a-

apex--the highest point of an object, the top

apical--in reference to or relating to the apex

apices--plural of apex

anterior--the front of something

abdomen--the third, and generally largest, section of an arthropod's body

aedeagus--male reproductive organ, which is inserted into the female's ovipositor

aedeagi--plural of aedeagus

adult--the final life stage prior to death, at which point reproduction should be possible

antenna--segmented appendages for sensory

antennae--plural of antenna

antennal--in reference to or relating to the antennae

apterous--the absence of flight wings

b-

c-

clypeus--the part of a beetle's face between the labrum and the frons

d-

dung--feces

depression--an indentation

dimple--a depression (dimensions may vary) term typically used relative to facial or pronotal sculpturing 

divergent--generally relating to the point where an elytral stria splits into two short stria-often seen near the scutellum

e-

elytron--the singular form of the word elytra

elytra--the plural form of the word elytron--is the name for the hardened forewing of most beetles

elytral--referring or relating to the elytron/elytra of a beetle

f-

fovea--small pits typically containing a singular seta

foveate--to have fovea present

front--self explanatory term

frons--the front of a beetle's head; just above the clypeus

flagellum--another term for the antenna/ae of an insect

g-

genitalia--reproductive organs

gula--a section of a beetle's head, found on the underside of the centre part of the head

gregarious--social, often found alongside others of the same species

h-

humeral angle--the "shoulder" of the elytra, the corners of the elytra base near the base of the pronotum

i-

j-

jaw(s)--see mandible

k-

keel--a type of raised surface protrusion generally found on the elytra of a beetle, which is elongate; resembles the cross-section of a railroad rail

labrum--the "lip" that is found over/between the mandibles-often squarish, may have wavy, round, or slanted margins 

lateral margins--the perimeter of a beetle's elytra or pronotal disk on the left and right sides of the beetle; the edges

laterobasal (ridges)--the ridges found on the base of the elytra on many carabids

m-

margin--the edge, rim, or perimeter of something

margins--plural of margin

marginal--referring or relating to the margins

macule/macules/maculation--the coloured markings (typically) found on the elytra of some beetle species, often used for ID purposes, though in some cases, elytral maculation is not consistant within a species

mandible--jaws

mandibles--plural of mandible

mandibular--in reference to or in relation to the mandibles

n-

o-

oblong--somewhat rectangular, with slightly rounded margins and corners

obtuse--in reference to angles found on a beetle [often related to the pronotal angles, humeral shoulders, and mandibular structure] that are greater than 90°

ovipositor--the female organ used for laying eggs

opaque--pale or dark in colour, not fully transparent, but some light may travel through the structure weakly - "cloudy"

ovate--semi-spherical, somewhat elongated

p-

parascutellar pore/pit--a small pit found beside the scutellum, found on only some carabids

penis--see aedeagus/aedeagi

posterior--hind, the back end of

q-

r-

ridges--elevated, usually elongated, structures on some part of a beetle's body

s-

scape/scapus--the first segment of an insect's antennae

scutellum--the (often triangular or ovate) small plate typically found between the eluytral suture only at the base of the elytra

subbasal--that which is perpendicular to the central axis of something near, but not at, the front of something

subraorbital (seta/setae)--the pair of setae found over each eye of a carabid

t-

tergum/tergite--a dorsal plate which is found on the dorsal portion of beetle's abdominal segments

tarsus--singular--the claw-like appendage which acts as an insect's foot

tarsi--plural of tarsus

tarsal--in reference to or of tarsi

u-

urgomorphi--two prong-like extensions of the last tergite, found on the larvae of some beetles i.e. carabids

v-

ventral--the underside

vestigial--organs or other appendages that have been reduced over many generations, and now fully, or largely lack any purpose

w-

wrinkle--generally used when referring to a beetle's external sculpturing when it appears to have elongated folds

x-

y-

z-