tobacco budworm
noun
: an American noctuid moth (Heliothis virescens synonym Helicoverpa virescens) whose striped and variably colored larva feeds on buds and young leaves especially of tobacco and cotton
Examples of tobacco budworm in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The moth family in this study feeds on roughly 350 plant species across North and South America, including the tobacco budworm, the corn earworm, and the fall armyworm.
—
Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 2 Aug. 2023
Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 2 Aug. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tobacco 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
1918, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near tobacco budworm
Cite this Entry
“Tobacco budworm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tobacco%20budworm. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share