entomophagous

[ en-tuh-mof-uh-guhs ]

adjective

1. feeding on insects: applied especially to species used for biological control, such as some insects, fungi, or nematodes. Compare insectivorous ( def ).

entomophagous

/ ˌɛntəˈmɒfəɡəs /

adjective

1. feeding mainly on insects; insectivorous

Usage Note

See entomophagy.

Word History and Origins

Origin of entomophagous¹

First recorded in 1830–40; entomo- + -phagous

Example Sentences

Entomophagous: feeding upon insects: specifically applied to those wasps that feed their young with larvae, etc.

From Project Gutenberg

Insectivora, Entomophaga. insect-eating, a. insectivorous, entomophagous. insect powder. insecticide, pyrethrum, entomologic, chrysalis, pupa, cicada, cocoon, crepitaculum, entomophilous, entomophily, entomotaxy, entomotomy, insecticidal, insectifuge, insectile, larva, lepidopterist, larvarium, stridor, stridulate, stridulation, silphology, stridulatory, nymph, horismology, imago. insect-eaters, n. pl.

From Project Gutenberg

In an interesting memoir by Rondani, published in the Bolletino del Comizio agrario di Parma for December, 1868, it is maintained that birds are often injurious to the agriculturist, by preying not only on noxious insects, but sometimes exclusively, or at least by preference, on entomophagous tribes which would otherwise destroy those injurious to cultivated plants.

From Project Gutenberg