Meanings
plural planidia
- The first-instar larva of any species of parasitoidal insect in which the life cycle is an example of hypermetamorphosis; so called because the first instar wanders in search of the host, whereas the rest of the instars remain stationary while they feed until they pupate.
Synonyms: triungulin
Synonyms & antonyms
nounThe first-instar larva of any species of parasitoidal insect in which the life cycle is an example of hypermetamorphosis; so called because the first instar wanders in search of the host, whereas the rest of the instars remain stationary while they feed until they pupate.
Origin
- Ancient Greekπλανάω“to wander”
- Englishplanidium
From the Ancient Greek πλανάω (planáō, “to wander”) + -idium.
More words from Ancient Greek
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
planidium. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/planidium
“planidium.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/planidium. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “planidium,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/planidium.
Source: planidium on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.