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Definition of fall armyworm
: a migratory American noctuid moth (Spodoptera frugiperda) that is destructive to grains and grasses as a larva
Examples of fall armyworm in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web Created by multinational companies, these are genetically modified to resist fall armyworm.
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The Economist, "Better seeds could help African farmers grow far more," 28 Sep. 2019 The study found that a particular form of CIS that acts outside of bacterial cells can kill two widely divergent kinds of animal cells, from mice and the fall armyworm.
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San Diego Union-Tribune, "Biotech notebook: Cancer discovery, bacterial syringes and organoids," 13 July 2019 Experts are also watching the spread of a pest called the fall armyworm, a sort of caterpillar that likes to eat rice, sorghum and corn crops.
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New York Times, "A Slower Economy. A Trade War. Now, China Faces Rising Food Prices.," 4 June 2019 Corn + Beans The beans attract beneficial insects that prey on corn pests such as leafhoppers, fall armyworms and leaf beetles.
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The Editors Of Organic Life, Good Housekeeping, "26 Plants You Should Always Grow Side-By-Side," 3 Feb. 2017 When just a hungry caterpillar, the fall armyworm will happily munch on more than 80 plant species.
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The Economist, "An army of worms is invading Africa," 18 Jan. 2018 There are reports that the fall armyworm has also reached Malawi, Mozambique and Namibia.
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Brigit Katz, Smithsonian, "A Very, Very Hungry Caterpillar Is Wreaking Havoc on Africa’s Crops," 28 Feb. 2017 The fall armyworm is a small, unassuming caterpillar that grows to just 1.5 inches long.
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Brigit Katz, Smithsonian, "A Very, Very Hungry Caterpillar Is Wreaking Havoc on Africa’s Crops," 28 Feb. 2017 The invasion of the fall armyworm is, naturally, causing considerable panic among African officials.
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Brigit Katz, Smithsonian, "A Very, Very Hungry Caterpillar Is Wreaking Havoc on Africa’s Crops," 28 Feb. 2017
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'fall armyworm.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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Time Traveler for fall armyworm
The first known use of fall armyworm was in 1881
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