general term for insect Dhp-a.i.187; usually in combination with paṭanga, beetle (moth? MN.iii.168 (with puḷava); Snp.602; Ja.vi.208; Mil.272 (˚vaṇṇa); Pv-a.67; Vism.115. kīṭa at Ja.v.373 means a kind of shield (= cāṭipāla? c.), the reading should prob. be kheṭa.

cp. Sk. kīṭa