autocidaladj.
/ˌɔːtə(ʊ)ˈsʌɪdl/, U.S. /ˌɔdəˈsaɪd(ə)l/, /ˌɔdoʊˈsaɪd(ə)l/, /ˌɑdəˈsaɪd(ə)l/, /ˌɑdoʊˈsaɪd(ə)l/ Characterized by or participating in self-destruction; (Biology) designating methods of insect control that involve the introduction of sterile insects, or insects carrying a harmful genetic characteristic, into a population so as to inhibit reproduction and survival.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > death > killing > killing of animals > [adjective] > by specific method
stickedc1330
pithed1864
road-killed1943
autocidal1960
1960 Jrnl. Econ. Entomol. 53 415/1 I have given considerable thought to other ways of employing an insect to destroy its own kind. Four ways of utilizing the autocidal principle of insect control are proposed for exploration in further research.
1979 Nature 22 Feb. 602/1 A mass of contradictions can be avoided if one only allows a limited range of causally self-consistent loops, thus ruling out ‘autocidal’ machines.
1980 Adv. Vet. Sci. & Compar. Med. 24 166 Screwworm populations subjected to autocidal control by the sterile-male technique.
2005 W. M. F. Jongen Improving Safety of Fresh Fruit & Veg. ix. 308 Autocidal methods aim at eradication and can be very effective.
This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, June 2011; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
<
adj.1960