acanthopterous
adj. C2 Proficiency acan·thopter·ous
adj. having wings that look like they are covered in small, sharp spines or points. This is a word used to describe the wings of certain insects.
adj. possessing wings that are covered with small, sharp spines or points. Typically used in entomology to describe the wing structure of specific insect families.
The acanthopterous wings of the beetle are very distinctive.
The entomologist noted that the specimen's acanthopterous wings were a key feature for identifying the species.
While many insects have smooth or veined wings, the acanthopterous structure provides a unique defensive mechanism against predators by making the wings difficult to grasp.
From acantho- + -pterous.