diamondback moth
noun
: a nearly cosmopolitan moth (Plutella xylostella of the family Plutellidae) whose larva is a pest on cruciferous plants
Examples of diamondback moth in a Sentence
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Two other caterpillar pests of brassicas are the diamondback moth and the cabbage looper.
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Dawn Pettinelli, Hartford Courant, 27 July 2024
RNAissance Ag is working on a spray that targets the diamondback moth, which has an insatiable appetite for cabbages and has already evolved some resistance to common pesticides.
—(old) Matt Reynolds, Wired, 8 Nov. 2021
The diamondback moth has also been resistant to pesticides, the more traditional approach to pest control.
—Caroline Delbert, Popular Mechanics, 29 Jan. 2020
An invasive species, the diamondback moth originated in Europe, but has proved difficult to control since appearing the U.S. due to short gestation times and the large numbers of eggs females lay at once.
—Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 11 May 2017
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Dawn Pettinelli, Hartford Courant, 27 July 2024
RNAissance Ag is working on a spray that targets the diamondback moth, which has an insatiable appetite for cabbages and has already evolved some resistance to common pesticides.
—(old) Matt Reynolds, Wired, 8 Nov. 2021
The diamondback moth has also been resistant to pesticides, the more traditional approach to pest control.
—Caroline Delbert, Popular Mechanics, 29 Jan. 2020
An invasive species, the diamondback moth originated in Europe, but has proved difficult to control since appearing the U.S. due to short gestation times and the large numbers of eggs females lay at once.
—Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 11 May 2017
Cite this Entry
“Diamondback moth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diamondback%20moth. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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