haltere                                                One of the balancing organs seen in flies, these club shaped organs are the modified rear wings.  [see picture]

hamulate coupling                        A wing coupling mechanism used in Hymenoptera. A row of small hooks (hamuli), on the anterior margin of the hind wing, engage with a sclerotised anterior margin of the fore wing.

hamuli                                                  Small hooks on the front edge of the hind wing to link it to the fore wing in Hymenoptera.

haustellate                                        Organ for sucking liquids.

hemelytron                                        Forewing of a heteropteran bug, has a membranous tip.

hemimetabolous                            Insect which has an incomplete metamorphic life cycle, no pupal stages.

heteromerous                                 Unequal numbers of tarsal segments on all legs.

heteroneurous venation              Lepidoptera, in which the number of veins in the hind wing is less than the forewing, cf homoneurous. Considered to be the more advanced condition.

histeroid aedeagus.                       Aedeagus in which the phallobase and parameres form a tube surrounding the penis. This type is found only in Sphertididae, Synteliidae and Histeridae.

holometabolous                              Insect which has a complete metamorphic life cycle, with pupal stages.

holoptic                                               Of Diptera, referring to the eyes touching at the top of the head. Holo means whole.  [see picture]

homoneurous venation                Wing venation in which the fore and hind wings are similar

homonym                                           Two species which have been given the same scientific name, when discovered one species has to be renamed.

humeral angle                                 An area at the base of the wing, when the costa curves sharply backwards anteriorly.

humeral vein                                    Small cross vein in the humeral region of the wing running from the costa to the sub-costa.

honeydew                Sweet liquid extruded from the anus of aphids.

hyaline                                                 Transparent and homogenous. When referring to a wing, suggests no colour patterns.      

hypermetamorphosis                   Life cycle in which there can be two or more different types of larvae.

hyperparasite                                  An organism which is parasitic on a parasite.

hypo                                                      Under, beneath, lower. Less than normal. A lower state of oxidisation.

hypognathous                                  Possessing a vertical head with mouthparts at the bottom.

hypopharynx                                    Part of an insects mouth parts arising behind the mouth and in front of the labium.

hydrofuge surface.                         A portion of the body surface covered with dense hairs, which often have a complex structure. Under low magnifications, these areas have a characteristic dull sheen. Hydrofuge surfaces repel water and in some cases they form a plastron.

hypomeron                                        (pl. hypomera) (of pronotum). That portion of the pronotum which is visible from the ventral side; when there is a lateral pronotal carina, this is the portion below that carina (the pronotal disc being above it). The postcoxal projection in Polyphaga is part of the hypomeron.

hypopleural bristles                     Row of bristles which curve round on the side of the thorax of some flies.

hypopleuron.                                    (meropleuron) Think it’s a plate on the lower side of the thorax in Diptera. May be bare, with weak hairs or strongly bristled.