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mecopteran

mecopteran

9.9
An insect with a long head and thin wings that eats other insects
  • noun
  • /mɪˈkɒptərən/
  • Specialized
: mecóptero
  • Many mecopterans are known for their distinctive elongated heads and unique flying patterns.

And Geralt says I'm not going to kill mecopterans, nor any other harmless creatures.

Examples

  • The scientist studied a rare species of mecopteran that hunts other insects in the forest.

  • During the research expedition, the entomologist discovered several mecopterans near the riverbank.

  • And Geralt says I'm not going to kill mecopterans, nor any other harmless creatures.

Surface Forms

mecopteran singular
mecopterans plural

Morphology

mecopteran = Mecoptera (transparent) = Mecoptera + an

Formed by adding the regular adjectival/noun-forming suffix '-an' to the taxonomic name 'Mecoptera', yielding 'member of or relating to Mecoptera'.

Etymology

Mecopteran comes from Greek parts meco- ('long') and -pteran ('wing'), and the -pteran part is the same idea as in helicopter. So a mecopteran is literally a 'long-winged' insect, a simple image to remember its long face and narrow wings.