chalcid fly

Variant of chalcid

noun

any of a large family (Chalcididae) of very small wasps, either four-winged or wingless, many of whose larvae live as parasites in the eggs, larvae, or pupae of other insects

Origin: < ModL Chalcis (gen. Chalcidis), name of the type genus < Gr chalkos, copper: so named because of their metallic color

adjective

of these insects
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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