rhopalocerousadj.
/ˌrəʊpəˈlɒsərəs/, U.S. /ˌroʊpəˈlɑsərəs/ Entomology. Now rare.
Of, relating to, or characteristic of the Rhopalocera or butterflies. Cf. heterocerous adj.
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the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > Rhopalocera (butterflies) > [adjective]
rhopalocerous1862
rhopaloceral1888
1862 Jrnl. Entomol. 1 219 The farthest removed from the Heterocera, and therefore the extreme development of the Rhopalocerous type.
1882 G. F. L. Marshall & L. de Nicévile (title) The Butterflies of India, Burmah, and Ceylon. A Descriptive Handbook of all the Known Species of Rhopalocerous Lepidoptera inhabiting that Region.
1908 Oakland (Calif.) Tribune 29 Mar. 32/5 Look it up in the dictionary. There you will find the butterfly referred to as a rhopalocerous lepidopterous insect.
1937 Sci. Monthly Sept. 262/1 The justly famed hospitality of the state [sc. Virginia] attracts in the summer many rhopalocerous as well as human tourists.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2010; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1862