eruciform

[ ih-roo-suh-fawrm ]

adjective

1. having the physical characteristics of a caterpillar.

Word History and Origins

Origin of eruciform¹

1870–75; < Latin ērūc ( a ) caterpillar + -i- + -form

Example Sentences

The antiquity of the Coleoptera is further shown by the great diversity of larval form and habit that has arisen in the order, and the proof afforded by the hypermetamorphic beetles that the campodeiform preceded the eruciform larva has already been emphasized.

From Project Gutenberg

In all the remaining orders of the Endopterygota the larva is eruciform or vermiform.

From Project Gutenberg

The eruciform larva of the Orthorrhapha leads on to the headless vermiform maggot of the Cyclorrhapha, and in the latter sub-order we find metamorphosis carried to its extreme point, the muscid flies being the most highly specialized of all the Hexapoda as regards structure, while their maggots are the most degraded of all insect larvae.

From Project Gutenberg

But in general we find that elaboration of imaginal structure is associated with degradation in the nature of the larva, eruciform and vermiform larvae being characteristic of the highest orders of the Hexapoda, so that unlikeness between parent and offspring has increased with the evolution of the class.

From Project Gutenberg

Most significant is the precedence of the eruciform by the campodeiform type.

From Project Gutenberg