Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology

This reference gathers more than two thousand technical words used by entomologists at the turn of the twentieth century, arranged alphabetically from A to Z. The editor notes that a modest earlier glossary expanded dramatically when specialists across the United States contributed thousands of index cards covering groups such as beetles, butterflies, grasshoppers and true bugs. Contributions were reviewed by noted scholars like Nathan Banks and Philip Calvert, turning the project into a snapshot of a moment when entomology was branching into many independent specialties, each coining its own jargon.

For modern listeners the volume offers a window into the language that shaped early insect studies, and occasional obscure terms can still illuminate contemporary research. Illustrated plates depict the external body wall, head structures and wing venation, though the reproduced colors reflect the aging paper and ink of the original print. While some definitions are outdated, the work remains a valuable historical companion for anyone curious about the evolution of scientific terminology.