uolotnetabola), The Aincta- 
bola are wingless as well as not subject to metamorphosis. 
By some they are made to include four orders, Ann/iluri, 
Mallophaya, Collembola, and Thymnura ; but the first two 
of these orders are often differently placed, and the last two 
merged in one. The Hemimetnbola undergo incomplete 
mi'lamorpliosis, the larva differing from the Imago chiefly 
in being smaller and wingless, and the pupa being gen- 
erally active, or at least capable of movement. The or- 
ders Hemiptera (Hoirvtptera and Uctcroptera), Orthoptent, 
and Pseiutoneuroptera are hemimetabolous. The ilitta- 
bola (/7t?(iW#fo6oJrt)undergo complete transformation, the 
larva being worm-like, as a caterpillar, maggot, or erub, 
and the pupa quiescent. These have five leading orders : 
\<'r<i!>ti'i-<t, lUfitfra, Lepidoptera, Cole-optera, and Hy- 
I'lera, to which Aphamptera and Slrrpmplera are 
.-'iin.'timwi :uldfd. Sundry other orders of Insecta lire 
adopted by some writers, as Tht/mnoptera, Euptrxoplern. 
The class Insecta is by far the largest class of animals, 
outnumbering all the rest of the animal kingdom in gen- 
era, species, and individuals. There are known to be more 
than 200,000 species, and there are doubtless many thou- 
sands undwcrlbd. They exist in all parts of the world, 
and play a most imp)rtant part in the economy of ani- 
matil nature, f nrnlshlog food to on* unother and to num- 
berless other animal-, and atTcetini; vefrtahle life, both by 
assisting in the fertilization of plants and by devouring 
or otherwise destroying them. 
31 1 r. 
insectarium (in-sek-ta'ri-um), n.; pi. insecta- 
riuiitK, iiiKCctaria (-urnz, -a). [NL., < L. insectum, 
insect, -t- -ariwrn.] A place in which a collec- 
tion of living insects is kept; an entomologi- 
cal vivarium ; also, the collection itself. 
The insectarium at the Zoological Gardens. 
W. A. Forbes. 
insectary (in'sek-ta-ri), M.; pi. insectaries (-riz). 
[< NL. inseetarium, q. v.] Same as insectarium. 
We hope that the time is near when the need of an In- 
sectary for entomological work will be as fully appreciated 
as is the necessity for a propagating house for the horti- 
culturist or a conservatory for the botanist. 
J. II. Camstodt, Amer. Nat., Dec., 1888, p. 1128. 
inscctationt (in-sek-ta'shon), . [< L. insecta- 
tio(n-), a pursuing, pursuit, < insectari, pursue, 
follow upon, freq. of insequi, follow upon: see 
insequent.'] Persecution; calumniation; back- 
biting. 
My soule stirred by mine owne conscience (without in- 
sectation, or reproche laleng to any other mans). 
Sir T. Mure, Works, p. 1431. 
insectatort (in'sek-ta-tor), n. [< L. insectator, 
a pursuer, < insectari, pursue: sea insectation.] 
1. A prosecutor or adversary at law. 2. A 
persecutor. Bailey. 
insectean (in-sek'te-an), a. [< insect + -e-an."] 
Of or pertaining to the Insecta; insectiform: 
as, an insectean form or organ. 
Lnsectedt (in-sek'ted), a. T< L. insectus, pp. of 
insecure, cut in : see';wee.J Incised; cut into 
segments like an insect. 
We can hardly endure the sting of that small inverted 
animal [the beej. llnu-rll, Letters, ii. <>. 
insect-fungi (iu'sekt-fun^ji), n.pl. Fungi para- 
sitic upon insects, as the Entomophthore<?, of 
which the principal genus is Empusa, which 
attack the house-fly and other insects, and 
Botrytis Bassiana, which produces the disease 
known as muscardine in silkworms. See cut 
under Cordyceps. 
insect-gun (in sekt-gun), n. A small bellows 
for blowing insect-powder into crevices in walls 
and furniture, or for distributing it upon house- 
plants ; a powder-blower. 
insecticidal (in-sek-ti-si'dal), a. Pertaining to 
the killing of insects, or having the property of 
killing them. 
insecticide 1 (in-sek'ti-sid), . [< L. insectum, 
an insect, + -cifla, a killer, < ccedere, kill.] One 
who or that which kills insects. 
