ETYMOLOGY OF ORDER

NAMES
 INSECT ORDER MEANING
Protura Prot= first; ura= tail
Collembola Coll=glue; embola= a bolt or wedge (referring to the collophore)
Diplura Di= two; ura= tail
Thysanura Thysan= bristle or fringe; ura= tail
Ephemeroptera Ephemero= for a day/short-lived; ptera= wings
Odonata Odo=from the Greek, meaning tooth (referring to the teeth or
mandibles)
Orthoptera Ortho= straight; ptera= wings
Dermaptera Derma= skin; ptera= wings

Isoptera Iso= equal; ptera= wings

 INSECT ORDER MEANING
Protura Prot= first; ura= tail
Collembola Coll=glue; embola= a bolt or wedge
(referring to the collophore)
Diplura Di= two; ura= tail
Thysanura Thysan= bristle or fringe; ura= tail
Ephemeroptera Ephemero= for a day/short-lived; ptera=
wings
Odonata Odo=from the Greek, meaning tooth
(referring to the teeth or mandibles)
Orthoptera Ortho= straight; ptera= wings
Dermaptera Derma= skin; ptera= wings
Isoptera Iso= equal; ptera= wings
Heteroptera Hetero= different wings; i.e. forewings half
membranous; ptera=wings
 INSECT ORDER MEANING
Embioptera Embio= lively; ptera=wings
Plecoptera Pleco= folded or plaited; ptera=wings (referring to the fact
that the anal region of the hindwings is folded when the
wings are at rest
Zoraptera Zor= pure; aptera= wingless (Only wingless individuals where
known when this order was described and their wingless
condition was thought to be a distinctive feature of the
order.)
Psocoptera Psoco= rub small;ptera=wings (referring to the gnawing
habits of these insects)
Mallophaga Mallo= wool; phaga= eat
Anoplura Anopl= unarmed; ura= tail
Thysanoptera Thysano= fringe; ptera=wings
Hemiptera Hemi= half; ptera= wings (referring to the fact that the front
wings usually have the basal portion thickened and the
distal portion membranous)
Homoptera Homo= alike; ptera= wings
 INSECT ORDER MEANING
Neuroptera Neuro= nerve (referring to the wing veins); ptera=
wings
Coleoptera Coleo= sheath; ptera= wings (referring to the elytra)
Strepsiptera Strepsi= twisted; ptera= wings
Mecoptera Meco= long; ptera= wings
Trichoptera Tricho= hair; ptera=wings
Lepidoptera Lepido= scale; ptera= wings
Diptera Di= two; ptera= wings
Siphonaptera Siphon= a tube; aptera= wingless
Hymenoptera Hymeno= god of marriage (referring to the union of
front and hind wings by means of hamuli);
ptera=wings