: any of various weevils (as of the genus Sphenophorus) having larvae that eat the roots of cereal and other grasses

Examples of billbug in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Check for mealybugs, billbugs and nematodes in zoysia lawns and treat as needed. — Tom MacCubbin, OrlandoSentinel.com, 30 June 2018

Word History

Etymology

bill entry 1 + bug

First Known Use

1831, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of billbug was in 1831

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Cite this Entry

“Billbug.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/billbug. Accessed 29 Sep. 2026.

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