Its [the starling's] varied song, its sprightly gestures, its 
glossy plumage, and, above all, its character as an imtecti- 
cide which last makes it the friend of the agriculturist 
and the grazier render it an almost universal favourite. 
A. Newton, Encyc. Brit., XXII. 457. 
When the value of Paris green as an insecticide was first 
discovered. Edinburgh Rev., CLXIV. 354. 
insecticide 2 (in-sek'ti-sid), . [< L. insectum, 
an insect, + -cidium, a killing, < ccedere, kill.] 
The act of killing insects. 
insectiform (in-sek'ti-f6rm), a. [< L. insectum, 
an insect, + forma, form.] Having the form 
of an insect; insect-like; insectile. 
Illustrated with the marvelous likenesses of two hun- 
dred figured or rather insectiform Atones. 
A. D. White, Pop. Sci. Mo., XXXIL 440. 
insectifuge (in-sek'ti-fuj), H. [< L. insectum, 
an insect, + fugare, cause to flee.] A sub- 
stance which serves as a preventive or protec- 
tive remedy against insects by expelling them, 
but not necessarily killing them. 
insectile (in'sek-til), a. and . [=Sp. insectil ; 
as insect + -He.] I. a. Insect-like; having the 
nature or character of an insect ; insectiform : 
as, insectile animals. 
Imeclile animals, for want of blood, run all out into 
legs. Bacon. 
II. n. An insect. [Bare.] 
It is destruction of all the hopes and happiness of in- 
fante, a denying to them an exemption from the final con- 
dition of beasts and interfile*. 
Jer. Taylor, Works (ed. 1835X II. 888. 
Insectivora (in-sek-tiv'o-rft), n.pl. [NL., neut. 
pi. of insectivorus : see' insectivorous.'] 1. In 
mammal.: (a) An order of placental quadrupeds, 
comprising small mammals of the most varied 
forms, aspects, and habits, terrestrial and fps- 
sorial, arboreal, or natatorial, and mostly in- 
sectivorous, but in one group flying and fru- 
givorous. They have a relatively small, smooth cere- 
brum, the hemispheres of which are one-lobed and do not 
cover the cerebellum ; the uterus blcornuate ; the testes 
abdominal or inguinal ; the penis pendent or suspended ; 
the placenta discoidal deciduate; the dentition diphyo- 
dont and hetennlont ; the teeth enameled, and typically 
3 incisors, 1 canine, 4 premolars, and 3 molars in each 
side of each jaw, but variable (always more than two 
lower Incisors, and the molars tubcrculate and rooted); 
limbs well developed, and ambulatorial or modified for 
climbing, swimming, or flying ; clavicles present (except 
insecurity 
In Potamogalidcf) ; the carpal and metacarpal bones well 
developed and differentiated ; the feet ungiiiculate and 
nearly always five-toed ; and the body furry or spiny. 
The order is divisible into two suborder^ Dermovtera 
or Pterophora, containing the Galeopithtcida or flying- 
lemurs, and Intectinora vera at Bestitr, Including all the 
rest, which consist of ten families with many genera 
and numerous species, the most familiar of which are the 
shrews, moles, and hedgehogs, (i) A division of the 
order Cltiroptera, including the insectivorous 
as distinguished from the frugivorous bats. 
The name being preoccupied by another order of animals, 
the term Aniinaliix/ra has been proposed at a substitute 
for Innecticora in this sense. 
2. In <'iiti>iii., a group of insectivorous hyme- 
nopterous insects. J. O. Westvood. 
Insectivorffl (in-sek-tiv'o-re). n. pi. [NL.] 
In Temminck's classification (1815), an order of 
insectivorous birds, such as swallows. Also 
Inscctirores. [Not in use.] 
insectivore (in-sek'ti-vor), w. An insectivorous 
animal; one of the Insccticora or Insectivvra' ; 
especially, a member of the order Insectivora. 
