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GLOSSARY
7
Abdomen
The rear section of the three major body divisions, located at the end of the thorax.
Absorption
Is the process by which one substance is taken into another substance. For example as water is
taken up by a sponge.
Accidental Host
An uncommon or rare host to a pathogenic microorganism.
Accidental Myiasis
Presence within a host of a fly not normally parasitic. Also called pseudomyiasis.
Accidental Parasite
Parasite found in other than its normal host. Also called an incidental parasite.
Active Constituent (AC)
See active ingredient.
Active Ingredient (AI)
That part or proportion of the pesticide which is responsible for the effect on the target pest.
Acute Oral LD50
Is the dose administered by mouth (oral) required to kill 50 per cent of the animal under test. Most
commonly expressed for male rats but may be done for many species.
Acute Toxicity
Effect of pesticide or chemical substance that occurs immediately or directly upon exposure to the
substance. Usually refers to one exposure time frame.
Adjuvant
A compound added to a substance that enhances the performance of insecticides or fungicides
to improve its performance.
Adsorption
Is the process by which one substance adheres to the surface of another substance in a very thin
layer.
Aerosol
Air suspension of solid or liquid particles having a volume median diameter of less than 50 µm.
Aerosol sprays are principally used for drift spraying against flying insects. The small size of the
droplets or particles allow entry to the body via the respiratory tract and readily contaminates
clothing, skin and eyes.
Aerosol Dispenser
Container holding a pressurised formulation which produces aerosol spray due to volatisation of
a propellant when a valve is opened.
Aerosol Sprayers
Sprayers using a blower unit to generate an aerosol spray.
Aestivate
To pass the summer in a dormant or torpid state.
Airborne Concentration
The amount of chemical per unit volume of air. Typically this refers to the volume or mass
concentration of chemical, but it can refer to the number concentration of spray drops.
Airborne Drift
The volume (or mass) of chemical per unit length of spray run that passes above a point at a given
down-wind distance outside the field or target area.
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Antenna (pl, antennae)
A pair of segmented appendages on the insects head above the mouth parts.
Apterous
Devoid of wings.
Application
The act of administering pesticides, or they are placed in such a way that they become available
to pests.
Application Rate
The amount of chemical applied to an area (g or ml per m or Ha).
Application Target
The place where the chemical application needs to be deposited (eg wall, cracks, etc) in order to
control the biological target (eg pest, disease, or weed).
Arachnids
Arachnids are a class (Arachnida) of joint-legged arthropods that is commonly understood have
four pairs of legs however they generally have a total of 6 pairs of appendages—two pairs of which
have become adapted for feeding, defense, and sensory perception. Arachnids are further
distinguished by the fact they have no antennae and no wings.
Area sampling
A method of sampling in which the total area of interest is divided into sub-areas that are then
randomly sampled. Each sub-area in the sample is completely enumerated.
Arthropods
Invertebrate animals (phylum Arthropoda) with jointed legs and a hard external skeleton, eg
insects, spiders, crustaceans and millipedes.
Atomise
To reduce a liquid to fine droplets by passing it under pressure through a suitable nozzle, or by
applying drops to a spinning disc.
Atomiser
Device for breaking up liquid into fine droplets in a stream of air.
Attractant
A substance that acts as a lure to attract pests to an insecticide (eg pheromone, food, light, heat,
etc).
Adulticide
Toxic materials that are most effective in the control of the adult stage of arthropod pests.
Bacillus thuringiensis
Soil bacterium used to engineer resistance to insect pests.
Baiting
A precise, passive treatment method in which bait is placed directly on a surface or in a special
container (bait station) that is designed to permit entry to a particular type or types of pests.
Bait Station
A container specially designed to hold bait. Bait stations help keep baits clean, fresh and attractive
to the target pests.
Baseboard Spraying
The application of liquid pesticides inside a home by spraying a 40 to 100 cm band along the
baseboards of a wall.
Beneficial Insects
Insects which are natural enemies of other insects classed as pests and thus play a role in
reducing pest populations.
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Biocide
A chemical pesticide that is toxic to a wide range of species.
Biodegradable
Capable of being broken down by living organisms into inorganic compounds.
Biodiversity (or biological diversity)
Is the variety of all living life-forms including plants, animals, and micro-organisms, the genes they
all contain and the ecosystem of which they form a part.
Biological Control
The regulation of plant and animal populations by natural enemies. The term is also applied to the
practice of using natural enemies to manage pest populations.
