homopteran
[ huh-mop-ter-uhn, hoh- ]
adjective
noun
a homopterous insect.
Origin of homopteran
1First recorded in 1835–45; see origin at homopterous, -an
Words Nearby homopteran
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Scientific definitions for homopteran
homopteran
[ hə-mŏp′tər-ən ]
Any of various insects belonging to the group Homoptera. Homopterans suck sap from plants and can be very destructive. They include the cicadas, treehoppers, leafhoppers, aphids, scale insects, whiteflies, and mealybugs. Some scientists consider the homopterans to be a suborder of the order Hemiptera, while others consider them to be a separate insect order.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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