hornworm
noun
horn·worm
ˈhȯrn-ˌwərm 
: a hawk moth caterpillar having a hornlike tail process compare tomato hornworm
Examples of hornworm in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Here's what to look for, according to the University of Arizona:
Tomato hornworm caterpillars
Large green caterpillars with white diagonal stripes and a horn-like appendage.
—
The Arizona Republic, 14 Feb. 2024
The bug eats hornworm caterpillars.
—Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 27 Aug. 2010
Allmann and Baldwin showed that something in the hornworm spit was causing this change.
—Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 27 Aug. 2010
Fewer weeds means fewer places for hornworm moths to lay eggs.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 June 2022
The caterpillars feed continuously, so any time of day will work for going on a hornworm hunt.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 June 2022
That is a hornworm caterpillar from the genus Smerinthus.
—oregonlive, 5 July 2020
Our research team at Michigan State University’s Plant Resilience Institute watched what happened in hotter weather when hornworm caterpillars attacked a tomato plant.
—Nathan Havko, The Conversation, 7 Apr. 2020
The hornworm is a voracious eater of plants — mainly tomatoes and peppers.
—Joan Morris, The Mercury News, 15 July 2019
The Arizona Republic, 14 Feb. 2024
The bug eats hornworm caterpillars.
—Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 27 Aug. 2010
Allmann and Baldwin showed that something in the hornworm spit was causing this change.
—Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 27 Aug. 2010
Fewer weeds means fewer places for hornworm moths to lay eggs.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 June 2022
The caterpillars feed continuously, so any time of day will work for going on a hornworm hunt.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 June 2022
That is a hornworm caterpillar from the genus Smerinthus.
—oregonlive, 5 July 2020
Our research team at Michigan State University’s Plant Resilience Institute watched what happened in hotter weather when hornworm caterpillars attacked a tomato plant.
—Nathan Havko, The Conversation, 7 Apr. 2020
The hornworm is a voracious eater of plants — mainly tomatoes and peppers.
—Joan Morris, The Mercury News, 15 July 2019
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hornworm.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Hornworm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hornworm. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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