oviscape

Female of a fruit fly species, showing the unusually large oviscape protruding from the end of the abdomen

Meaning

Noun

  • The basal part of the ovipositor of some species of insects, typically the non-retractile sheath that remains exposed when the ovipositor is withdrawn and not in action.
  • The oviscapte or ovipositor.

Origin

  • From Latin ovum plus scāpus, from Ancient Greek (Doric) σκᾶπος.

Modern English dictionary

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