larval-caring
|lar-val-car-ing|
🇺🇸
/ˈlɑɹvəl-ˈkɛrɪŋ/
🇬🇧
/ˈlɑːvəl-ˈkeə.rɪŋ/
providing care to larvae
Etymology
'larval-caring' originates from Modern English compounding of 'larval' (derived from 'larva') and 'caring' (present participle of 'care').
'larval' comes from Latin 'larva' meaning 'ghost' or 'mask', later used in New Latin for the immature form of insects; 'care' comes from Old English 'caru/cearu' meaning 'sorrow, anxiety' which developed into the sense 'attention, concern'. The compound 'larval-caring' is a recent English formation combining these elements to describe care directed at larvae.
Initially, 'larva' referred to a 'mask' or 'ghost' in Latin; over time it came to denote the immature stage of an organism. 'Care' originally denoted worry but shifted to attention and tending. The compound's meaning is straightforward and literal: 'providing care to larvae'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the act or practice of caring for larvae; parental or communal behaviors directed at larvae (used as an uncountable or count noun).
Larval-caring in some ant species involves trophallaxis and grooming of the brood.
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Adjective 1
providing care to larvae; describing a species, behavior, or trait characterized by feeding, protecting, or tending immature stages (larvae).
Several species of burying beetles exhibit larval-caring strategies, where adults feed and protect their young.
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Last updated: 2025/10/12 20:43