# planidium

> English word · Noun

## Definitions
1. The first-instar larva of any species of parasitoidal insect in which the life cycle is an example of hypermetamorphosis; so called because the first instar wanders in search of the host, whereas the rest of the instars remain stationary while they feed until they pupate.

## Etymology
From the Ancient Greek πλανάω (planáō, “to wander”) + -idium.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/planidium