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Glite Dictionary
🐝 A wasp 🦦 A large mongoose
ichneumon

ichneumon

1 9.9
A wasp that lays eggs in other insects and helps control pests
  • noun
  • /ˈɪk.njuː.mən/
  • Specialized
translation icon : avispa ichneumon
  • Researchers recorded an increase in beneficial ichneumon numbers during the orchard pest trial.
  • ichneumon wasp
  • ichneumon species

Examples

  • The ichneumon wasp lays its eggs inside other insects.

  • The farmer released several ichneumon to help control caterpillars in the cabbage field.

  • An ichneumon laid its egg inside the caterpillar, and the larva later consumed the host.

  • Many species of ichneumons are beneficial for agriculture.

  • The ichneumon wasp lays its eggs inside a living caterpillar.

  • Kovalenko learned from a nature documentary that female ichneumon wasps can drill into wood.

  • The giant ichneumon wasp is really fearsome-looking.

Synonyms

ichneumon fly
vsichneumon
  • Specialized
9.9

A wasp-like insect that lays eggs inside caterpillars so the young eat them

is broader noting many species act as natural pest controllers

Compounds

ichneumon fly
  • Specialized
9.9

A wasp-like insect that lays eggs inside caterpillars so the young eat them

Surface Forms

ichneumon singular
ichneumons plural

Etymology

Ichneumon comes from the Greek word ichneumon meaning 'tracker'. Many ichneumon wasps search out other insects and lay eggs on or in them, so the name suits a wasp that 'tracks' its host and helps control pests.