xylotomous

Ancient Greek ξύλον (xúlon, “wood”) + τομία (tomía, “cut”), from τέμνειν (témnein, “to cut”)

xylotomous (not comparable)

1. That bores or cuts into wood, as with certain insects.

   Real estate agents in the southern U.S. routinely handle questions about the presence of xylotomous insects, primarily termites.

   Wooden structures in the tropics must be chemically treated to repel xylotomous pests.

   Isopterophobia is the fear of termites or other xylotomous insects.

• xylophagous
• xylophage