cankerworm

American  

[kang-ker-wurm] / ˈkæŋ kərˌwɜrm /

noun

1. an inchworm, the larva of either of two geometrid moths, Paleacrita vernata spring cankerworm and Alsophila pometaria fall cankerworm: a foliage pest of various fruit and shade trees.

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cankerworm British  

/ ˈkæŋkəˌwɜːm /

noun

1. the larva of either of two geometrid moths, Paleacrita vernata or Alsophila pometaria, which feed on and destroy fruit and shade trees in North America

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Etymology

Origin of cankerworm

First recorded in 1520–30; canker + worm

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

cankerworm

Chickadees and other winter-resident birds can protect orchards against the cankerworm.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson

Raupenleim: a patented sticky substance used to catch the cankerworm.

From Agriculture for Beginners Revised Edition by Charles William Burkett

Now that little cankerworm, that has been gnawing at your roots of life for the last year or two, has done its worst, and you are perfectly free to go and make other mistakes.

From Robinetta by Allan McAulay

The stomachs of four other birds of the same species contained about 600 eggs and 105 female moths of the cankerworm.

From Bird Day; How to prepare for it by Charles Almanzo Babcock

Nearly all the common birds feed freely upon the cankerworm, and benefit the orchard in so doing.

From Agriculture for Beginners Revised Edition by Charles William Burkett

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