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mealybug

American  
[mee-lee-buhg] / ˈmi liˌbʌg /

noun

  1. any of several scalelike, homopterous insects of the families Pseudococcidae and Eriococcidae that are covered with a powdery wax secretion and feed on plants.


Etymology

Origin of mealybug

First recorded in 1815–25; mealy + bug 1

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.

See Examples For:

It has set its sights on a bizarre-looking insect larva known as the mealybug ladybird, which sports a coat of white, waxy filaments that resembles fleece.

From Science Magazine Mar. 15, 2024

Healthy peonies can handle light mealybug activity, but if feeding is heavy, a forceful stream of water or application of an insecticidal soap or narrow-range oil may be warranted.

From Seattle Times Dec. 14, 2022

He said his operation uses chlorpyrifos on rare occasions, such as during an outbreak of the vine mealybug on grape crops.

From Washington Post Jul. 18, 2019

Scientists found a tiny wasp that very specifically targeted the bugs that were eating the cassava, and today crop damage from the so-called cassava mealybug has declined by 90 percent.

From Slate Aug. 4, 2016

Just as the mealybug cannot live without its microbes, the microbes can’t live without each other.

From New York Times Jul. 4, 2013

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