endophagous

adjective

en·​doph·​a·​gous
(ˈ)en¦däfəgəs
: feeding from within:
a
of a parasitoid insect larva : developing within and feeding on the internal organs and tissues of the host compare ectophagous
b
: consuming vegetation or plant debris by burrowing in and disintegrating plant structures (as in the tunneling of leaves by leaf miners)

Word History

Etymology

end- + -phagous

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Dictionary Entries Near endophagous

Cite this Entry

“Endophagous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/endophagous. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

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