corn earworm
noun
corn ear·worm
-ˈir-ˌwərm 
: a noctuid moth (Helicoverpa zea synonym Heliothis zea) whose large striped yellow-headed larva is especially destructive to corn, tomatoes, tobacco, and cotton bolls
Examples of corn earworm in a Sentence
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In addition to attracting predators of aphids, cilantro (and dill) support parotoids, including non-stinging wasps and tachinid flies, which attack caterpillar pests of beans such as corn earworm.
—
Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 4 Apr. 2025
The corn earworm that ruined last year's harvest is back and so is the sap beetle.
—John Frank, Axios, 11 Aug. 2024
Beyond limiting the number of disease-carrying, skin-irritating mosquitoes, bats eat the insect pests that damage our crops, such as corn earworms.
—Benji Jones, Vox, 19 June 2024
Prevent corn earworms by depositing a little mineral oil in the silks five days after silks appear and begin to turn brown.
—Joshua Siskin, Orange County Register, 25 May 2024
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
Watch for corn earworm on early corn.
—oregonlive, 1 Aug. 2022
The caterpillar was basically a pest species, related to a corn earworm, and not significant at all.
—Elizabeth Kolbert, The New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2023
Another substance, the protein PSP1, is ejaculated by the male corn earworm moth into his mate and there immediately shuts down the production of pheromones, meaning that other males (which totally rely on scent) can no longer find her.
—Menno Schilthuizen, Discover Magazine, 28 Apr. 2015
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Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 4 Apr. 2025
The corn earworm that ruined last year's harvest is back and so is the sap beetle.
—John Frank, Axios, 11 Aug. 2024
Beyond limiting the number of disease-carrying, skin-irritating mosquitoes, bats eat the insect pests that damage our crops, such as corn earworms.
—Benji Jones, Vox, 19 June 2024
Prevent corn earworms by depositing a little mineral oil in the silks five days after silks appear and begin to turn brown.
—Joshua Siskin, Orange County Register, 25 May 2024
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
Watch for corn earworm on early corn.
—oregonlive, 1 Aug. 2022
The caterpillar was basically a pest species, related to a corn earworm, and not significant at all.
—Elizabeth Kolbert, The New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2023
Another substance, the protein PSP1, is ejaculated by the male corn earworm moth into his mate and there immediately shuts down the production of pheromones, meaning that other males (which totally rely on scent) can no longer find her.
—Menno Schilthuizen, Discover Magazine, 28 Apr. 2015
Cite this Entry
“Corn earworm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/corn%20earworm. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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corn earworm
noun
corn ear·worm
-ˈi(ə)r-ˌwərm
: a moth whose striped yellow-headed larva is especially destructive to ears of corn
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