Biological Control Agent
A commercially available product which contains beneficial organisms.
Biological Target
The pest, disease or weed being controlled.
Book Lung
Respiratory organ in many arachnids consisting of many thin folds of membrane resembling the
leaves of a book.
Boom Spray
Mechanical device consisting of chemical tank, pump, boom and nozzles designed to apply
chemicals.
Boric Acid
Pesticide products containing boric acid and its sodium salts are registered in the United States
for use as insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides. As insecticides, some act as stomach poisons
in ants, cockroaches, silverfish and termites, while others abrade the exoskeletons of insects.
Botanical Pesticides
Insect toxins that are derived or extracted from plants or plant parts.
Broadcast Spraying
An imprecise, active treatment method for dispensing a pesticide that is prone to pesticide drift
and residue.
Buffer Zone
A physical barrier used to protect sensitive areas, such as native vegetation, waterways or
residential properties, from chemical spray drift. A buffer zone can take the form of a cleared area
of land or a vegetative barrier.
Calcareous
Consisting of or containing calcium carbonate, calcium, or limestone.
Calibrate (chemical)
Accurately measure the output per unit area of chemical from a sprayer or other application
device.
Cambium
The layer of cells between the wood and the bark of a tree which divides and adds growth to both
the wood and the bark.
Canada Balsam
A resin-based substance used for mounting specimens onto microslides for viewing under a
microscope. See also Euparal.
Carapace
Structure formed by posterior and lateral extension of dorsal sclerites of the head in many
Crustacea, usually covering and/or fusing with one or more thoracic somites; considered as
arising from a fold of head exo-skeleton. Also, a dorsal sclerotised plate often covering the
idiosoma of acarines.
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Carbamate Insecticide
One of a class of insecticides derived from carbamic acid having anti-cholinesterase activity.
Carcinogenic
Is the ability of a substance to promote cancer.
Carnoy’s
A substance consisting of glacial acetic acid, 95 per cent ethyl alcohol and chloroform which is
used for fixing large larvae of moths, butterflies, beetles, bees and wasps as it preserves their
colour and body marking and prevents shrinkage. The larvae must be placed alive in the fixative.
Carrier
Any substance, may be liquid solid or gas and is usually inert, which is mixed with the active
ingredient to assist application. Usually used to reduce concentration to user strength.
Caste
A distinct type of body form within a colony of social insects eg soldier, worker, queen.
Caterpillar
A soft bodied larva with a number of prolegs or false legs on the abdomen in addition to the six
true thoracic legs. Usually refers to the larvae of moths and butterflies.
Causal Agent of Disease
That which is capable of causing disease.
Causal Organism
The organism (pathogen) that produces a given disease.
Cellulose
The substance which makes up the essential parts of tissues and fibres in plants, wood, linen and
paper.
Cephalothorax
The front body section of arachnids and some crustaceans which consists of the fused head and
thorax.
Cerci
A pair of jointed appendages on the tip of the abdomen of insects and other arthropods.
Chelicerae
The first pair of fang-like appendages near the mouth of an arachnid, often modified for grasping
and piercing.
Chemical
Most substances in the universe.
Chemical Name
Scientific name for the active ingredient in a pesticide.
Chemical Resistance
The attribute of a pest population from which subsequent generations of the pest are able to
survive higher and higher concentrations of chemicals applied to control them
Chronic Toxicity
Effects of pesticide or chemical substance that occur as a result of repeated exposure to
sub-acute toxicity doses. Long-term health effects associated with repeated exposure.
Cocoon
A protective case often of silk or similar fibrous material forming a natural protective covering or
structure around such things as the pupae or eggs of some invertebrates.
Cold Fogging Concentrate
A pesticide formulation suitable for application by cold fogging equipment.
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Coleoptera
Beetles.
Colony
An organized group of the same type of insects that live together usually in some type of nest, and
depend on each other for survival.
Complete Life Cycle
The growth cycle where the young have a different form from the adults and undergo a pupal
stage to become the adult. Stages usually consist of egg-larvae-pupa-adult.
Compound
A substance composed of two or more chemicals.
Compound Eyes
Eye which consists of many light-sensitive lens, each with its own refractive system and each
forming a portion of an image.
Concentrate
Normally referring to commercial pesticide preparation before dilution for use.
