Bugs, Mollusks & Other Invertebrates, HON-MED

Some insects are so displeasing to humans that the word bug has come to be used as a verb meaning to bother or annoy. Yet, in addition to being critically important—because they naturally recycle decaying matter—in maintaining balance within the food chain, bugs can also be fascinating creatures, whether in regard to the water strider's ability to run across the surface of water or the assassin bugs' varied and creative means of catching and killing their prey. Mollusks, another group of invertebrates, get less of a bad rap. Their ranks include nearly 100,000 described species of soft-bodied animals that are usually wholly or partly enclosed in a calcium carbonate shell; examples include snails, clams, oysters, squids, and octopuses.
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Bugs, Mollusks & Other Invertebrates Encyclopedia Articles By Title

honey ant
honey ant, any member of several different species of ant (family Formicidae; order Hymenoptera) that have developed......
honeybee
honeybee, (tribe Apini), any of a group of insects in the family Apidae (order Hymenoptera) that in a broad sense......
hooded shrimp
hooded shrimp, any member of the order Cumacea (superorder Peracarida), a group of small, predominantly marine......
hookworm
hookworm, any of several parasitic worms of the genera Necator and Ancylostoma belonging to the class Nematoda......
horn coral
horn coral, any coral of the order Rugosa, which first appeared in the geologic record during the Ordovician Period,......
hornet
hornet, (genus Vespa), genus of about 20 species of the wasps (order Hymenoptera), most of which are native to......
horny sponge
horny sponge, any sponge of the orders Dictyoceratida and Dendroceratida (class Demospongiae). It has a skeleton......
horsehair worm
horsehair worm, any of the approximately 250 to 300 species of the class Nematomorpha, or Gordiacea (phylum Aschelminthes).......
horseshoe crab
horseshoe crab, (order Xiphosura), common name of four species of marine arthropods (class Merostomata, subphylum......
horseshoe shrimp
horseshoe shrimp, any member of the marine crustacean subclass Cephalocarida (class Crustacea), named because of......
horseshoe worm
horseshoe worm, phylum name Phoronida, a small group (about 12 species) of wormlike marine invertebrates that live......
human louse
human louse, (Pediculus humanus), a common species of sucking louse in the family Pediculidae (suborder Anoplura,......
Hydra
Hydra, genus of invertebrate freshwater animals of the class Hydrozoa (phylum Cnidaria). The body of such an organism......
Hydractinia
Hydractinia, genus of marine hydrozoan polyps (phylum Cnidaria), a group of invertebrate animals with a thin tubelike......
hydroid
hydroid, any member of the invertebrate class Hydrozoa (phylum Cnidaria). Most hydroids inhabit marine environments,......
Hyposmocoma
Hyposmocoma, moth genus containing more than 350 described species in the family Cosmopterigidae (order Lepidoptera).......
ice bug
ice bug, (order Grylloblatodea), any of approximately 25 species of rare and primitive insects found in the mountains......
Inoceramus
Inoceramus, genus of extinct pelecypods (clams) found as fossils in Jurassic to Cretaceous rocks (laid down between......
invertebrate
invertebrate, any animal that lacks a vertebral column, or backbone, in contrast to the cartilaginous or bony vertebrates.......
Irukandji jellyfish
Irukandji jellyfish, any of at least 16 species of box jellyfish (class Cubozoa) known for their transparency,......
isopod
isopod, any member of the order Isopoda (class Crustacea), a group of diverse, widely occurring forms including......
Isotelus
Isotelus, genus of trilobites (extinct arthropods) restricted to Europe and North America during the Ordovician......
Japanese beetle
Japanese beetle, (species Popillia japonica), an insect that is a major pest and belongs to the subfamily Rutelinae......
jellyfish
jellyfish, any planktonic marine member of the class Scyphozoa (phylum Cnidaria), a group of invertebrate animals......
Jerusalem cricket
Jerusalem cricket, (subfamily Stenopelmatinae), any of about 50 species of insects in the family Stenopelmatidae......
jingle shell
jingle shell, any of several marine invertebrates of the class Bivalvia belonging to the family Anomiidae. In most......
Jonah crab
Jonah crab, North American crab species (Cancer borealis) closely related to the Dungeness crab...
jumping plant louse
jumping plant louse, any member of the approximately 2,000 species of the insect family Psyllidae (order Homoptera).......
jumping spider
jumping spider, (family Salticidae), any of more than 5,000 species of spiders (order Araneida) known for their......
