Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
Nematocera

Nematocera

9.9
A group of insects like mosquitoes and gnats with long thin bodies and long antennae
  • noun
  • /ˌnɛm.əˈtɒs.ə.rə/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Nematocera
  • The Nematocera suborder includes well-known insects like mosquitoes and gnats.

Examples

  • Researchers study the life cycles of Nematocera to better understand disease transmission.

  • Adult Nematocera are often characterized by their long, delicate legs and antennae.

  • The Nematocera are known for their long antennae.

  • Many species of Nematocera can transmit diseases.

  • The Nematocera suborder includes well-known insects like mosquitoes and gnats.

  • Researchers study the life cycles of Nematocera to better understand disease transmission.

  • Adult Nematocera are often characterized by their long, delicate legs and antennae.

Synonyms

suborder Nematocera
vsNematocera
  • Specialized
9.5

A group of slender flies with long thin antennae like mosquitoes and crane flies

is the same taxonomic group but is the shorter technical label

Compounds

suborder Nematocera
  • Specialized
9.5

A group of slender flies with long thin antennae like mosquitoes and crane flies

Surface Forms

Nematocera singular
Nematoceras plural
Nematocera plural

Morphology

Nematocera = nemato + cera

The term is a technical taxonomic compound built from classical combining forms (not productive standalone English words), so its structure and meaning are not transparent to an average B1 learner.

Etymology

Nematocera comes from the Greek parts nema ('thread') and keras ('horn'), so it literally means 'thread-horn'. This is an easy image: these flies, like mosquitoes and gnats, have very long, thin antennae or feelers that look like thread-like horns, which is why they are called Nematocera.