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Glossary of Ant Terms

A

  • Abdomen: The third section of the ant’s body.
  • Alate: A winged, sexually mature ant.
  • Altitrunk: Fusion of thorax and propodeum.
  • Antennae: Sensory appendages on the head.
  • Apterous: Wingless.
  • Arboreal: Nesting above ground in trees.
  • Aculeate: Having a stinger.
  • Aposematic: Bright coloration warning of predators.
  • Aggression: Hostile behavior towards threats.
  • Allogrooming: Cleaning behavior between ants.

B

  • Brood: Eggs, larvae, and pupae.
  • Bivouac: Temporary nest for army ants.
  • Bioindicator: Species indicating ecosystem health.
  • Biodiversity: Variety of life in an area.
  • Batesian Mimicry: Harmless species mimics harmful one.
  • Bolas Spider: Predators of male moths that mimic pheromones.
  • Bioluminescence: Emission of light by living organisms.
  • Bivouac: Army ant temporary shelter.
  • Biorhythm: Natural cycles of behavior.
  • Brachypterous: Having reduced wings.

C

  • Caste: Different roles in an ant colony.
  • Chitin: Material making up the exoskeleton.
  • Colony: A group of ants living together.
  • Clypeus: A plate on the front of the head.
  • Cocoon: Protective case for pupae.
  • Cuticle: Outer layer of the exoskeleton.
  • Cremaster: Hook on a pupa used for hanging.
  • Cladistics: Method of classifying species.
  • Chemoreception: Detection of chemical stimuli.
  • Cryptic Species: Species that are very similar in appearance.

D

  • Diapause: Period of suspended development.
  • Drone: Male ant.
  • Dolichoderinae: A subfamily of ants.
  • Dimorphism: Differences in appearance between individuals.
  • Dispersal: Movement of ants to new areas.
  • Division of Labor: Different tasks for different ants.
  • Defensive Mechanism: Methods of protection.
  • Discoid: Disc-shaped body.
  • Dufour's Gland: Secretes chemicals for communication.
  • Depredation: Act of preying upon.

E

  • Eclosion: Emergence of an adult from pupal case.
  • Eusocial: Highly social organization.
  • Exoskeleton: External skeleton of an ant.
  • Elytra: Hardened forewings.
  • Endemic: Native to a specific region.
  • Ectoparasite: Parasite living on the outside of a host.
  • Ergatoid: Wingless reproductive ant.
  • Eusociality: Highest level of social organization.
  • Ecomorph: Morphological variation within a species.
  • Entomopathogen: Pathogen that infects insects.

F

  • Foraging: Searching for food.
  • Formicarium: An artificial ant nest.
  • Formic Acid: Chemical used in defense.
  • Frass: Insect excrement.
  • Fungus-growing Ants: Ants that cultivate fungus.
  • Frontal Carinae: Ridges on the ant’s head.
  • Fertility: Ability to reproduce.
  • Fitness: Ability to survive and reproduce.
  • Fission: Colony splitting to form new colonies.
  • Fossorial: Adapted for digging.

G

  • Gaster: Rear part of the abdomen.
  • Gyne: A queen ant.
  • Geniculate Antennae: Elbowed antennae.
  • Grooming: Cleaning behavior.
  • Gregarious: Tending to form groups.
  • Gall: Abnormal growths on plants caused by insects.
  • Geophagy: Eating soil or clay.
  • Gut Microbiota: Microorganisms in the digestive system.
  • Gallery: Tunnel within a nest.
  • Gonad: Reproductive organ.

H

  • Haplodiploidy: Sex determination system.
  • Hymenoptera: Order including ants, bees, and wasps.
  • Holometabolous: Complete metamorphosis.
  • Hydrocarbons: Chemicals used for communication.
  • Hyperparasitism: Parasite of a parasite.
  • Heliconius: Genus of butterflies mimicking ants.
  • Habitat: Natural environment of an organism.
  • Haploid: Single set of chromosomes.
  • Hibernation: Dormancy during cold periods.
  • Host: Organism that a parasite lives on or in.

I

  • Inquiline: Organism living in another’s nest.
  • Instar: Developmental stage of larvae.
  • Isoptera: Order including termites.
  • Integument: Protective outer layer.
  • Infestation: Large number of pests.
  • Insecticide: Chemical used to kill insects.
  • Incipient Colony: Newly founded colony.
  • Intercastes: Ants with traits of more than one caste.
  • Invasive Species: Non-native species causing harm.
  • Iridescence: Shimmering effect of the exoskeleton.

