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

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

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 Mair, Charles

"If you found an ichneumon fly there," retorted Boomly, "you probably hatched it in mistake for a butterfly!"

From Police!!! by Hutt, Henry

"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

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 Edwards, Harry Stillwell