Hemophagous

/ˌhɛˈmɑfəɡəs/ adjective

Definition

Feeding on or subsisting on blood; blood-eating.

Etymology

From Greek 'haima' (blood) + '-phagous' (eating). This adjective describes organisms whose diet consists primarily of blood.

Kelly Says

Hemophagous insects like mosquitoes are actually more specific feeders than you'd think—different species prefer different animals, and only female mosquitoes are hemophagous because they need blood protein to make eggs.

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