赤虫

Japanese

Kanji in this term
赤	虫
あか Grade: 1	むし Grade: 1
kun'yomi

Alternative spelling
赤蟲 (kyūjitai)

アカムシ (sense 1): a blood worm

アカムシ (sense 2): a red velvet mite

アカムシ (sense 3): chironomid larva

Etymology

From 赤(あか) (aka, “red”) + 虫(むし) (mushi, “bug”).

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) あかむし [àkáꜜmùshì] (Nakadaka – [2])
• (Tokyo) あかむし [àkámúshí] (Heiban – [0])
• IPA^(key): [a̠ka̠mɯ̟ɕi]

Noun

赤(あか)虫(むし) or 赤虫(アカムシ) • (akamushi) 

1. bloodworm, various worms of the family Eunicidae; often used as fishing bait or fish food

   Synonym: 磯目 (isome)

   フリーズドライ赤(あか)虫(むし)

   furīzu-dorai akamushi

   freeze-dried bloodworms

2. red velvet mite, harvest mite, various mites of the family Trombidiidae; (especially) Trombicula akamushi

   Synonym: 恙虫 (tsutsugamushi)

3. larva of a chironomid, lake fly, any of various non-biting midges of the family Chironomidae

   See also: 揺蚊 (yusurika)

Usage notes

As with many terms that name organisms, this term is often spelled in katakana, especially in biological contexts (where katakana is customary).