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Sciara

Sciara

9.9
A small dark fly whose larvae eat fungi and rotting plants
  • noun
  • /ˈsaɪərə/
  • Specialized
: Sciara
  • Members of the Sciara genus are important decomposers in many ecosystems.

Examples

  • The larvae of Sciara can sometimes cause damage to greenhouse plants.

  • Researchers collected specimens from the Sciara genus to study their breeding habits.

  • Look at that Sciara!

  • The Sciara flew away.

  • Members of the Sciara genus are important decomposers in many ecosystems.

  • Researchers collected specimens from the Sciara genus to study their breeding habits.

  • The larvae of Sciara can sometimes cause damage to greenhouse plants.

Surface Forms

Sciara singular
Sciaras plural

Etymology

Sciara likely comes from the old Greek word skia, which means 'shadow'. That is a helpful memory: these are small, dark-winged gnats that live in damp places, so the name suggests little 'shadows' near fungi and decaying plants.