Xylophagy
- Pronunciation
- /zy-LOH-fuh-jee/
- Category
- Behavior
- Singular
- Xylophagy
- Plural
- Xylophagies
Definition
The habit or behavior of feeding on wood, observed in various insects, particularly beetles and termites.
Etymology
From Greek 'xylo-' meaning 'wood' and '-phagy' meaning 'eating' or 'feeding'.
Example
Termites exhibit xylophagy as they feed on wooden structures, causing significant infrastructural damage.
Synonyms
- Wood-eating
- Lignivory
Related Terms
- Herbivory
- Detritivory
- Mycophagy
- Saprophagy
Usage Notes
Xylophagy is an essential ecological behavior as it aids in the decomposition of dead wood, contributing to nutrient recycling in ecosystems.