plum curculio

noun

: an American weevil (Conotrachelus nenuphar) that is very destructive to plums, cherries, nectarines, peaches, and other stone fruits and to apples, the adult feeding on the leaves of these trees and laying its eggs in crescent-shaped incisions made in the fruit and the larva migrating inward and feeding upon the pulp around the stone or core

The Ultimate Dictionary Awaits

Expand your vocabulary and dive deeper into language with Merriam-Webster Unabridged.

1. Expanded definitions
2. Detailed etymologies
3. Advanced search tools
4. All ad-free

Discover what makes Merriam-Webster Unabridged the essential choice for true word lovers.

Start Your Free Trial Now