chalcid

/ ˈkælsɪd /

noun

1. any tiny hymenopterous insect of the family Chalcididae and related families, whose larvae are parasites of other insects

Word History and Origins

Origin of chalcid¹

C19: from New Latin Chalcis type genus, from Greek khalkos copper, referring to its metallic sheen

Example Sentences

These intruders consisted of small red ants, a diminutive beetle, and a series formed by a minute chalcid, parasitic on a larger chalcid, which was parasitic on an ichneumon, which was parasitic on the spider.

From Project Gutenberg

Many guests were plodding along with the ants, mostly staphylinids of which we secured five species, a brown histerid beetle, a tiny chalcid, and several Phorid flies, one of which was winged.

From Project Gutenberg