symphile

noun

sym·​phile

ˈsimˌfīl

plural -s

: an insect (such as any of various beetles) living as a guest in the nest of a social insect (such as an ant or termite) by which it is fed and guarded for its secretions which are used as food

called also myrmecoxene, true guest

Word History

Etymology

probably back-formation from symphily

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