June beetle
June beetle, (genus Phyllophaga), genus of nearly 300 species of beetles belonging to the widely distributed plant-eating......
katydid
katydid, (family Tettigoniidae), any of about 6,000 predominantly nocturnal insects that are related to crickets......
kelp crab
kelp crab, Pacific species of spider crab...
kermes
kermes, (Kermes ilicis), a species of scale insect in the family Kermesidae (order Homoptera), the common name......
king crab
king crab, (Paralithodes camtschaticus), marine crustacean of the order Decapoda, class Malacostraca. This edible......
kinorhynch
kinorhynch, any of the approximately 150 species of microscopic marine invertebrates of the phylum Kinorhyncha,......
krill
krill, any member of the crustacean order Euphausiacea or of the genus Euphausia within that suborder. Euphausiids......
lace bug
lace bug, (family Tingidae), any of about 800 species of insects (order Heteroptera) in which the adult, usually......
lacewing
neuropteran, (order Neuroptera), any of a group of insects commonly called lacewings because of the complex vein......
ladybug
ladybug, (family Coccinellidae), any of approximately 5,000 widely distributed species of beetles (insect order......
lamp shell
lamp shells, any member of the phylum Brachiopoda, a group of bottom-dwelling marine invertebrates. They are covered......
land crab
land crab, any crab of the family Gecarcinidae (order Decapoda of the class Crustacea), typically terrestrial,......
land snail
land snail, any of the approximately 35,000 species of snails (phylum Mollusca) adapted to life away from water.......
lanternfly
lanternfly, (Lanternaria phosphorea), a large, brightly coloured South American plant hopper (order Homoptera)......
lappet
lappet, any member of the insect genus Tolype of the Lasiocampidae family of moths (order Lepidoptera). The genus......
leaf beetle
leaf beetle, (family Chrysomelidae), any of approximately 35,000 species of beetles (insect order Coleoptera) that......
leaf insect
leaf insect, (family Phylliidae), any of more than 50 species of flat, usually green insects (order Phasmida, or......
leaf roller moth
leaf roller moth, any member of the worldwide insect family Tortricidae (order Lepidoptera), named for the characteristic......
leaf-cutter bee
leaf-cutter bee, (family Megachilidae), any of a group of bees (order Hymenoptera), particularly genus Megachile,......
leaf-rolling grasshopper
leaf-rolling grasshopper, any of a group of insects in the subfamily Gryllacridinae (order Orthoptera) that are......
leaf-rolling weevil
leaf-rolling weevil, (family Attelabidae), any member of a subgroup of the weevil family, Curculionidae (insect......
leafcutter ant
leafcutter ant, (tribe Attini), any of 39 ant species abundant in the American tropics, easily recognized by their......
leafhopper
leafhopper, any of the small, slender, often beautifully coloured and marked sap-sucking insects of the large family......
leech
leech, (subclass Hirudinea), any of about 650 species of segmented worms (phylum Annelida) characterized by a small......
leopard moth
leopard moth, (Zeuzera pyrina), widely distributed insect of the family Cossidae (order Lepidoptera), known particularly......
lepidopteran
lepidopteran, (order Lepidoptera), any of about 180,000 species of butterflies, moths, and skippers. This order......
Leptaena
Leptaena, genus of extinct brachiopods (lamp shells) commonly found as fossils in Ordovician to Lower Carboniferous......
Leptodesma
Leptodesma, extinct genus of pelecypods (clams) found as fossils in Silurian to Lower Carboniferous rocks (between......
Leptodus
Leptodus, extinct genus of articulate brachiopods, or lamp shells, of the Permian Period (299 million to 251 million......
Leucosolenia
Leucosolenia, genus of tubular branched sponges of the class Calcispongiae (phylum Porifera). Found in tide pools......
limpet
limpet, any of various snails (class Gastropoda, phylum Mollusca) having a flattened shell. Most marine species......
lingulid
lingulid, any member of a group of brachiopods, or lamp shells, that includes very ancient extinct forms as well......
Linoproductus
Linoproductus, genus of extinct articulate brachiopods (lamp shells) found throughout the midcontinent region of......
lion’s mane jellyfish
lion’s mane jellyfish, (Cyanea capillata), marine jellyfish of the class Scyphozoa (phylum Cnidaria) found in the......
