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Glite Dictionary
anthophagous

anthophagous

9.9
That eats flowers
  • adjective
  • /ˌænθəˈfægəs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : antófago
  • The anthophagous caterpillar feeds exclusively on flower petals.

Examples

  • The anthophagous habits of this moth make it a pest for sunflower farmers.

  • Many beetles are anthophagous, causing damage to ornamental gardens.

  • Scientists studied the anthophagous larvae found on the rare wildflower.

  • Many anthophagous insects are important for pollination.

  • The anthophagous moth larvae feed on the vibrant petals of blooming flowers.

  • Many anthophagous insects play a crucial role in the ecosystem by pollinating plants.

  • The gardener was frustrated by the anthophagous beetles that destroyed his flowering plants.

Synonyms

anthophilous
vsanthophagous
  • Specialized
9.9

An animal that is attracted to flowers and often feeds on their nectar

is restricted to feeding, not to mere attraction

Surface Forms

anthophagous positive

Morphology

anthophagous = antho + phagous

The components are Greek combining forms rather than standalone English words, so a typical B1 learner would not reliably infer 'feeding on flowers' from the form.

Etymology

Anthophagous comes from Greek parts anthos 'flower' and -phagous 'eating'. So an anthophagous creature is one that 'eats flowers', which explains why the word is used for insects that damage gardens and crops.