Definition

Noun: * A destructive caterpillar: The larva of a noctuid moth (Heliothis zea, also known as Helicoverpa zea), which is a significant agricultural pest. It is highly destructive to crops, especially corn, cotton, and tomatoes.

Usage

• The term vetchworm is a specific common name used primarily in agricultural and entomological contexts to refer to this particular pest insect.
• It is a countable noun (e.g., , ).

Examples

• Farmers are monitoring their fields for signs of the vetchworm.
• The vetchworm can cause severe damage to a cotton crop.
• This pesticide is effective against the corn earworm, also known as the vetchworm.

Advanced Usage

• The vetchworm is more widely known by other common names that reflect its preferred host plants, such as corn earworm (when on corn), cotton bollworm (when on cotton), and tomato fruitworm (when on tomatoes). In scientific literature, the species name is used.

Variants and Related Words

• Corn earworm (n): The most common name for this insect, especially when infesting corn.
• Cotton bollworm (n): A name for this insect when it is a pest of cotton.
• Tomato fruitworm (n): A name for this insect when it attacks tomato plants.
• Helicoverpa zea (n): The modern scientific (Latin) name for the species.
• Heliothis zea (n): A former scientific name for the species.
• Larva (n): The immature, wingless, and often worm-like feeding stage of an insect that undergoes complete metamorphosis.

Synonyms

• Corn earworm
• Cotton bollworm
• Tomato fruitworm
• Bollworm (general)

Notes

• There are no specific idioms or phrasal verbs associated with this highly technical term.

Noun

1. larva of a noctuid moth; highly destructive to especially corn and cotton and tomato crops