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plant bug

American

noun

any of numerous, often brightly colored hemipterous insects of the family Miridae that feed on the juices of plants.

Etymology

Origin of plant bug

An Americanism dating back to 1855–60

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

One species of the so-called arum plant has evolved to attract a species of plant bug instead of a typical beetle pollinator, helping them spread their pollen far and wide.

From Science Magazine • Oct. 13, 2022

Syngonium hastiferum is one of the first plants shown to have evolved to coax this service from a plant bug.

From Science Magazine • Oct. 12, 2022

For some insects like cutworms, it's the larvae that do the damage, in others, such as the tarnished plant bug, it's the nymphs and adults that severely damage vegetables, berries, fruit trees, and ornamental plants.

From Salon • Aug. 8, 2021

The alfalfa plant bug is a non-native plant pest.

From Slate • Apr. 18, 2014

Knows of a plantation not mulched at all, that suffered more than any other this year from the tarnished plant bug.

From Prairie Farmer, Vol. 56: No. 1, January 5, 1884. A Weekly Journal for the Farm, Orchard and Fireside by Various

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023