ectophagous

adjective

ec·​toph·​a·​gous

(ˈ)ek¦täfəgəs

: feeding from without:

a

of a parasitoid insect larva : developing external to and feeding on the surface of the host compare endophagous

b

: consuming vegetation or plant debris by ingestion (as by browsing) rather than by disintegrating it from within

Word History

Etymology

ect- + -phagous

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