[1] The Buzz About Collective Nouns: Uncovering the Fascinating World of Arthropods

Collective nouns refer to a group or collection of individuals or things. In the case of arthropods, which include diverse creatures like insects, spiders, crustaceans, and myriapods, there are several collective nouns specifically used to describe them when they appear together.

One common collective noun for arthropods is "swarm." This term is generally used for large groups of flying insects, such as bees, flies, or locusts. Swarms exhibit a dense and active mass of individuals flying or moving together, often accompanied by a distinct buzzing sound.

Another collective noun often applied to arthropods is "colony." This term is primarily used for social insects like ants or termites, which gather in extensive groups and exhibit complex social behavior. Within colonies, arthropods work together to form highly organized societies and build intricate nests or structures.

For arthropods that primarily inhabit water, such as crustaceans, the term "gambol" is often used. A gambol refers to a large group of swimming or moving aquatic creatures, and it can be utilized to describe shoals of crustaceans like crabs or lobsters.

Sometimes, the collective noun "herd" is employed to describe large groups of arthropods that act collectively. While we typically associate herds with mammals, this term can be used to convey a sense of community or collective movement among insects or other arthropods, especially those that naturally do not gather in cohesive colonies.

Lastly, for arthropods like spiders that don't form groups or dankles, or for individual representatives from various arthropod orders that may forage or gather in the same place, the term "interaggregate" has occasionally been applied. This collective noun is less specific and is utilized to describe temporary congregations of non-colonial arthropods happening due to advantageous environmental conditions, such as an abundant food source or favorable weather conditions.

In summary, collective nouns for arthropods include terms like swarm, colony, gambol, herd, and interaggregate. These words help characterize the behavior and form of these creatures when they gather or exhibit a sense of shared activity or location.