insectivorous

Everyday

Insectivorous means eating insects as the main food. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons, insectivorous animals include bats, swallows, frogs, hedgehogs, anteaters and many lizards. Insectivorous plants, like the Venus flytrap and sundews, catch insects to get nutrients from poor soil. In food chains, insectivores are consumers. The noun is insectivore. Compare herbivorous (plants), carnivorous (meat), omnivorous (both).

Examples

• Bats are insectivorous and eat thousands of insects a night. tree →
• The Venus flytrap is an insectivorous plant. tree →
• Hedgehogs are insectivorous animals. tree →
• Many birds are insectivorous in summer. tree →
• Sundews are insectivorous plants that trap flies with sticky hairs. tree →
• Insectivorous animals help control pests. tree →

Note

Say «in-sek-TIV-or-us». «-vorous» means eating. Noun: insectivore. Spiders are not insects but are often eaten by insectivorous animals too.