hemophagy

Definition

The consumption of blood by an organism, typically referring to certain insects and arachnids that feed on the blood of other animals.

Etymology

From Greek 'haima', meaning 'blood', and 'phagein', meaning 'to eat'.

Example

Mosquitoes are well-known for their practice of hemophagy, drawing blood from their hosts to obtain nutrients.

Synonyms

• blood-feeding
• hematophagy

Related Terms

• parasite
• sanguivorous
• hematophagy

Usage Notes

Hemophagy is a significant behavior of certain arthropods and is often associated with the transmission of various pathogens to the host.