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Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology · John Bernhard Smith — chapter 104 of 164 · ~430 words · public domain

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Paraphysis: the chitinized thickenings or lateral ingrowths, usually situated at the base of the lobes in certain Diaspid genera.

Parapleura: the sternal side pieces in beetles.

Parapodia: the pro- or false legs: more specifically applied to the jointed abdominal processes of the Symphyla.

Parapsidae: the small sclerites on each side of the scutellum in Chalcids, marked by the parapsidal grooves.

Parapsidal furrows: longitudinal grooves on each side of the mesoscutum of Proctytrypidae separating the parapsides from the middle lobe.

Parapsidal grooves: the grooves or furrows on each side of the Chalcid scutellum, defining the parapsidae.

Parapsides: lateral pieces of the meso-scutum, separated from the mesal portion by the parapsidal furrows.

Parapteron -era: small sclerites, articulated to the dorsal extremity of the episternum, just below the wings; absent on prothorax = the tegulae of Hymenoptera, and patagia of Lepidoptera: have been homologized with the elytra of Coleoptera.

Parasita: = parasitica: q.v.

Parasite: a species that lives in or on another animal or insect, and depends upon the tissue of the host for its food supply.

Parasitic: living on or in some other animal or insect in such a way as to derive all nourishment from the tissues of the host.

Parasitica: the sucking lice: wingless; without metamorphosis; mouth with piercing lancets; thoracic segments similar; habits epizooetic.

Parasitism: a form of symbiosis in which one party lives upon or at the expense of the other, makes no return and destroys its host: see symbiosis; commensalism.

Parastigma: = pterostigma; q.v.

Parastigmatic glands: small, circular glands, which secrete a waxy powder, sometimes present around the spiracles of Coccidae.

Paratype: is every specimen of the series from which the type was selected see type and cotype.

Parse: sparse or sparsely.

Parcidentate: with few teeth.

Parenchymatous: composed of soft cellular and connective tissue.

Parietes: walls: the perpendicular sides of elevated bodies.

Paronychium-ia: one or more bristle-like appendages of onychia; q.v.

Parthenogenetic: see asexual.

Parthenogenesis: reproduction by direct growth of germs from egg-cells without fertilization by the male element: as in plant lice, gall wasps, etc.

Particolored: partly of one, partly of another color: divided into two or more color fields.

Partite -us: divided; e.g. the eyes of Gyrinidae.

Parum: not much.

Patagium -ia: in Lepidoptera, those sclerites that cover the base of primaries: often used as synonymous with tegula and squamula, q.v.: assigned by some writers to the pro-, by others to the meso-thorax: homologized with the paraptera of meso-thorax.

Patella -ae: the modified joints of anterior tarsi in Dytiscidae; plate-like, horny or spongy structures on the undersides of the tarsal joints: the first coxal joint.

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