insectivorous

From Latin insectum (“insect”) and -vorus, from vorō (“to eat”), equivalent to insectivore +‎ -ous or insect +‎ -i- +‎ -vorous.

• IPA^(key): /ˌɪnsɛkˈtɪv(ə)ɹəs/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɪvəɹəs

insectivorous (comparative more insectivorous, superlative most insectivorous)

1. Feeding on insects.
   • 2015 November 24, Patrick Barkham, “Pesticide may be reason butterfly numbers are falling in UK, says study”, in The Guardian‎^[1]:

     Researchers in the Netherlands have linked neonicotinoids found in surface water to declines in insectivorous birds and there is widespread scientific evidence that neonicotinoids harm bees – reducing their ability to pollinate plants, for instance.

2. (of a plant) Capable of trapping and absorbing insects; such as the sundew, pitcher plant and Venus flytrap.

• entomophagous
• insectivorian

• Insectivora
• insectivore
• insectivory