J

  • Juvenile Hormone: Regulates development.
  • Juveniles: Young ants before becoming adults.
  • Jetting: Defensive behavior using formic acid.
  • Jelly: Nutrient-rich substance fed to larvae.
  • Joints: Articulations between ant segments.
  • Jewel Ant: Ant with iridescent exoskeleton.
  • Jugate: Paired appendages.
  • Junction: Meeting point of tunnels.
  • Joules: Unit of energy ants use.
  • Juga: Paired projections on the head.

K

  • Kin Selection: Evolutionary strategy favoring relatives.
  • Kleptoparasitism: Stealing food from other ants.
  • Karyotype: Number and appearance of chromosomes.
  • Kinesis: Random movement in response to stimuli.
  • Katydid: Insect often preyed upon by ants.
  • Krill: Small crustaceans sometimes eaten by ants.
  • Keystone Species: Species crucial to ecosystem balance.
  • Kenya Ant: Specific ant species found in Kenya.
  • Karyogamy: Fusion of nuclei in reproduction.
  • Kleptobiosis: Behavior of stealing food from other ants.

L

  • Larva: Immature stage of ants.
  • Leafcutter Ants: Ants that cut leaves to grow fungus.
  • Lateral: Pertaining to the sides.
  • Luciferase: Enzyme in bioluminescent organisms.
  • Lumen: Inside space of a tubular structure.
  • Labium: Lower lip of an insect.
  • Labrum: Upper lip of an insect.
  • Ligula: Tongue-like structure.
  • Leptogeny: Mode of colony founding.
  • Linepithema: Genus including Argentine ants.

M

  • Mandibles: Jaw-like structures.
  • Myrmecology: Study of ants.
  • Metamorphosis: Transformation from larva to adult.
  • Monogyny: Single queen in a colony.
  • Monomorphic: Single body form.
  • Myrmecophyte: Plant that has a symbiotic relationship with ants.
  • Mesosoma: Middle section of an ant’s body.
  • Mutualism: Symbiotic relationship benefiting both parties.
  • Mating Flight: Aerial breeding event.
  • Mycelium: Fungal network cultivated by ants.

N

  • Nuptial Flight: Mating flight of reproductive ants.
  • Nematodes: Parasitic worms.
  • Nurse Ants: Ants that care for the brood.
  • Niche: Role of an organism in its environment.
  • Nectar: Sweet liquid produced by plants.
  • Node: Segment of the ant’s petiole.
  • Nomadic: Moving from place to place.
  • Nestmate: Member of the same colony.
  • Nocturnal: Active at night.
  • Neonate: Newborn ant.

O

  • Ocelli: Simple eyes on the head.
  • Omnivorous: Eating both plants and animals.
  • Ootheca: Egg case.
  • Outworld: Foraging area in a formicarium.
  • Oviposition: Egg laying.
  • Osmoregulation: Maintaining water balance.
  • Ommatidia: Units of a compound eye.
  • Olfactory

P

  • Pheromones: Chemicals used for communication.
  • Pupa: Developmental stage between larva and adult.
  • Polygyne: Multiple queens in a colony.
  • Polymorphism: Existence of different forms within a species.
  • Petiole: Narrow waist segment connecting thorax and abdomen.
  • Propodeum: First abdominal segment fused with the thorax.
  • Phototaxis: Movement toward or away from light.
  • Parasitoid: Organism that ultimately kills its host.
  • Proventriculus: Foregut section involved in food storage and digestion.
  • Protandry: Males emerging before females during development.

Q

  • Queen: Reproductive female ant.
  • Queenright: Colony with a functional queen.
  • Quorum Sensing: Collective decision-making process.
  • Queenless: Colony without a queen.
  • Quiescent: Period of inactivity or dormancy.
  • Queen Pheromone: Chemical signals produced by the queen to regulate colony behavior.
  • Quarantine: Isolating new ants to prevent disease spread.
  • Quaternary Compound Eye: Eye structure in some ants with multiple lenses.
  • Quiescence: State of inactivity.
  • Quadrate: Square-shaped body part.

R

  • Replete: Ant specialized in storing food.
  • Reproductive: Ants that can breed, including queens and males.
  • Raptorial: Adapted for seizing prey.
  • Replete: Worker ant that stores food.
  • Regurgitation: Process of sharing food mouth-to-mouth.
  • Rove Beetle: Beetle species often associated with ants.
  • Recognition Pheromone: Chemical used to identify colony members.
  • Rugae: Wrinkles or folds on an ant’s body.
  • Rhabdom: Light-sensitive part of the compound eye.
  • Rictal: Related to the corner of the mouth.

