eriophyid

noun er·i·o·phy·id \ˌer-ē-ˈä-fē-əd, -ē-ə-ˈfī-əd\

Definition of ERIOPHYID

: any of a large family (Eriophyidae) of minute plant-feeding wormlike mites that have two pairs of legs and include gall mites and rust mites

— eriophyid adjective

ultimately from Greek erion wool + phyē growth; akin to Greek physis growth — more at physics

First Known Use: 1942

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