insectivore
noun
in·sec·ti·vore
in-ˈsek-tə-ˌvȯr 
1
: any of an order (Insectivora) of small usually nocturnal mammals (such as moles, shrews, and hedgehogs) that feed mainly on insects
2
: an insectivorous plant or animal
Examples of insectivore in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
These flying insectivores winter in South America and travel 7,000 miles to nest, including in Michigan.
—
Jennifer Dixon, Detroit Free Press, 28 Mar. 2024
Most bats are insectivores that eat mosquitoes and other agricultural pests, or act as pollinators and seed spreaders.
—Emily Mullin, WIRED, 31 Oct. 2023
This year, Handa said there was a potential delay in insect production due to sustaining cooler temperatures, which could have an impact on the breeding schedule of insectivores, the birds that eat bugs.
—Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Oct. 2023
The specific patterns, and the earliest mammals' relatively small size, are reminiscent of modern small insectivores—which use quick bites and a dental tool kit of puncturing and crushing teeth to bust through arthropod carapaces.
—Riley Black, Scientific American, 28 June 2023
The teeth and size of the new reptile line up with the idea that Opisthiamimus was an insectivore says Harvard University paleontologist Tiago Simões, who was not involved in the new study.
—Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Sep. 2022
Aardvarks are nocturnal, insectivore mammals native to Africa, according to National Geographic.
—Olivia Munson, USA TODAY, 28 June 2022
The image of what a Mesozoic mammal is—that is, mammals that lived during the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous Periods—has often been stereotyped as a small, snuffling insectivore that foraged at night.
—Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 July 2021
The animals are fed produce, mice, crickets, mealworms, eggs, and insectivore pellets.
—Benjamin Vanhoose, PEOPLE.com, 30 June 2020
Jennifer Dixon, Detroit Free Press, 28 Mar. 2024
Most bats are insectivores that eat mosquitoes and other agricultural pests, or act as pollinators and seed spreaders.
—Emily Mullin, WIRED, 31 Oct. 2023
This year, Handa said there was a potential delay in insect production due to sustaining cooler temperatures, which could have an impact on the breeding schedule of insectivores, the birds that eat bugs.
—Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Oct. 2023
The specific patterns, and the earliest mammals' relatively small size, are reminiscent of modern small insectivores—which use quick bites and a dental tool kit of puncturing and crushing teeth to bust through arthropod carapaces.
—Riley Black, Scientific American, 28 June 2023
The teeth and size of the new reptile line up with the idea that Opisthiamimus was an insectivore says Harvard University paleontologist Tiago Simões, who was not involved in the new study.
—Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Sep. 2022
Aardvarks are nocturnal, insectivore mammals native to Africa, according to National Geographic.
—Olivia Munson, USA TODAY, 28 June 2022
The image of what a Mesozoic mammal is—that is, mammals that lived during the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous Periods—has often been stereotyped as a small, snuffling insectivore that foraged at night.
—Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 July 2021
The animals are fed produce, mice, crickets, mealworms, eggs, and insectivore pellets.
—Benjamin Vanhoose, PEOPLE.com, 30 June 2020
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'insectivore.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Insectivore.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/insectivore. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
insectivore
noun
in·sec·ti·vore
in-ˈsek-tə-ˌvō(ə)r
-ˌvȯ(ə)r
1
: any of an order of small mammals (as the moles, shrews, and hedgehogs) that are mostly insect-eating and active at night
2
: an insect-eating plant or animal
Medical Definition
insectivore
noun
in·sec·ti·vore
in-ˈsek-tə-ˌvō(ə)r, -ˌvȯ(ə)r
1
: any mammal of the order Insectivora
2
: an insectivorous plant or animal
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