Concentrate Spraying
Application of concentrate (q.v.). Direct application of the pesticide concentrate without dilution.
Concentration
Proportion of active ingredient in liquid or dust pesticide preparation, before or after dilution eg
kilo/litre or percent by weight.
Contact Action
The act of clogging spiracles of joints, surface corrosion of the cuticle, or creation of physical and
chemical changes in nervous systems in whole or part of pests exposed to this class of
insecticides.
Contact Herbicide
Herbicide that kills those plant parts with which it comes into contact (as opposed to translocated
herbicide). Often acting on the membrane systems of leaf tissues and inhibiting photosynthetic
and respiratory metabolism.
Contact Insecticide
Refers to an insecticide that is absorbed directly into the target pest, killing or disrupting its
function.
Contact Pesticide
See Contact Insecticide
Cribellum
A sieve-like organ of some spiders which is used for spinning a special kind of silk.
Cultural Control
A pest control method in which normal agronomic practices, tilling planting, crop spacing,
irrigating, harvesting, waste disposal, crop rotation are altered so that the environment is less
favourable for the pest. The application of agronomic, agricultural and silvicultural practices etc to
control pests eg ploughing under of crop residues, pruning and destruction of infected tree
branches, crop rotation.
Cuticle
The outer protective envelope of any living organism. In the case of mammals or arthropods the
alternative names skin or integument are often used but cuticle invariably in respect of green
plants. Plant cuticle is a macro-molecular structure of predominantly paraffinic composition
over-lying cellulose and pectin.
Dermal Toxicity
The toxicity of a chemical associated with skin application and/or absorption.
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Desiccant
Is a substance which promotes the loss of water. Some products contain desiccants to improve
pesticidial activity.
Diapause
A condition of arrested growth and development during the life cycle of an insect.
Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous earth is a naturally occurring nontoxic insecticide (mineral) mined from the
fossilized silica shell remains of diatoms, (single-celled or colonial algae). It absorbs the waxy
layer on insect bodies, abrades the skin, and dries out (desiccates) and kills the insect.
Dimorphism
A condition of having two distinct forms in the same species, eg the difference in morphology
between male and female in many insect species.
Diluents
Any substance, liquid, solid or gas used to dilute technical grade active ingredient during product
formulation to reduce concentration to user strength.
Diptera
Flies. Insects possessing a single pair of wings on the mesothorax and a pair of halteres, derived
from the hind wings, on the metathorax.
Disease cycle
The chain of events involved in disease development, including the stages of development of the
pathogen and the effect of the disease on the host.
Dorsal
Referring to the back or upper side of an organism. On or near the upper surface of an organism
(opposite to ventral).
Dorsal plate
Dorsal plate on the body of a mesostigmatid mite.
Dorso-ventrally
From the back to the front of an animal; in the plane of the back and front, as distinct from the
lateral or side plane.
Dorsum
The upper edge or, in animals, the back.
Dose
Quantity of pesticide applied per individual (plant or animal), or per unit area, or per unit volume,
or per unit weight. The amount of chemical or pesticide active ingredient administered to, or
absorbed by the target.
Dosage
The integral of concentration with respect to time. If the concentration is constant over a given time
interval then the dosage is the product of concentration and time.
Dosage Rate
The amount of active ingredient dispensed per unit area. It could be mixed with a wide range of
quantities of carrier medium. The dosage is constant, but the application rate may vary.
Drift
The movement of a pesticide through air at the time of application or soon thereafter, to any site
other than that intended for application (often referred to as off target).
Dust
An insecticide dust is a dry formulation of a contact insecticide that attaches to an insect when the
insect walks by or over it.
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Dusting
A pest-product treatment technique for applying a thin coat of dust bait to a given area.
Elytra
See Elytron
Elytron (pl, elytra)
Hardened, opaque wing covers as found in Coleoptera; usually divided to permit the use of the
hind wings for flying.
Emulsifier
Any substance that allows two liquids to mix (eg oil and water) which would not normally mix.
Emulsifiers are used to form emulsifiable concentrate formulations of oil based insecticides which
can be mixed with water for application.
Emulsion
Is the result of mixing two liquids which do not normally mix, usually with the assistance of an
emulsifier. Emulsions are tiny droplets of one liquid suspended in the other liquid.
Endemic
An endemic species is one that is confined to a specific country, region or location.
Entognathous
Having the mouthparts in pockets or oral folds from which they can be protruded when feeding.
