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Hessian fly
noun
: a small European dipteran fly (Mayetiola destructor) introduced into North America that is destructive to wheat
Examples of Hessian fly in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In 2015, Roger Koller, a third-generation farmer, lost a third of his spring wheat to the Hessian fly.
—Helen Sullivan, The New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2021
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Word History
First Known Use
1786, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near Hessian fly
Cite this Entry
“Hessian fly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Hessian%20fly. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
Kids Definition
Hessian fly
noun
: a small two-winged fly destructive to wheat in North America
More from Merriam-Webster on Hessian fly
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about Hessian fly
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