Throughout the invertebrate keeping community, and certainly within The Bug Bin, you might notice some unique terms and phrases that aren’t commonly found outside the bug-keeping world. Here’s a quick rundown of commonly used lingo!
A
ABG = a type of substrate mix developed by Atlanta Botanical Gardens.
Activated charcoal = also called activated carbon; a material sometimes included in substrate mixes and aquariums that is used for filtration.
Ammonia = a toxic chemical (NH3) that comes from decomposing organic matter, such as dead animals and feces. Most commonly used in reference to fishkeeping.
Arachnid = animals in the Arthropod class Arachnida. Examples include spiders, scorpions, harvestmen, solifuges, whipscorpions, and vinegaroons.
B
BDFB = Blue Death Feigning Beetle (Asbolus verrucosus)
Beardie = shorthand phrase for a bearded dragon.
Bioactive = a terrarium that acts as a “miniature ecosystem” for the primary inhabitant and includes live plants and a clean-up crew.
Blattodea = the order of insects that includes cockroaches and termites.
C
CB = captive-bred.
CBB = captive-bred and born.
Carab = shorthand phrase for a beetle in the family Carabidae, the ground beetles.
Centipede = animals in the Myriapod class Chilopoda; carnivorous with one pair of legs per body segment.
Clean-up crew = microfauna in bioactive systems that serve as “janitors”, breaking down organic matter. Common examples include isopods and springtails.
Coconut fiber = also called Eco Earth and coconut coir, this is a loose and fibrous material that is sometimes used in substrates. Hence the name, it is primarily composed of organic coconut products.
Coleoptera = the order of insects that includes beetles.
Collembola = see “Springtail”.
Cork bark = a type of wood that is a favorite of terrarium builders for looking nice and holding up to many environments. Usually purchased online.
Crestie = shorthand phrase for a crested gecko.
Crustacean = animals in the Arthropod subphylum Crustacea. Examples include crabs, lobsters, crayfish, and shrimp.
Cull = to cull an animal is to humanely euthanize it. Usually used in the context of euthanizing overpopulated organisms or “runts”.
Cuttlebone = the internal shell of a cuttlefish, most commonly used as a calcium source for captive animals.
D
Decomposer = organisms that gain their nutrients from dead organic matter and secrete enzymes into the soil to recycle nutrients back to plants. Examples include fungi and bacteria.
Deep Heat Projector = a type of lamp that does not produce light but does emit infrared rays that mimic the heat of the sun.
Detritivore = animals that primarily feed on dead organic matter but digest them as normal consumers do. Examples include many species of earthworms, snails, beetles, millipedes, crabs, etc.
Dracaena = a wide group of plants in the genus Dracaena, commonly used in vivarium building.
Drainage layer = the bottom-most level of a naturalistic or bioactive terrarium, where water can drain to through the substrate and substrate barrier.
E
Exo-terra = a brand best known for manufacturing front-opening terrariums and other pet products.
F
Feeder = usually refers to a feeder insect or small mammal raised and bred for the purpose of being fed to another animal.
Fertilizer = a material used to bolster plant growth. Can be organic or chemical, but most chemical fertilizers will kill invertebrates.
Flakesoil = a highly nutritious substrate primarily composed of fermented wood.
G
Gastropod = a class of Mollusks that includes snails and slugs.
GBB = Greenbottle blue tarantula (Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens)
H
Halogen = a type of incandescent (heat-producing) lamp that closely mimics the sun’s infrared heat rays and is commonly used for reptile and amphibian heating.
Heat mat = a device sometimes used to heat an enclosure. Not recommended for most animals.
Hemiptera = an order of insects known as “true bugs”. Examples include cicadas, stink bugs, and leafhoppers.
Hisser = shorthand term for a hissing cockroach.
Hymenoptera = a large order of insects that contains wasps, bees, ants, and sawflies.
I
Isopod = a broad order of crustaceans. In practicality, this term refers to terrestrial isopods, also called woodlice, sowbugs, pillbugs, and many other names.
J
Jumper = a shorthand phrase for a jumping spider, a type of spider in the family Salticidae.
K
L
Leaf litter = dead leaves. Used for vivarium building and detritivore food.
Leo = shorthand phrase for a leopard gecko.
Lepidoptera = an order of insects that is composed of moths and butterflies.
M
Millipede = animals in the Myriapod class Diplopoda; detritivorous with two pairs of jointed legs on most body segments.
Mite = a type of very small arachnid that are usually considered “pests” in vivariums.
Myriapod = the Arthropod subphylum Myriapoda, consisting of the millipedes and centipedes
N
Nitrate = a chemical (NO3–) that is converted from nitrite and is far less toxic than other molecules in the nitrogen cycle. Oftentimes used in reference to fishkeeping.
Nitrite = a toxic chemical (NO2–) that is converted from ammonia in the nitrogen cycle. Oftentimes used in reference to fishkeeping.
O
OBT = Orange baboon tarantula (Pterinochilus murinus)
Orchid bark = a type of wood used for drainage. The name is derived from its use in potting soils dedicated to orchids.
P
Peat = a nonrenewable resource that is a layer of soil in some bogs. It is primarily composed of decomposed plant material.
Pede = shorthand phrase for a myriapod, but usually applied to millipedes.
Perlite = a type of volcanic rock commonly used in potting soil (the white specks).
Pesticide = a chemical used to kill insects and other invertebrates.
Phasmid = an order of insects that is composed of stick insects, leaf insects, and relatives.
Pod (abbr.) = shorthand phrase for an isopod.
-pod (suffix) = foot.
Pooter = a tube-like contraption that allows for catching and observing invertebrates.
Pothos = this is a type of tropical plant commonly used in enclosures. It is known for its incredible hardiness and widespread availability.
Q
QOL = abbreviation for quality of life.
R
S
Scarab = shorthand phrase for a beetle in the family Scarabaeidae.
Sphagnum = a type of moss commonly used in vivarium building.
Sp. = abbreviation for a singular species.
Spp. = abbreviation for multiple species (plural).
Sterilize = to sterilize something is to cleanse it completely from any life forms.
Springtail = tiny hexapods in the subclass Collembola that serve as a clean-up crew in many enclosures.
Substrate = this is the material that lines the bottom of an enclosure. It varies greatly depending on the inhabitant, but is usually primarily composed of soil.
Substrate barrier = a layer of mesh between the substrate and drainage layer in bioactive and naturalistic vivariums that allows water to drain through.
T
Teneb = shorthand phrase for a beetle in the family Tenebrionidae, the darkling beetles.
Thermometer = a device that MEASURES the temperature of a heat source.
Thermostat = a device that CONTROLS the temperature of a heat source.
Topsoil = this is a material used in many substrate mixes. Topsoil is essentially “dirt from outside”. It can be found at many garden and home improvement stores.
U
UVA = a longer-wave type of radiation emitted by the sun. Can pass through glass.
UVB = a shorter-wave type of radiation emitted by the sun used for vitamin D3 synthesis. Greatly beneficial to all animals. Cannot pass through glass.
V
W
WC = wild-caught.
Weevil = a type of beetle in the superfamily Curculionoidea, known for their elongated snouts.