Epidemic
A widespread and severe, temporary increase in the incidence of an infectious disease,
particularly within a season.
Euparal
A resin-based substance used for mounting specimens onto microslides for viewing under a
microscope. See also Canada balsam.
Exclusion Treatment Method
Protecting an area against pest access either by mechanical alteration (physical exclusion) or by
rendering access points and harborage impassable via pesticide repellency (pesticide exclusion).
Exclusion involves altering the environment so pests can not get through.
Exo-skeleton
The hard structure developed on the outside of, and giving support to, a body, such as the
chitinous covering of an insect.
Exotic species
A species (animal or plant) introduced from another country.
Femur (plfemora)
The third of five segments of an insects’ leg and is often the largest segment.
Filamentous (filiform)
Thin and thread-like.
Flight hole
The hole remaining in wood after emergence of an adult wood-boring insect.
Foraging
The act of seeking out food. Pests that live in colony send out foraging member to collect food and
return it to the colony for others colony members to ear.
Formulation
Is the form of the product, after manufacture, which is purchased for use. Examples of different
formulations include wettable powder, dusts and emulsifiable concentrates. Formulation may also
refer to the actual process of manufacturing a pesticide.
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Frass
The refuse or excrement left by organisms usually chewed wood fragments, or the mixture of
faeces and excretions, produced by a wood-boring larva or adult insect.
Furca
Any fork-like structure; esp. in reference to the fork-like ‘tails’ of Collembola.
Gallery
A tunnel within wood caused by a wood-boring insect larva.
Gel Bait
A gel formulation of a bait in a gel. The bait has a consistency much like gel toothpastes.
Genus
Is a group of closely related species the first name in the scientific name. For example,
Coptotermes, Nasutitermes and Schedorhinotermes.
Granular Bait
A granule formulation of a bait.
Gynandromorph
An organism having both male and female morphological characteristics.
Habitat
The environment in which a plant or animal lives; each living organism has its preferred habitat
and some are more adaptable than others to changes in the environment.
Habitat Modification
Modification of the habitat or area in which the pests are thriving so to deny pest one of the three
life necessity that they seekfood, water and harborage.
Haemocoel
The body cavity within insects containing the soft internal organs (viscera).
Halteres
Also known as balancers or poisers, are small knobbed structures found as a pair in some
two-winged insects; they are flapped rapidly to maintain stability when flying.
Harborage
A place of refuge or shelter for a pest.
Heinz (PVA) Mounting Medium
A substance made with poly vinyl alcohol, distilled water, glycerol, phenol/distilled water solution,
chloral hydrate and lactic acid used as a temporary mounting medium. This medium tends to
degrade over time but is useful is specimens do not need to be kept. Specimens can be lifted from
slides by dissolving the mountant in lactophenol.
Herbivores
Animals that feed on plants.
Hermaphrodite
An animal or plant; having both male female reproductive organs.
Hemiptera
Bugs.
Herbicides
Chemical which is biologically active and is used to kill or control the growth or emergence of
specific plants and weeds.
Hexapod
Six legged.
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High Toxicity
A characteristic of pest-suppression materials that make them a high risk of poisoning animals.
Host
The plant or animal on which an insect or fungus feeds.
Hoyers
A water-miscible substance made up of gum Arabic, chloral hydrate, water and glycerine used as
a mounting medium for specimens on microslides.
Hymenoptera
Wasps and bees (ants also form part of the Order Hymenoptera).
Incomplete Metamorphoses
Where the young develop gradually, appearing similar to the adults and do not undergo a pupal
stage.
Inert Ingredient
Is any substance in the pesticide formulation of spray mixture which has no pesticide activity.
Infection
The process of causing disease. Also, the method of spreading disease by air, water, plant debris,
etc.
Insect(s)
Insects (Class Insecta) are a major group of arthropods that possess segmented bodies
supported by an exoskeleton, a hard outer covering made mostly of chitin with the segments of
the body organised into three distinctive but interconnected units.
Insecticides
Biological or chemical compounds designed to kill, injure, reduce the fertility of, or modify the
behaviour of insects.
Insectivore
An organism that feeds on living insects and other arthropods.
Instar
The period or stage between moults in the larva, numbered to designate the various periods, eg
instar I is the stage between the egg and the first larval moult. The number of larval instars varies
between insects and may range from 3 to 30.
