sporophagy
- Pronunciation
- /spuh-ROH-fuh-jee/
- Category
- Behavior
- Singular
- sporophagy
- Plural
- sporophagies
Definition
The act of feeding on spores, typically observed in some insects and arachnids.
Etymology
From Greek 'sporos', meaning 'seed' or 'sowing', and 'phagein', meaning 'to eat'.
Example
Certain mites exhibit sporophagy, feeding on fungal spores found in their environment.
Synonyms
- Spore feeding
Related Terms
- Mycophagy
- Herbivory
- Detritivory
Usage Notes
Sporophagy is an ecological behavior that can influence spore dispersal and fungal population dynamics.