Piercing-sucking mouthparts
- Pronunciation
- /PYEER-sing-suck-ing MOWTH-parts/
- Category
- Anatomy
- Singular
- Piercing-sucking mouthpart
- Plural
- Piercing-sucking mouthparts
Definition
Mouthparts of insects that are adapted to pierce and suck fluids from their food source.
Etymology
From the Latin words 'per' meaning 'through' and 'sugo' meaning 'to suck'.
Example
Aphids have piercing-sucking mouthparts that allow them to feed on plant sap.