[hahy-muh-nop-ter-uh
n] 
| 1. | hymenopterous. |
| 2. | Also, hy⋅me⋅nop⋅ter. a hymenopterous insect. |
| hy·me·nop·ter·an (hī'mə-nŏp'tər-ən) adj. Of or belonging to the order Hymenoptera. n. also hy·me·nop·ter·on (-tə-rŏn') Any insects of the order Hymenoptera, including the bees, wasps, and ants, often living in complex social groups and characteristically having two pairs of membranous wings. [From New Latin Hymenoptera, order name, from Greek humenopteros, membrane-winged : humēn, membrane; see hymen + pteron, wing; see -pter.] hy'me·nop'ter·ous (-tər-əs) adj. |
| hymenopteran (hī'mə-nŏp'tər-ən) Pronunciation Key
Any of various insects of the order Hymenoptera, having two pairs of wings and a characteristic thin constriction that separates the abdomen from the thorax. Some hymenopterans live in complex social groups. Hymenopterans include the ants, bees, wasps, and sawflies. |
hymenopteran
any member of the third largest and perhaps the most beneficial to humans of all insect orders. More than 115,000 species have been described, including ants, bees, ichneumons, chalcids, sawflies, wasps, and lesser known types. Except in the polar regions, they are abundant in most habitats, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions
Learn more about hymenopteran with a free trial on Britannica.com.