ovipositor

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a tubular or blade-like organ used by a female insect or certain other animals to place or lay eggs

   The wasp inserted its long ovipositor into the wood to reach a concealed larva.

A New Latin formation from ovi-, 'egg,' based on Latin ovum, + positor, 'one who places,' from ponere, 'to put or place.' The name describes the organ's function of positioning eggs in or on a suitable host or substrate.

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