ichneumon fly

American  

[ik-noo-muhn-flahy, ‐-nyoo‐] / ɪkˈnu mənˌflaɪ, ‐ˈnju‐ /

Or ichneumonfly

noun

1. any of numerous wasplike insects of the family Ichneumonidae, the larvae of which are parasitic on caterpillars and immature stages of other insects.

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ichneumon fly British  

noun

1. any hymenopterous insect of the family Ichneumonidae, whose larvae are parasitic in caterpillars and other insect larvae

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Etymology

Origin of ichneumon fly

First recorded in 1705–15

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

ichneumon fly

It is a ghoulish and ogreish idea, but it really seems as if the elder Milton quartered his progeny upon his debtors, as the ichneumon fly quarters hers upon caterpillars.

From Life of John Milton by Garnett, Richard

So first he sneaked in here and put an ichneumon fly in my breeding-cage.

From Police!!! by Hutt, Henry

To-morrow I shall look very hard for an ichneumon fly for you——" "But your discovery will make you famous, Miss Cassillis——" "Why—why, it's for you that I am going to search so hard!

From Quick Action by Chambers, Robert W. (Robert William)

Work of an internal parasite, puss-moth larva parasitized by a small ichneumon fly 3 Fig.

From Insects and Diseases A Popular Account of the Way in Which Insects may Spread or Cause some of our Common Diseases by Doane, Rennie Wilbur

"It's my belief," shouted Quint, "that you want that medal yourself, and that you put an ichneumon fly in my breeding-cage in hopes it would sting the eggs of the Silver Moon."

From Police!!! by Hutt, Henry