mouthpart

Everyday

Mouthparts are the parts around an insect's or other small animal's mouth that it uses to bite, suck or chew food. tree →

In the lessons

Met in science lessons about insects: butterflies have a long sucking mouthpart, beetles have biting mouthparts, mosquitoes have piercing ones.

Examples

• A butterfly's mouthpart is like a long straw. tree →
• Mosquitoes have sharp mouthparts for piercing skin. tree →
• Ants use their mouthparts to carry food. tree →
• Scientists study insect mouthparts under a microscope. tree →
• A grasshopper has strong chewing mouthparts. tree →
• The bee uses its mouthparts to drink nectar. tree →

Note

Usually plural: mouthparts. One word. Used mostly for insects and other small animals, not people.