Cephid

/ˈsɛfɪd/ noun

Definition

A member of the family Cephidae, a group of parasitic wasps that lay eggs in or on other insects.

Etymology

From the family name Cephidae + '-id' (suffix indicating a member of a group). The family name derives from Greek 'kephale' (head), referring to the head-dominated appearance of these wasps.

Kelly Says

Cephid wasps are nature's assassins—they're parasitoid wasps that inject eggs into living insects, and the developing wasp larvae consume their host from the inside out, a gruesome but effective pest control strategy that farmers sometimes use to protect crops.

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