BDELLA Meaning and
Definition
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Bdella, often referred to as Bdellinae, is a suborder of tiny parasitic mites belonging to the subclass Acari. These mites are commonly found in soil, leaf litter, and decaying matter, and are known for being ectoparasites of various vertebrates, especially birds. They have a cylindrical body and are typically light-colored, ranging from yellowish to whitish, with some species exhibiting darker markings.
One noteworthy characteristic of bdella mites is their ability to feed on the blood of their hosts, especially birds. They possess modified mouthparts called stylets, which are utilized to penetrate the host's skin and extract blood. Ectoparasitism by bdella mites often leads to adverse effects on the hosts, ranging from skin irritations to more severe conditions such as anemia or even death in cases of heavy infestations.
These mites are also known to exhibit a specific type of reproductive strategy known as traumatic insemination. In this process, the male mite pierces the female's body with his specialized genitalia, bypassing the female reproductive organs and injecting sperm directly into her hemocoel. This unique method of reproduction has evolved as a result of sexual competition and the absence of a conventional copulatory organ in males.
Due to their ecological significance as parasites and their intriguing reproductive behavior, bdella mites have garnered interest among researchers in the fields of parasitology and entomology. Their intricate biology makes them an interesting subject for further study and understanding their interactions with their hosts.
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A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for BDELLA
- bdea
- bedela
- beella
- bdellah
- Bealla
- Beela
- bdela
- bxella
- bcella
- bfella
- bdwlla
- bdslla
- bddlla
- bdrlla
- bd4lla
- bd3lla
- bdekla
- bdepla
- bdeola
- bdelka
Etymology of BDELLA
The word "bdella" has its etymology rooted in Ancient Greek. It derived from the Greek noun "bdella" (βδέλλα), which meant "leech". This term later travelled to Latin as "bdella" and then reached English as "bdella". In both Greek and Latin, the word was primarily used to refer to the bloodsucking aquatic worms we now commonly know as leeches.
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