Definition of myrmecophile in English:
myrmecophile
noun məˈmiːkə(ʊ)fʌɪlˈməːmɪkə(ʊ)fʌɪlˈmərməkoʊˌfaɪl
Biology An invertebrate or plant which has a symbiotic relationship with ants, such as being tended and protected by ants or living inside an ants' nest.
Example sentencesExamples
- The principal collections are those of ants, termites and myrmecophiles, of grasshoppers and crickets and of butterflies.
- In particular, he was interested in those other inhabitants of ant nests referred to as myrmecophiles.
- For instance, guests of ants are called myrmecophiles, which means ant loving.
- Regularly, part of these myrmecophiles stay behind when they miss an emigration of their host colony.
- Some ant nests are inhabited by myrmecophiles.
Derivatives
adjective
Biology Here we discuss the myrmecophilous soft scales occurring in the Australian and Oriental regions.
Example sentencesExamples
- They thought that the unattended species had a secondary reduction of their myrmecophilous organs.
- Members of over 40 plant families are known to be myrmecophilous, but with the exception of those described below, the majority have not been described as being hazardous to handle.
- These specimens prompted me to study this interesting myrmecophilous beetle.
- A key to myrmecophilous taxa is presented, and the status of their myrmecophily is briefly discussed.
noun
Biology To understand the patterns of associations in the field we therefore need to measure the benefits and costs of myrmecophily both in the presence and in the absence of ants.
Example sentencesExamples
- As a group of interactions, the chemical ecology of mutualisms (i.e., pollination, myrmecophily, frugivory) is still poorly understood and is not well represented in the book.
- She is also studying the evolution of myrmecophily (obligate associations with ants) within one of these lineages.
- The implications of this observation and others are discussed with regard to the evolution of myrmecophily in T. virgilius.
- We note that the myrmecophily of the two species has the same adaptive rationale.
Origin
Late 19th century: from Greek murmēx, murmēk- 'ant' + -phile.
Definition of myrmecophile in US English:
myrmecophile
nounˈmərməkoʊˌfaɪlˈmərməkōˌfīl
Biology An invertebrate or plant which has a symbiotic relationship with ants, such as being tended and protected by ants or living inside an ants' nest.
Example sentencesExamples
- In particular, he was interested in those other inhabitants of ant nests referred to as myrmecophiles.
- The principal collections are those of ants, termites and myrmecophiles, of grasshoppers and crickets and of butterflies.
- Regularly, part of these myrmecophiles stay behind when they miss an emigration of their host colony.
- For instance, guests of ants are called myrmecophiles, which means ant loving.
- Some ant nests are inhabited by myrmecophiles.
Origin
Late 19th century: from Greek murmēx, murmēk- ‘ant’ + -phile.