Liriope
Liriope, genus of small marine jellyfish of the class Hydrozoa (phylum Cnidaria). Its medusoid body is characteristically......
Lituites
Lituites, genus of extinct cephalopods (primitive animals related to the modern pearly nautilus) found as fossils......
liver fluke
liver fluke, any of certain parasitic flatworms that invade the liver of the host animal. See...
lizard beetle
lizard beetle, (family Languriidae), any of some 400 species of long, narrow beetles (insect order Coleoptera),......
lobed comb jelly
lobed comb jelly, any of several gelatinous, transparent marine invertebrates of the order Lobata (phylum Ctenophora).......
lobopod
lobopod, collective name for two phyla of animals: Onychophora and Tardigrada. Phyla Onychophora and Tardigrada......
lobster
lobster, any of numerous marine crustaceans (phylum Arthropoda, order Decapoda) constituting the families Homaridae......
locust
locust, (family Acrididae), any of a group of insects (order Orthoptera) that are distributed worldwide, the common......
long-horned beetle
long-horned beetle, (family Cerambycidae), any of about 25,000 species of beetles (insect order Coleoptera) whose......
lophophorate
lophophorate, any of three phyla of aquatic invertebrate animals that possess a lophophore, a fan of ciliated tentacles......
Lophophyllum
Lophophyllum, extinct genus of solitary marine corals found as fossils especially characteristic of the Late Carboniferous......
Lophospira
Lophospira, genus of extinct gastropods (snails) found as fossils in marine rocks of Ordovician to Devonian age......
louse
louse, (order Phthiraptera), any of a group of small wingless parasitic insects divisible into two main groups:......
Loxonema
Loxonema, genus of extinct gastropods (snails) found as fossils in rocks of Ordovician to Early Carboniferous age......
lugworm
lugworm, (genus Arenicola), any of several marine worms (class Polychaeta, phylum Annelida) that burrow deep into......
luna moth
luna moth, Species (Actias luna) of saturniid moth of eastern North America. Lunas are pale green and have a wingspread......
lungworm
lungworm, any of the parasitic worms of the superfamily Metastrongyloidea (phylum Nematoda) that infest the lungs......
lygaeid bug
lygaeid bug, (family Lygaeidae), any of a group of insects in the true bug order, Heteroptera, that includes many......
lynnhaven
lynnhaven, edible variety of oyster...
lynx spider
lynx spider, (family Oxyopidae), any of several groups of active spiders (order Araneida) that do not build a nest......
Maclurites
Maclurites, extinct genus of Ordovician gastropods (snails) found as fossils and useful for stratigraphic correlations......
macroinvertebrate
macroinvertebrate, any animal lacking a backbone and large enough to see without the aid of a microscope. Macroinvertebrates......
malacostracan
malacostracan, any member of the more than 29,000 species of the class Malacostraca (subphylum Crustacea, phylum......
mantid
mantid, (family Mantidae), any of approximately 2,000 species of large, slow-moving insects that are characterized......
mantis shrimp
mantis shrimp, any member of the marine crustacean order Stomatopoda, especially members of the genus Squilla.......
mantispid
mantispid, (family Mantispidae), any of a group of insects in the order Neuroptera, the adults of which bear a......
marennes
marennes, popular edible variety of oyster...
marsh treader
marsh treader, any insect of the family Hydrometridae (order Heteroptera), so named because of its slow, deliberate......
mason bee
mason bee, (genus Osmia), genus of more than 350 species of solitary bees mostly native to the Northern Hemisphere......
mayfly
mayfly, (order Ephemeroptera), any member of a group of insects known for their extremely short life spans and......
meadow grasshopper
meadow grasshopper, (subfamily Conocephalinae), any of a group of grasshoppers in the family Tettigoniidae (order......
mealybug
mealybug, (family Pseudococcidae), any of a group of small sap-sucking insects (order Homoptera) that are worldwide......
measuring worm
measuring worm, (family Geometridae), the larva of any of a large group of moths in the order Lepidoptera. Because......
medicinal leech
medicinal leech, any of certain leech species (phylum Annelida), particularly Hirudo medicinalis, H. verbana, and......
medusa
medusa, in zoology, one of two principal body types occurring in members of the invertebrate animal phylum Cnidaria.......

Bugs, Mollusks & Other Invertebrates Encyclopedia Articles By Title