spruce budworm

American  

[buhd-wurm] / ˈbʌdˌwɜrm /

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.

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Etymology

Origin of spruce budworm

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

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

From Seattle Times • Jun. 14, 2023

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

From Salon • May 13, 2022

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

From Washington Times • Oct. 2, 2018

The first samples were taken from a creek in a forest area in the West where there had been mass spraying of DDT for the control of the spruce budworm.

From The New Yorker • Jan. 3, 2017

They are in fact spruce budworm eggs, in section; though I would not expect anyone but a biologist to recognize them.

From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood