bollworm

noun

boll·​worm ˈbōl-ˌwərm How to pronounce bollworm (audio)
: corn earworm
also : any of several other moths that feed on cotton bolls as larvae

Examples of bollworm in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
The crop, produced by U.S. agribusiness giant Monsanto, is genetically modified to produce a toxin that kills the bollworm, which has wreaked havoc on cotton crops. Andrew Moseman, Discover Magazine, 14 May 2010 In Burkina Faso, a country in western Africa famed for its high-quality cotton, companies introduced Bt cotton in 2008 after being devastated by bollworm pests. Amanda Morris, The Arizona Republic, 29 Apr. 2021 For every one wild pink bollworm, Tabashnik said researchers needed to release 200 sterile moths, which would not have been logistically practical unless the pink bollworm population hadn't already been diminished. Amanda Morris, The Arizona Republic, 29 Apr. 2021 These bollworms had been genetically modified to carry a fluorescent protein, which marked them as the company’s. Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 8 Sep. 2017 That's been successful in suppressing the screw-worm fly, Mexican fruit fly, a cotton bollworm and some other pests. CBS News, 29 May 2017 That’s been successful in suppressing the screw-worm fly, Mexican fruit fly, a cotton bollworm and some other pests. Washington Post, 29 May 2017 That 25 percent enabled enough Bt-vulnerable pink bollworms to survive that the spread of resistance was halted. Bradley J. Fikes, sandiegouniontribune.com, 13 May 2017

Word History

First Known Use

1843, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bollworm was in 1843

Dictionary Entries Near bollworm

Cite this Entry

“Bollworm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bollworm. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

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