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Glite Dictionary
ichneumon fly

ichneumon fly

9.9
A wasp-like insect that lays eggs inside caterpillars so the young eat them
  • noun
  • /ˈɪk.njuː.mən flaɪ/
  • Specialized
translation icon : mosca ichneumon
  • The ichneumon fly lays its eggs inside the caterpillar, where the larvae will develop.

Examples

  • Gardeners appreciate the presence of the ichneumon fly because it helps control pest populations.

  • The ichneumon fly is often mistaken for a wasp.

  • An ichneumon fly was hovering over the rose bush, searching for a suitable host.

  • Did you see the ichneumon flies in the garden?

  • Gardeners appreciate the presence of the ichneumon fly because it helps control pest populations.

  • An ichneumon fly was hovering over the rose bush, searching for a suitable host.

  • The ichneumon fly lays its eggs inside the caterpillar, where the larvae will develop.

Synonyms

ichneumon
vsichneumon fly
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A wasp that lays eggs in other insects and helps control pests

focuses on larvae parasitizing caterpillars and other insect larvae

Surface Forms

ichneumon fly singular
ichneumon flies plural

Morphology

ichneumon + fly

The phrase is a straightforward taxonomic compound: it denotes a kind of 'fly' associated with or of the 'ichneumon' group. Because the meaning is the literal combination of the two nouns (a fly related to ichneumons) and not idiomatic or metaphorical, a learner who knows both constituent words would be able to infer the meaning.

Etymology

The noun ichneumon fly comes from the old Greek word ichneumon meaning 'tracker' and the English word fly, because these small wasps search out hidden caterpillars to lay their eggs. That hunting image explains why the name is used for a wasp-like insect whose larvae grow inside and feed on other insect larvae.