beet armyworm

[ beet-ahr-mee-wurm ]

noun
  1. the larva of the noctuid moth Spodoptera exigua, a voracious pest of a wide range of vegetation, including such commercial crops as beets, asparagus, corn, cotton, peas, and peppers.

Origin of beet armyworm

1
First recorded in 1900–05
  • Also called as·par·a·gus fern cat·er·pil·lar [uh-spar-uh-guhs furn kat-uh-pil-er, kat-er-] /əˈspær ə gəs ˌfɜrn ˈkæt əˌpɪl ər, ˈkæt ər-/ .

Words Nearby beet armyworm

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024