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Glite Dictionary
Arilus cristatus

Arilus cristatus

9.9
A large North American bug that eats other insects and has a gear-shaped crest on its back
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Arilus cristatus
  • The Arilus cristatus is easily recognized by the gear-shaped crest on its back.

Examples

  • Gardeners appreciate Arilus cristatus for its role in controlling pest insects.

  • If threatened, Arilus cristatus can deliver a painful bite to humans.

  • Look at that Arilus cristatus!

  • The Arilus cristatus is often found in gardens.

  • Gardeners appreciate Arilus cristatus for its role in controlling pest insects.

  • If threatened, Arilus cristatus can deliver a painful bite to humans.

  • The Arilus cristatus is easily recognized by the gear-shaped crest on its back.

Synonyms

wheel bug
vsArilus cristatus
  • Specialized
9.9

A large North American insect with a wheel-shaped crest that eats other insects

is the scientific species name for that same insect
Arilus
vsArilus cristatus
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of insects called assassin bugs that eat other insects

names this single North American predatory species rather than the whole genus
assassin bug
vsArilus cristatus
  • Specialized
8.8

A long-legged bug that eats other insects and sometimes sucks blood from mammals

focuses on a single species feeding on insect blood not on mammals

Surface Forms

Arilus cristatus singular
Arilus cristatuses plural

Morphology

Arilus + cristatus

This is a Latin scientific binomial (a taxonomic name) rather than a compositional English phrase; neither element functions as a common English word (and 'cristatus' is not listed), so a B1 learner would not be able to derive 'wheel bug' or 'large predatory insect' from the parts. Taxonomic names behave like arbitrary proper nouns and do not transparently convey the MWE meaning to learners.

Etymology

Arilus cristatus comes from Latin. The second part, cristatus, means 'crested' and refers to the gear-shaped crest on its back. So the name helps you remember this large bug, often called the 'wheel bug', that hunts other insects and can give a painful bite.