Insect Behavior and Biology Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering insect predator-prey dynamics, feeding strategies, plant interactions, pollination behaviors, and reproductive competition based on lecture transcript notes.

Sex limited mimicry

A form of mimicry in which only one sex, typically female, mimics a bad-tasting model species while the other sex does not, reducing the overall number of cheaters in the system.

Puddle club

A feeding behavior where groups of butterflies gather at moist soil to collect water and essential minerals.

Tiger beetle

A predatory ground insect and active hunter capable of running extremely fast—equivalent to $300\,\text{miles per hour}$ if human-sized—causing its vision to blur while in pursuit of prey.

Sit and wait predator

An ambush predator that remains in one position without constructing a structural trap until prey approaches close enough to be captured.

Antlion

An immature insect larva that constructs sand pits to trap prey, such as ants, by flicking sand to knock them down into the pit.

Parasitoids

Organisms that lay eggs inside or on a host, where the larvae feed on the host from the inside out and ultimately cause its death.

Phoresy

A symbiotic relationship where one organism hitches a ride on another organism strictly for transportation without directly feeding on or harming the host.

Commensalism

A relationship between two organisms where one organism benefits from the interaction while the other is largely unaffected.

Phytophagous

A term describing organisms that feed on plant material.

Monophagous

Having a specialized diet restricted to eating only one single species or type of plant.

Oligophagous

Feeding on a restricted range consisting of a few closely related plant species.

Polyphagous

Having a generalist diet that allows feeding on a wide variety of different plant types.

Miners

Internal plant-feeding insects that feed between the upper and lower epidermis of a leaf, consuming the mesophyll tissue.

Gall

An abnormal growth of extra tissue produced by a plant in response to an insect laying an egg, providing food for the larva without interfering with essential plant functions.

Diurnal

An organismal behavior characterized by being active primarily during the daytime.

Nocturnal

An organismal behavior characterized by being active primarily during the nighttime.

Monolectic

Describing a pollinator that exclusively visits a single species of flower.

Oligoleptic

Describing a pollinator that restricts its flower visits to a few closely related plant species.

Polylectic

Describing a pollinator that visits a wide variety of different flower species.

Copulatory plug

A physical structure placed on a female by a male after mating to prevent subsequent males from mating with her.

Intrasexual interactions

Interactions that take place between members of the same sex, such as male-male combat for access to mates.

Intersexual interactions

Interactions that take place between members of different sexes, such as courtship and mating behaviors.