SCALE INSECT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does scale insect mean? 

• SCALE INSECT (noun)
  The noun SCALE INSECT has 1 sense:

1. small homopterous insect that usually lives and feeds on plants and secretes a protective waxy covering

  Familiarity information: SCALE INSECT used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SCALE INSECT (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Small homopterous insect that usually lives and feeds on plants and secretes a protective waxy covering

Classified under:

Nouns denoting animals

Hypernyms ("scale insect" is a kind of...):

coccid insect (scale insects and mealybugs)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "scale insect"):

soft scale (an insect active in all stages)

wax insect (any of various insects that secrete a waxy substance)

armored scale (insect having a firm covering of wax especially in the female)

cochineal; cochineal insect; Dactylopius coccus (Mexican red scale insect that feeds on cacti; the source of a red dye)