insectivorous

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   feeding mainly or entirely on insects

   Swallows are insectivorous birds that catch much of their food in flight.

2. 2
   adj

   of a plant: able to trap and digest insects for nutrients

   The insectivorous sundew traps flies on its sticky leaves.

Formed from Latin insectum, 'insect,' + the combining form -vorous, from Latin vorare, 'to devour,' + English -ous. The term applies both to animals that eat insects and to plants that trap and digest them, such as sundews and pitcher plants.

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