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

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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 Richard Garnett

I examined numbers of them, and found the scarlet egg of the ichneumon fly under many of the shards.

From Through the Mackenzie Basin A Narrative of the Athabasca and Peace River Treaty Expedition of 1899 by Charles Mair

"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 Henry Hutt

Oh, yes; along comes the ichneumon fly and by a skillful blow on the spine paralyzes him and then thrusts under his skin an egg to be warmed into life by its departing heat.

From Sons and Fathers by Harry Stillwell Edwards

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

From Police!!! by Henry Hutt

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