| Glossary: |
|
Translation: |
| Mandible |
|
The first pair of jaws in insects. |
| Maxilla (Pl - Maxillae) |
|
One of a pair of mouthparts in insects, crustaceans,
centipedes, and millipedes. They lie behind
the mandibles and their lateral movements assist
in feeding. Crustaceans have two pairs of maxillae
but in insects the second pair are fused together
formins the labium. |
| Media |
|
The vein in the centre of the wing. |
| Mesonotum |
|
The dorsal surface of the second thoracic
segment. |
| Mesothorax |
|
The second or middle thoracic segment which
bears the forewings (when present). |
| Metamorphosis |
|
The process of changing from one form to another
during development. In amphibians it is usually
associated with a switch from an aquatic larval
stage to a terrestrial adult phase. |
| Metathorax |
|
The third or most posterior thoracic segment,
which bears the hindwings (when present). |
| Metothorax |
|
The third segment of the thorax. |
| Micropylar plate |
|
An visually-noticeable area on the side of
an ovum. |
| Morphology |
|
A branch of biology that deals with form and
structure. |
| Moult |
|
To shed the skin.
Since the skin or outer covering of an insect
has limited capacity to stretch during growth,
insects need to regularly shed their skin in
order to increase their size. This process involves
formation of a new skin under the old one, which
is then moulted. The old skin that is left behind
is known as the exuvium. |
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