Insectivor.es (in-sek-tiv'o-rez), n. pi. [NL. : 
see Inxectirora.] Same as Insectivorcs. 
insectivorous (in-sek-tiv'o-rus), a. [= P. in- 
sectivore = Sp. insectiroro = Pg. inaectiroro = 
It. insettivoro, < NL. inscetitorus, < L. insectum, 
insect, -I- vorare, devour.] 1. Feeding or sub- 
sisting on insects, as an animal or a plant. A 
number of insectivorous plants have in recent time* been 
shown to exist, as the genera Diuntea and Drosera. 
Droeera is properly an inaectivorou* plant. 
Darwin, Insectlv. Plants, p. 134. 
2. Of or pertaining to the Insectivora, in any 
use of that name, or having their characters. 
insect-net (in'sekt-net), n. A light hand-net 
used for the capture of insects. A usual form con- 
tiists of a hoop of wire attached by a ferrule to a wooden 
handle, and carrying a bag of mosquito-netting, thin mus- 
lin, or bobbin-net lace. The depth of the bag is a little 
more than twice its diameter. 
insectologert (in-sek-tol'o-j6r) ; . [As insectol- 
ogy + -cr.] One who studies insects; an ento- 
mologist. 
The Insect itself Is. according to modern ingectolngen, 
of the ichneumon-fly Kind. Derhaw, Physico- Theology. 
insectologyt (in-sek-tol'o-ji), n. [= F. insecto- 
logie = Pg. insectologia, < L. insectum, insect, 
+ Or. -)j>yia, < fJkyetv, speak : see -ology.~\ The 
science of insects ; entomology. 
insect-powder (in'sekt-pou'der), . A dry pow- 
der used to kill or expel insects ; an insecticide 
or insectifuge. The principal kinds, used against mu- 
seum and household pests, are the Persian, made from 
the dry flowers of Pyrethruw roseitm ; the Dalmatian 
(also called 1'ersian), from those of Pyrettintm cinerarias- 
folium; and the California!!, also made from the last- 
named plant, all of which are known as buhach. 
insecure (in-se-kur'), a. [= Sp. iiiseguro; as 
JH- 3 + secure.'] 1. Not secure, firm, or safe; 
liable to give way ; unsafe. 
Am I going to build on precarious and insecure founda- 
tions? Bp. Ilurd. 
Four columns had shown such weakness that the vault- 
ing arches and the walls that rested upon them had be- 
come insecure. 
C. E. Sorton, Church-building in Middle Ages, p. 171. 
2. Not fully assured ; not free from apprehen- 
sion, fear, uncertainty, or doubt ; uncertain. 
He ... is continually insecure not only of the good 
things of this life, but even of life Itself. Tillotton. 
But is she truly what she seems? 
He asks with insecure delight, 
Asks of himself and doubts. 
Wordsworth, White Doe of Rylstone, i. 
insecure!, t'. t. [< insecure, a.] To make inse- 
cure; imperil. 
Every degree of recession from the state Christ first put 
us in, is a recession from our hopes, and an t'furcuriw/ our 
condition. 
Jer. Taylor, Works (ed. 18S5), Great Exemplar, I. 187. 
insecurely (in-se-kur'li), adv. In an insecure 
manner ; without security or safety. 
When I say secured, I mean In the sense In which the 
word should always be understood at courts, that is inse- 
''> Chetterfeld. 
insecureness (in-se-kur'nes), . Insecurity. 
insecurity (in-se-ku'ri-ti), . [= F. ins6curitt; 
as i'n-3 + security. Cf\ insecure."] 1. The state 
of being insecure or unsafe; liability to give 
way, be lost, or become unsafe or fraught with 
danger; want of secureness or stability; in- 
stability ; liability to damage or loss : as, the 
insecurity of a staircase or of a foundation. 
There Is also a time of imrruritti, when interest* of all 
sorts become objects of speculation. 
Burke, Appeal to Old Whigs. 
In drawing, the picture is not faultless ; there is a touch 
of insecurity in some of the outlines. 
Barper's Mag., LXXVt 176. 
2. Lack of assurance or confidence, especially 
in regard to one's . safety, or the security or 
