Re: Arthropoda

If you still accept examples from natlangs...

Russian has _bukashka_ and _kozyavka_. Both sound a bit childish and
contain suffixes typical of pejorative diminutives. Otherwise their
formation is obscure; _kozyavka_ may have common root with _koza_
'(female) goat', and _bukashka_ could be a derivate of _buka_ (a fabulous
creature whose name was formerly used to frighten little children). Both
denote small arthropods that don't fly (or insects like small beetles
*when* they don't fly). I think an average _bukashka_ has longer legs
and is lighter in color than an average _kozyavka_, but this may be my
personal idiolect.

For small flying insects, colloquial Russian has _moshka_, but in
science-like usage this word means 'a (biting) simuliid blackfly'.
There is also a generic word for flying blood-suckers, _gnus_.

The usual word for 'insect', _nasekomoye_, formerly a scientific term
calquing L. _insectum_ and Gr. _entomon_, can be applied colloquially
to any non-aquatic arthropod (a spider, a millipede, etc.), which is
considered incorrect... by too few people who care at all ;)


Basilius