budworm
noun
bud·worm
ˈbəd-ˌwərm 
: a moth larva that feeds on the buds of plants compare spruce budworm, tobacco budworm
Examples of budworm in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The last large outbreak of budworm occurred in 2015 and left 118,000 acres of pines defoliated.
—
Detroit Free Press, 16 July 2023
The budworm's population naturally booms and busts somewhere in the state about every 12 years, said Eric Otto, forest health specialist for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
—Greg Stanley, Star Tribune, 14 Dec. 2020
Aerial surveys showed more than 200,000 trees were killed by the budworm in 2018 and 2019.
—Greg Stanley, Star Tribune, 14 Dec. 2020
The problem in asking me is that there are all manner of reasons why a spruce tree would have needles turn brown, from sawflies and budworms to fungi, viruses, mites and bad weather.
—Jeff Lowenfels, Alaska Dispatch News, 22 Sep. 2017
This article on Petunias from Colorado State gives information on petunias and their pests, including the Tobacco (geranium) budworm.
—Kym Pokorny, OregonLive.com, 12 July 2017
Detroit Free Press, 16 July 2023
The budworm's population naturally booms and busts somewhere in the state about every 12 years, said Eric Otto, forest health specialist for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
—Greg Stanley, Star Tribune, 14 Dec. 2020
Aerial surveys showed more than 200,000 trees were killed by the budworm in 2018 and 2019.
—Greg Stanley, Star Tribune, 14 Dec. 2020
The problem in asking me is that there are all manner of reasons why a spruce tree would have needles turn brown, from sawflies and budworms to fungi, viruses, mites and bad weather.
—Jeff Lowenfels, Alaska Dispatch News, 22 Sep. 2017
This article on Petunias from Colorado State gives information on petunias and their pests, including the Tobacco (geranium) budworm.
—Kym Pokorny, OregonLive.com, 12 July 2017
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'budworm.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1849, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing budworm
Dictionary Entries Near budworm
Cite this Entry
“Budworm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/budworm. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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