S

  • Soldier: Larger worker ant with strong mandibles.
  • Scout: Ant that searches for food.
  • Social Stomach: Crop used to store and share food.
  • Swarming: Mass mating flight of ants.
  • Symbiosis: Mutual beneficial relationship with other organisms.
  • Stridulation: Sound production by rubbing body parts.
  • Spiracle: Breathing hole on the exoskeleton.
  • Sclerotized: Hardened body parts.
  • Substrate: Surface or material where ants live.
  • Sympatric: Species living in the same geographic area.

T

  • Trophallaxis: Exchange of food or other fluids among colony members.
  • Thorax: Middle section of the ant’s body.
  • Tergite: Dorsal (top) part of an abdominal segment.
  • Tentorium: Internal support structure in the head.
  • Tarsus: Segment of the ant’s leg.
  • Trophic Eggs: Non-viable eggs used as food.
  • Taxis: Movement toward or away from stimuli.
  • Tibia: Second segment of the leg.
  • Termite: Insect sometimes mistaken for ants.
  • Temporal Polymorphism: Different forms appearing at different times.

U

  • Urogomphi: Paired structures on the last abdominal segment.
  • Uropod: Appendage on the rear of some insects.
  • Undulation: Wavy movement.
  • Uptake: Absorption of nutrients.
  • Univoltine: Producing one generation per year.
  • Umbrella Ant: Ant that uses leaves as a cover.
  • Urocyon: Genus of foxes that interact with ants.
  • Utricle: Small sac-like structure.
  • Urban Ants: Species adapted to living in cities.
  • Ureter: Tube carrying urine from kidney to bladder.

V

  • Ventral: Related to the underside of the body.
  • Vibratory Communication: Sending messages through vibrations.
  • Vitellogenin: Protein important for egg development.
  • Vivarium: Enclosure for keeping animals or plants.
  • Venation: Arrangement of veins in a wing.
  • Vestigial: Reduced or non-functional body part.
  • Viscous: Thick, sticky consistency.
  • Voltinism: Number of generations per year.
  • Veil: Protective cover for the nest.
  • Ventral Gland: Gland located on the underside of the body.

W

  • Worker: Non-reproductive female ant.
  • Wing Bud: Developing wing on a young ant.
  • Wheeler’s Organ: Sensory organ in larvae.
  • Wax Bloom: Protective waxy coating.
  • Wasp Mimicry: Resembling wasps for protection.
  • Weaver Ants: Ants that build nests by weaving leaves.
  • Winnow: Process of cleaning seeds by removing husks.
  • Wax Glands: Glands producing wax.
  • Wander: Moving without a fixed course.
  • Warrior Ant: Another term for soldier ant.

X

  • Xenobiosis: Living with ants of another species.
  • Xylophagous: Feeding on wood.
  • Xeric: Adapted to dry environments.
  • Xanthophyll: Yellow pigment in plants and insects.
  • Xerophilous: Thriving in dry conditions.
  • Xerophyte: Plant adapted to dry environments.
  • Xenomyrmecophily: Association with foreign ant species.
  • Xylem: Tissue in plants transporting water.
  • Xenograft: Transplantation of tissues between species.
  • Xenodiagnosis: Using an animal to diagnose a disease.

Y

  • Yellow Crazy Ant: An invasive ant species.
  • Yeast: Fungi sometimes associated with ants.
  • Yolk: Nutrient-rich part of an egg.
  • Yponomeutidae: Family of moths interacting with ants.
  • Y-maze: Tool for studying ant behavior.
  • Yolk Gland: Gland producing egg yolk.
  • Yellow Fever Mosquito: Vector interacting with ants.
  • Yard Ant: Common ants found in yards.
  • Yeast Cells: Microorganisms found in ant habitats.
  • Yellow Ants: Common name for certain Lasius species.

Z

  • Zoophagy: Feeding on other animals.
  • Zoology: Study of animals.
  • Zootype: Archetype of animal structure.
  • Zygote: Fertilized egg cell.
  • Zoospore: Asexual spore with flagella.
  • Zygoma: Part of the skull.
  • Zooplankton: Microscopic animals in water, sometimes food for ants.
  • Zoonosis: Disease transmitted from animals to humans.
  • Zymogen: Inactive enzyme precursor.
  • Zonation: Distribution of species in zones.