forest tent caterpillar

noun

: a moth (Malacosoma disstria of the family Lasiocampidae) whose orange-marked larva is a tent caterpillar and a serious defoliator of deciduous trees

Examples of forest tent caterpillar in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Paul Hayes for the Boston Globe Steven Roberge, a maple expert and state forestry specialist at the University of New Hampshire Extension, said an explosion of forest tent caterpillars affected both Lancaster and Randolph in 2016. Amanda Gokee, BostonGlobe.com, 9 Aug. 2023 The effort involves restoring the land after a devastating forest tent caterpillar infestation wiped out around 4,500 trees, slashing the maple syrup production by 62 percent, according to Hill. Amanda Gokee, BostonGlobe.com, 9 Aug. 2023 Vermont has suffered its own peckish pest — the forest tent caterpillar, said Michael Snyder, commissioner of Vermont's forests, parks and recreation. Matthew Ormseth, courant.com, 31 Aug. 2017

Word History

First Known Use

1854, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of forest tent caterpillar was in 1854

Dictionary Entries Near forest tent caterpillar

Cite this Entry

“Forest tent caterpillar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/forest%20tent%20caterpillar. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!