neuropteran

[ noo-rop-ter-uhn, nyoo- ]

adjective

1. neuropterous.

noun

1. Also neu·ropter·on. a neuropterous insect.

neuropteran

/ njʊˈrɒptərən /

noun

1. any neuropterous insect

neuropteran

/ n-rŏp′tər-ən /

1. Any of various carnivorous insects of the order Neuroptera, having four net-veined wings and mouthparts adapted for chewing. Neuropterans include the lacewings and antlions. Formerly, the dobsonflies and alderflies, now classified as a separate order Megaloptera, and the snakeflies, now classified as the order Raphidiodea, were considered neuropterans.

Word History and Origins

Origin of neuropteran¹

1835–45; < New Latin Neuropter ( a ), neuter plural of neuropterus ( neuropterous ) + -an

Example Sentences

The campodeiform larvae of many Coleoptera are indeed far more primitive than the neuropteran larvae, and suggest to us that the Coleoptera—modified as their wing-structure has become—arose very early from the primitive metabolous stock.

From Project Gutenberg

An insect which is neither a coleopter, nor a neuropteran, nor a hymenopter; which does not belong to any of the ten orders recognized by savants, and which they will be rather tempted to rank in the second section of the arachnides.

From Project Gutenberg