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Glite Dictionary
Atropidae

Atropidae

9.9
Small insects that live on old books and paper
  • noun
  • /ˈætrəˌpaɪdi/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Atropidae
  • The Atropidae are tiny insects often found in old books and damp areas, feeding on paper.

Examples

  • The presence of Atropidae in libraries can cause significant damage to rare manuscripts.

  • Members of the Atropidae are commonly referred to as booklice due to their affinity for paper and glue.

  • Scientists recently discovered several new species within the Atropidae family in South America.

  • I found some Atropidae in my old textbooks.

  • The Atropidae family includes various species of booklice.

  • You might spot Atropidae in your attic, where they thrive in dark, humid conditions.

  • Many homeowners are unaware that Atropidae can infest their stored papers and cardboard boxes.

Surface Forms

Atropidae singular
Atropidae plural

Morphology

Atropidae = Atrop + idae

This is a specialised scientific family name formed with the taxonomic suffix '-idae' attached to a Latinized genus/combining form; the root is not a productive English morpheme, so learners cannot derive the meaning.

Etymology

Atropidae is a scientific family name and includes the ending -idae, which marks an animal 'family'. Think of Atropidae as the 'booklice family' because these tiny insects live in old books and paper, which explains the word's meaning.