heliotaxis

English

Etymology

From helio- +‎ taxis.

Noun

heliotaxis (uncountable)

1. (biology) Phototaxis related to the sun.
   1. Movement of an organism toward sunlight; positive heliotaxis.
   2. Movement of an organism away from sunlight; negative heliotaxis.
      • 1903, William Morton Wheeler, “Some Notes on the Habits of Cerapachs Augustae”, in Psyche, 10(325-326), page 206:

        Pronounced negative heliotaxis, evidently depending on some photodermatic sense, was apparent when the ants were exposed to the sun...