Integrated Pest Management
A strategy that utilises knowledge, action criteria, materials and methods in a coordinated program
to manage pest populations. IPM includes chemical, cultural, biological, physical and quarantine
controls.
Inter-specific
Usually refers to between species, eg resistance to insect defoliation found in various tree species
that may or may not be genetically related.
Intra-specific
Usually refers to within a species, eg resistance to insecticidal effects occurring among individuals
of an insect species.
Invertebrate
An invertebrate is an animal lacking a vertebral column. The group includes 97 per cent of all
animal species—all animals except fish, reptiles, amphibians, birds and mammals.
Juvenile
Used to describe the immature stages of some invertebrates.
KAA Solution
A substance consisting of glacial acetic acid, 95 per cent ethyl alcohol and kerosene which is used
for fixing large larvae of moths, butterflies, beetles, bees and wasps as it preserves their colour
and body marking and prevents shrinkage. The larvae must be placed alive in the fixative.
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Kaolinite Clay
Hydrous, non-expanding clay mineral containing aluminosilicates and having 1:1 crystal structure.
Knockdown
The ability of a pesticide or device to immobilize a pest. In many cases, the knockdown may cause
death, but not always.
Larva (pl, larvae)
The immature growth stage in the life cycle of an insect, ie one that undergoes complete
metamorphism between the embryo and the adult stage.
Lepidoptera
Moths and butterflies.
Lethal Dose (LD)
Refers to that dose which will cause the death of a given percentage of an animal sample
population by means other than inhalation, eg LD50 means the dose in mg per kg of animal weight
that will kill 50 per cent of the animal sample.
Life Cycle
Progressive series of changes undergone by an insect from an egg to an adult.
Limestone
A naturally occurring sedimentary rock (calcium carbonate) that when ground up can be used as
a insecticidal desiccant.
Liquid Bait
A bait in liquid form that is ingested by pests.
Low Toxicity
A characteristic of pest-suppression materials that make them a low risk of poisoning animals.
Mandible
The first pair of jaws of insects, usually hardened and tooth-like.
Mandibulate
Biting or chewing mouthparts.
Membranous
Transparent, usually referring to the flying wings of insects.
Mesonotum
The upper surface covering the middle segment of the thorax of insects.
Mesothorax
The middle or second segment of an insects thorax. It bears the front wings, or elytra, and the
mid-legs.
Metamorphosis
A series of profound morphological and physiological changes undergone by an insect from the
embryo to the adult stage.
Metathorax
The posterior or third segment of an insects thorax, bearing the hind wings and hind legs.
Monitoring
Regular inspection to identify insect and disease activity in order to determine whether control
measures are necessary. Monitoring is an integral part of integrated pest management.
Monofiliform
Of bead-like appearance, usually in reference to the shape of antennae.
Monophagous
Insect capable of consuming only one type of food material (usually plant).
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Morphology
The form and appearance of an insect without regard to how it functions.
Morphometric
Pertaining to external measurements of insect bodies or their parts.
Moult
To shed the hard outer skin of an invertebrate during growth.
Multivoltine
Insect species that produce more than two generations per year.
Mutagenic
Is the ability of a substance to produce genetic changes in living cells and organisms
Mycetophagous
Feeding on a fungal host.
Natural Pest Management
A form of Integrated Pest Management that uses low-impact natural, organic, botanical and
biological material to suppression structural pest problems.
Natural Pesticides
Products derived from naturally occurring substances (eg, plants, minerals, etc) used to suppress
pest activities.
Nematode
Microscopic wormlike organism some of which are parasites of animals and humans.
Nocturnal
Being most active during the night.
Non-target Organisms
Organisms (such as plants or beneficial insects) that are not the primary target of a pesticide, but
are nonetheless killed or otherwise harmed.
Nuptial Chamber
A cavity from which egg galleries emanate, constructed by bark beetles (Scolytidae) in the inner
bark of stems or main branches of host trees beneath entrance holes.
Nymph
The immature growth stage in the life cycle of a hemimetabolan insect species, ie one that
undergoes only incomplete metamorphism between the embryo and adult stage.
Ocellus(plocelli)
Simple eye consisting of a single lens. Simple eyes often occur in patterns of three in many
insects.
Omnivore
An organism that can feed on both plants and animals.
Ootheca
An egg case of some insects and molluscs which is formed by the hardened of a sticky substance
secreted from a special organ known as the colleterial gland.
