The process or act of removing wings from an insect, especially ants and termites.
From dealate plus -ion (Latin suffix forming nouns of action). Created in the 19th century to name this specific entomological process.
Dealation is such a dramatic moment in an ant's life—imagine having worked hard to grow those wings, using them to fly and find a mate, only to bite them off yourself when you've found the right place to settle.
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