spruce budworm

[buhd-wurm]

noun

1. the larva of a common tortricid moth, Choristoneura fumiferana, that is a destructive pest primarily of spruce and balsam fir in the northern and northeastern U.S. and in Canada.

Word History and Origins

Origin of spruce budworm¹

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

An epidemic of western spruce budworm that swept through this area in 2012 weakened trees that later were killed by beetles.

Read more on Seattle Times

Even now, its balsam firs continue to deteriorate from moose browsing and an attack of tree-killing spruce budworm, the report said.

Read more on Seattle Times

Warming temperatures are increasing insect infestations from mountain pine beetles and spruce budworm, which have killed large swathes of forest.

Read more on Salon

“You can see that they’re stressed. When that happens, they get attacked by beetles, spruce budworm and mistletoe. They struggle to survive.”

Read more on Washington Times

The reason for the large number, Mr. Davies speculated, was that these are birds that eat the larvae of the spruce budworm, and their populations explode when the budworm numbers go up.

Read more on New York Times