intercaste
9.9
An insect that has traits of two castes such as a worker and a queen
- noun
- /ˌɪntərˈkæst/
- Specialized
:
individuo intercasta
- Researchers studied an intercaste wasp that displayed behavior typical of both its parental castes.
Examples
-
Intercaste relationships.
Academic text (1991) -
If one can speak of caste divisions at all within sections of the Hindu community, they are highly flexible and allow individual mobility through intercaste marriages, hypergamy, and hypogamy.
Academic text (1994) -
The scientist discovered an intercaste individual among the ant population, showing traits of both the worker and soldier groups.
-
In some species of bees, an intercaste can possess the morphological traits of both male and female castes.
Surface Forms
intercaste singular
intercastes plural
Morphology
Etymology
Intercaste comes from the parts inter- 'between' and caste 'social group'. In insect colonies it names an individual that is 'between' two castes, showing traits of both worker and queen.