Organic Pesticides
Typically pesticides that come from natural sources. This term is technically less accurate than
Natural Pesticides, which more accurately distinguish naturally occurring pesticides from
man-made pesticides (Synthetic Pesticides).
Orthoptera
Grasshoppers, locusts.
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Oviposition
The deposition (laying) of eggs through an ovipositor; the ovipositor is a tubular structure situated
ventrally at the rear of a female abdomen.
Ovipositor
Tubular apparatus, usually concealed but sometimes extending some length outside the end of
the abdomen, with which many female insects deposit eggs.
Parasite
An organism living in or on, and being nourished by, a host organism; the host becomes
weakened, sterile or diseased (though is not usually killed) as a result of parasite activity.
Parasitism
The process of a parasitic organism living on or within another organism; also see saprophyte.
Parasitoid
An insect (usually a wasp) living in or on, and being nourished by a host organism; the host is killed
as a result of parasitoid activity.
Parthenogenisis
Reproduction without fertilisation by the male (asexual reproduction).
Pathogen
A micro-organism that lives and feeds on or in a larger host and thereby injures the host, often
resulting in the host's death.
Pedipalps
One of the second pair of jointed appendages near to the mouth arachnids that are modified for
reproductive, predatory, or sensory functions.
Perimeter Spraying
See Broadcast Spraying.
Pest
An organism that reduces the availability, quality, or value of some human resource. This resource
may be a plant or animal used for food, fibre, or recreational purposes. A ‘pest’ is also defined as
any organism that causes annoyance or injury to human beings, human possessions, or human
interests. Refer to section 1, chapter 1 for a more descriptive definition of a pest.
Pesticide
Chemical used to kill or control pest insects, fungal pathogens, weeds and a range of other pest
groups.
Pesticide Residue
Pesticide that remains in food, soil and water after application.
Pesticide Resistance
Genetically selected tolerance or immunity of pest population to pesticides. Often as a result of
the populations repeated exposure to sub-lethal doses of a particular pesticide.
Pest Management
The manipulation of pest or potential pests populations so as to diminish or render the pest of no
concern to the client (ie is below the client's tolerance level).
pH
Is a measure of acidity or alkalinity.
Pharate
The unemerged state of an adult insect.
Phenotype
Refers to the observable hereditary characteristics arising from the interaction of the organism
with its environment.
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Pheromone
Is a substance produced by an organism that stimulates one or more behaviours of other
organisms of the same species. Pheromone sex attractant are used by many insects to ensure
male and female can find a mate. Pest management programs most often use compounds that
attract a mate (sex pheromones) or call others to a suitable food or nesting site (aggregation
pheromones)
Phytotoxicity
Is the ability of a product to damage plants.
Plumose
Having feathers or feather-like growths or resembling a plume.
Predator
Any animal organism that preys on and kills another vertebrate or invertebrate animal.
Preorally
Before or in front of the mouth.
Prepupa (pl, prepupae)
Non-feeding, usually inactive, final instar larval stage before transformation into the pupa.
Proboscis
Piercing, needle-like mouth parts of sucking and predatory insects. The lengthened mouthparts
which are modified to form a tube for piercing and sucking, or other specialised ways of feeding.
This term may also refer to the coiled feeding tube of moths and butterflies. See rostrum also.
Prolegs
Small, short leg-like appendages on the abdomen of some caterpillars that assist in locomotion
Pronotum
The upper surface of the first segment of the thorax of an insect. May be enlarged to form a shield
over the rest of the thorax
Prothorax
The posterior or first segment of an insects thorax. It bears the front legs but no wings.
Pubescent
Covered with fine hairs.
Pupa (pl, pupae)
The growth stage between larva and adult in which locomotion and feeding ceases but great
developmental
Pupating(pupate)
To go through the pupal stage. See Pupa.
Radula
A flexible tongue-like organ in some molluscs that consists of rows of horny teeth on the surface.
Raptorial
Adapted for catching and holding prey. They usually have sharp claws and spines or bristles.
Residual Pesticides
Are products that remain capable of killing or affecting their target pest which contacts the treated
surfaces long after application.
Resistance
Is the ability of an organism to overcome the effect of the pesticide either partially or completely.
Risk Assessment
On the basis of current knowledge and experience, careful and systematic analysis and
assessment of possible adverse impacts, and the scale and likelihood of these.
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Rostrum
The elongated piercing and sucking mouthparts of all species in the Hemiptera. Also applied to
the snout of weevils (Curculionidae). See proboscis also.
