hymenopteron

hy·me·nop·ter·an  (hm-nptr-n)

adj.

Of or belonging to the order Hymenoptera.

n. also hy·me·nop·ter·on (-t-rn)

Any insects of the order Hymenoptera, including the bees, wasps, and ants, often living in complex social groups and characteristically having two pairs of membranous wings.

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[From New Latin Hymenoptera, order name, from Greek humenopteros, membrane-winged : humn, membrane; see hymen + pteron, wing; see -pter.]

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hyme·nopter·ous (-tr-s) adj.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

hymenopteron - insects having two pairs of membranous wings and an ovipositor specialized for stinging or piercing hymenopter, hymenopteran, hymenopterous insect insect - small air-breathing arthropod Hymenoptera, order Hymenoptera - an order of insects including: bees; wasps; ants; ichneumons; sawflies; gall wasps; etc. bee - any of numerous hairy-bodied insects including social and solitary species wasp - social or solitary hymenopterans typically having a slender body with the abdomen attached by a narrow stalk and having a formidable sting family Mutillidae, Mutillidae - a family of wasps chalcid, chalcid fly, chalcid wasp, chalcidfly - any of various tiny insects whose larvae are parasites on eggs and larvae of other insects; many are beneficial in destroying injurious insects ichneumon fly - hymenopterous insect that resembles a wasp and whose larvae are parasitic on caterpillars and other insect larvae sawfly - insect whose female has a saw-like ovipositor for inserting eggs into the leaf or stem tissue of a host plant ant, emmet, pismire - social insect living in organized colonies; characteristically the males and fertile queen have wings during breeding season; wingless sterile females are the workers