Rhipiptera

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Strepsiptera \Strep*sip"te*ra\, n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. ? a turning
     (fr. ? to twist) + ? a wing.] (Zool.)
     A group of small insects having the anterior wings
     rudimentary, and in the form of short and slender twisted
     appendages, while the posterior ones are large and
     membranous. They are parasitic in the larval state on bees,


     wasps, and the like; -- called also {Rhipiptera}. See Illust.
     under {Rhipipter}.
     [1913 Webster]