Describing organisms, especially insects or other animals, that live in or are specifically adapted to heathland (ericetum) plant communities.
From ericetum (heathland community) plus -colous (from Latin 'colere' meaning to inhabit), used in ecology to describe habitat specialists.
Ericeticolous insects include the heathland tiger beetle and various heather-feeding moths that have evolved cryptic coloration to match purple heather flowers—a perfect example of habitat-specific camouflage.
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