cutworm

[ kuht-wurm ]

noun

1. the larva of any of several noctuid moths, which feeds at night on the stems of young plants, cutting them off at the ground.

cutworm

/ ˈkʌtˌwɜːm /

noun

1. the caterpillar of various noctuid moths, esp those of the genus Argrotis, which is a pest of young crop plants in North America

Word History and Origins

Origin of cutworm¹

First recorded in 1800–10; cut + worm

Example Sentences

Because this food source could abruptly disappear at any time, cutworm moths cannot be counted on to replace pine nuts.

From The Daily Beast

And, always, global warming could push the cutworm moths north, out of the park, by heating up the region.

From The Daily Beast

Army cutworm moths, another major grizzly food source, summer in high elevation talus fields.

From The Daily Beast

No cutworm shall get a blighty one from our cherished baccy pouch.

From Project Gutenberg

If a cutworm chances to be fenced in, he will show himself by cutting off a plant.

From Project Gutenberg

One that he specially likes is the cutworm, which has a bad way of biting off young plants.

From Project Gutenberg

Two caterpillar enemies of cotton, the cotton worm and the cotton cutworm, are eaten by the upland plover and killdeer.

From Project Gutenberg

No, let the cutworm work his will, and let the brown-tailed moth corrupt; I must take refuge in flight, however inglorious.

From Project Gutenberg