osmeterium

[ oz-mi-teer-ee-uhm ]

noun

plural osmeteria [oz-mi-, teer, -ee-, uh].

1. a glandular process on the first thoracic segment of many caterpillars that emits a noxious odor to ward off predators.

Word History and Origins

Origin of osmeterium¹

First recorded in 1815–20; from New Latin osmētērium, from Greek osmḗ “odor, smell” + -tērion noun suffix for places and utensils, akin to Latin -tōrium; see -tory ²( def )

Example Sentences

While there are ghost pokémon and sentient ice cream cones, many pocket monsters mimic real-world biodiversity: Caterpie, with its bright orange osmeterium, is clearly the caterpillar form of the eastern tiger swallowtail.

From The Verge

“Unless this is a sphinx moth caterpillar who has been stressed and agitated into displaying its osmeterium,” says Jackson.

From National Geographic

Osmeterium, os-mē-tē′ri-um, n. an organ devoted to the production of an odour, esp. the forked process behind the head of certain butterfly-larv�:—pl.

From Project Gutenberg