1. a specialized organ used by female insects and some other animals to deposit eggs
Usage: biological term

Examples

• The wasp inserted her ovipositor into the tree bark to lay her eggs.
• Scientists studied the structure of the butterfly’s ovipositor under a microscope.
• The female cricket uses her long ovipositor to place eggs deep in the soil.
• Many parasitic wasps have needle-like ovipositors for piercing host insects.
• The dragonfly’s ovipositor allows her to deposit eggs directly into water.
• Researchers observed how the beetle’s ovipositor functions during egg-laying.