entomophilous

American  

[en-tuh-mof-uh-luhs] / ˌɛn təˈmɒf ə ləs /

adjective

1. pollinated by or having spores distributed by insects.

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entomophilous British  

/ ˌɛntəˈmɒfɪləs /

adjective

1. (of flowering plants) pollinated by insects Compare anemophilous

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entomophilous Scientific  

/ ĕn′tə-mŏf′ə-ləs /

1. Pollinated by insects.

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Other Word Forms

• entomophily noun

Etymology

Origin of entomophilous

First recorded in 1875–80; entomo- + -philous

Example Sentences

There is no great difficulty in understanding how an anemophilous plant might have been rendered entomophilous.

From Effects of Cross and Self Fertilisation in the Vegetable Kingdom by Darwin, Charles

Although the number of anemophilous species is small, as the author just quoted remarks, the number of individuals is large in comparison with that of entomophilous species.

From Effects of Cross and Self Fertilisation in the Vegetable Kingdom by Darwin, Charles

All the species hitherto mentioned which produce cleistogamic flowers are entomophilous; but four genera, Juncus, Hordeum, Cryptostachys, and Leersia are anemophilous.

From The Different Forms of Flowers on Plants of the Same Species by Darwin, Charles

Both these authors remark that plants must have been anemophilous before they were entomophilous.

From Effects of Cross and Self Fertilisation in the Vegetable Kingdom by Darwin, Charles

In the class Monoecia of Linnaeus, Delpino shows that the species of twenty-eight genera are anemophilous, and of seventeen genera entomophilous.

From Effects of Cross and Self Fertilisation in the Vegetable Kingdom by Darwin, Charles