Scape
The first and usually the largest segment of the antennae.
Scavengers
An animal that feeds on dead or decaying material.
Scientific Name
Is an internationally recognised name given to organisms. Scientific names are usually bi-normal
(ie two parts) made up of the Genus name followed by the species name, eg Coptotermes
acinaciformis.
Sclerotised
Hardened or toughened tissue, like the elytra of a beetles forewing.
Segment
A subdivision of an animal body or appendage.
Solution
Is a mixture on one or more substances in another substance.
Species
Is a group of similar organisms with the ability to interbreed and produce fertile offspring.
Species Diversity
The total number of different species and their relative abundance within a given area.
Spinnerets
Tubular structures found on the end of the abdomen of spiders and some insect larvae (eg
silkworms) that secrete silk threads from which they form webs or cocoons.
Spiracle
The external opening of the breathing tube of an insect.
Spot Treatment
Applying a pest-control product to treat a small area where targeted pests are likely to come into
contact with the pest-control material.
Spray Drift
See Drift.
Structural Pest Control
The control of pests in and around homes, offices and other building structures.
Sub-species
Is a sub-group of a species sometimes referred to as a race.
Surfactant
Is a substance which reduces the surface tension of droplets, which allows the spray to stick and
spread more efficiently. Surfactants are also referred to as wetting agents, spreader and sticker.
Suspension
Is a mixture containing small particles (solid or liquid) which are dispersed in the carrier liquid or
gas but which are not dissolved in the carrier.
Symbiotic
A relationship between two or more different organisms of different species that does not
necessarily benefit each member.
Synergism
Is the combined effect of two or more active ingredients on the target pest which is greater then
the sum of the effects of each active ingredient activity on its own.
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Synergist
Is a substance which improves the effectiveness of an active ingredient. Pipernoyl butoxide is a
synergist commonly used to increase the effectiveness of natural pyrethroid insecticides.
Synthetic Pesticides
Pesticides that are man-made such as chlorinated hydrocarbons, organophosphates, and
pyrethroids.
Tarsus(pltarsi)
The last of the five sections of an insects’ leg, ie ‘the foot’. The tarsus itself is also divided into five
parts.
Taxon (pl, taxa)
A category used in biological classifications based on natural relationships, eg a species of insect
or an insect order.
Technical Grade Material
Is the pure form of the active ingredient prior to formulation.
Thorax
One of the three regions of the insect body, between the head and the abdomen bearing the legs
and wings (if present).
Tibia
The forth of five segments of an insects’ leg, usually the longest segment and is often thin, straight
or slightly curved and may have spines.
Toxicity
The capacity of a chemical to do harm to an organism by other than mechanical means.
Traditional Pest Control
The common approach to pest control used by most of the 20 000 professional pest control
companies in the United States. Treatment methods rely primarily on the spraying of synthetic
pesticides on walls, baseboards, house perimeter and lawns.
Trapping
Treatment method for physically capturing a pest. Trapping can aid in identifying pests, measuring
pest populations, or acting as a control mechanism.
Traps
Devices that physically restrain pests.
Treatment Methods
The actions taken to solve pest problems.
Uropods
One of the last pair of appendages on the end of the abdomen of certain crustaceans, such as the
lobster or slater.
Vector
An insect, fungus, nematode or other organism that does not cause disease itself but is capable
of transmitting a pathogen from one organism to another (ie to other animals or humans). Refer
to section 1, chapter 1 for a more descriptive definition of a vector.
Venation
The complete system of veins in the wings of insects.
Ventral
Situated on or near the lower surface of an organism (opposite to dorsal).
Vertebrates
The word vertebrate derives from Latin vertebratus meaning having joints. The defining
characteristic of a vertebrate is considered the backbone or spinal cord, a brain case, and an
internal skeleton.
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Viscera
The soft internal organs in the body cavity (haemocoel) of an insect.
Void Injection
A treatment method on enclosed spaces where insects may live, hide or travel.
Weed
Any plant that is growing where it is unwanted or undesired.
Wetland
Any area of land which is regularly or occasionally inundated by water; areas may include
swamps, billabongs, mudflats, salt marshes and lakes.
Wetting Agent
See surfactant
Woodland
A native plant community dominated by trees with relatively open spacing (up to 30 per cent of the
land surface covered by the crowns), often with a dense understorey.