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Glite Dictionary
chrysomelid

chrysomelid

9.9
A small brightly colored beetle that eats plant leaves
  • noun
  • /ˌkrɪsəˈmɛlɪd/
  • Specialized
translation icon : crisomélido
  • The colorful chrysomelid beetles can often be seen on garden plants, munching on their leaves.

Examples

  • During spring, many chrysomelids emerge, known for their vibrant colors and appetite for various plants.

  • Defoliation by the chrysomelids will be more spectacular, but the devastation of the rootstock by weevil larvae will have a long-term negative impact on plant performance.

    Academic text (1993)

  • Farmers must manage chrysomelids carefully, as these bright beetles can quickly damage crops.

Synonyms

beetle
vschrysomelid
95 1.0

A small insect with hard front wings that cover its back and a mouth for chewing

is a narrower group of brightly colored leaf feeding insects within that larger category
leaf beetle
vschrysomelid
6.7

A small brightly colored beetle that eats plant leaves and whose young damage roots and stems

is the scientific family name for the same group of insects

Surface Forms

chrysomelid singular
chrysomelids plural

Morphology

chrysomelid = Chrysomelidae (opaque) = chrysomel + id

A specialized taxonomic formation: the '-id' member suffix and the scientific stem are unlikely to help an average B1 learner infer meaning.

Etymology

Chrysomelid comes from Greek parts chryso- 'gold' and melas 'black'. That's why a chrysomelid is named for its bright, shiny colours—many leaf beetles in this group look gold or dark, which explains the modern meaning as a brightly colored leaf beetle.