螟
injurious parasite
Readings
On'yomi
- メイ
- ミョウ
Kun'yomi
- ずいむし
Meaning
螟 centers on a harmful insect or worm that damages plants, specifically a type of injurious parasite.
Most common words using 螟
- 一点大螟蛾いってんおおめいが
yellow stem borer (Scirpophaga incertulas)
- 三化螟蛾さんかめいが
yellow stem borer (species of moth, Scirpophaga incertulas)
- 二化螟蛾にかめいが
striped stem borer (Chilo suppressalis)
- 熨斗目斑螟蛾のしめまだらめいが
Indian meal moth (Plodia interpunctella); indianmeal moth; pantry moth; North American high-flyer
- 稲の螟虫いねのずいむし
striped stem borer larva
- 螟虫ずいむし
pyralid larva; borer
- 螟蛉めいれい
hornworm
- 螟蛾めいが
pyralid (any moth of family Pyralidae, many of which have larvae that devour foodstuffs)
Study
Etymology
螟 combines 虫 (insect) with 冥, which likely contributes the sound and may relate to darkness or obscurity, suggesting a hidden or harmful insect.
Meaning mnemonic
An insect 虫 that works in the dark 冥, like a hidden parasite that damages plants unseen.
Reading mnemonic
For メイ, imagine a mayfly larva acting as an injurious parasite: may -> メイ, and the insect 虫 hides in the dark 冥.