way of digesting food

Extraintestinal in the context of insects refers to digestion that occurs outside the main intestinal tract. Specifically, it involves the breakdown of food components before they reach the insect's midgut for final digestion and absorption. This is often achieved through the secretion of digestive enzymes from the salivary glands, which are then introduced into the food source. This type of digestion is often visible, for example, in predatory beetles.