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

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 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 East of the Cascades: If necessary, spray for corn earworm as silking begins. —

oregonlive, 1 July 2021 Pests monitored: Pheromone lures are available for diamondback moths and moths that produce armyworms, cabbage loopers, corn earworms, European corn borers, tomato pinworms, and cutworms. —

The Editors Of Organic Life, Good Housekeeping, 18 Dec. 2017 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'corn earworm.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.