Collocations The living world

Animals

animals mate/breed/reproduce/feed (on something)

fish/amphibians swim/spawn (= lay eggs)

insects crawl/fly/bite/sting

insects/bees/locusts swarm

bees collect/gather nectar/pollen

spiders spin/weave a web

snakes/lizards shed their skins

bears/hedgehogs/frogs hibernate

insect larvae grow/develop/pupate

an egg/a chick/a larva hatches

attract/find/choose a mate

produce/release eggs/sperm

lay/fertilize/incubate/hatch eggs

inhabit a forest/a reef/the coast

mark/enter/defend (a) territory

stalk/hunt/capture/catch/kill prey

Plants and fungi

trees/plants grow/bloom/blossom/flower

a seed germinates/sprouts

leaves/buds/roots/shoots appear/develop/form

flower buds swell/open

a fungus grows/spreads/colonizes something

pollinate/fertilize a flower/plant

produce/release/spread/disperse pollen/seeds/spores

produce/bear fruit

develop/grow/form roots/shoots/leaves

provide/supply/absorb/extract/release nutrients

perform/increase/reduce photosynthesis

Bacteria and viruses

bacteria/microbes/viruses grow/spread/multiply

bacteria/microbes live/thrive in/on something

bacteria/microbes/viruses evolve/colonize something/cause disease

bacteria break something down/convert something (into something)

a virus enters/invades something/the body

a virus mutates/evolves/replicates (itself)

be infected with/contaminated with/exposed to a new strain of a virus/drug-resistant bacteria

contain/carry/harbour bacteria/a virus

kill/destroy/eliminate harmful/deadly bacteria