corn earworm

[ kawrn eer-wurm ]

noun

1. the larva of either of the noctuid moths Helicoverpa zea or H. armigera, both of which are widely distributed and highly destructive to crops, especially corn, cotton, and tomato.

corn earworm

noun

1. the larva of the noctuid moth Heliothis armigera, which feeds on maize and many other crop plants See also bollworm

Word History and Origins

Origin of corn earworm¹

An Americanism first recorded in 1795–1805

Example Sentences

In the lab, extracts of the fern stunted the growth of soybean looper and corn earworm.

From Science Magazine

Garden pests are often highly specialized and named after their favorite food: cabbageworm, corn earworm, tomato hornworm, Colorado potato beetle, cucumber beetle, pea weevil, pepper maggot, Mexican bean beetle, and so on.

From Salon

One of the bats’ favorite meals is the corn earworm moth, which is a major pest, and, if left untouched, can destroy corn and cotton crops.

From The New Yorker

The corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea, which can put a damper on your summer barbecue if you find one in your ear of corn, enters diapause in the pupal stage.

From Scientific American

Ever since humans learned to wrest food from soil, creatures like the corn earworm, the grain weevil and the bean fly have dined on our agricultural bounty.

From New York Times