family Gasterophilidae
- noun
- /ˈfæmɪli ˌɡæstəroʊˈfɪlɪdi/
- Specialized
- Infestation by the family Gasterophilidae can lead to digestive problems in horses.
Examples
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The family Gasterophilidae includes several species of botflies.
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Veterinarians study the family Gasterophilidae to better understand horse health issues caused by these botflies.
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Research on the family Gasterophilidae has advanced our knowledge of parasitic insect life cycles.
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Many animals can be affected by the family Gasterophilidae larvae.
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Infestation by the family Gasterophilidae can lead to digestive problems in horses.
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Veterinarians study the family Gasterophilidae to better understand horse health issues caused by these botflies.
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Research on the family Gasterophilidae has advanced our knowledge of parasitic insect life cycles.
Synonyms
A group of flies whose young live inside the stomachs of horses and other animals
Surface Forms
Morphology
This is a straightforward taxonomic noun phrase combining 'family' (a scientific grouping) with the taxon name 'Gasterophilidae', so the meaning — the taxonomic family consisting of those botflies — is directly derivable from the constituents. Taxonomic labeling follows a regular, cross-linguistic pattern (e.g. 'family Felidae'), so a B1 learner who knows both words would understand the phrase.
Etymology
Family Gasterophilidae comes from Greek roots gaster- meaning 'stomach' and -philidae meaning 'lover', because the flies' young often live on or in the stomach area of horses. So today the name refers to the group of 'horse botflies' whose young live on or inside horses and can cause health problems.