railroad worm

American  

noun

1. the larva of a fruit fly, Rhagoletis pomonella, that burrows through apples, forming tunnels that sometimes appear on the skin as faint depressions or darkened trails: a serious pest of apples in colder regions of North America.

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Etymology

Origin of railroad worm

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

railroad worm

Insects typically can’t see red, Marek says, but it’s thought that the railroad worm can.

From National Geographic ● Jun. 30, 2018