cutworm
Stem-severing pest
A cutworm is a caterpillar that feeds on young plants at or below soil level, often cutting through stems at the base—hence the name.
Cutworms are the larvae of various moths and are notorious garden pests, destroying seedlings overnight.
They hide in soil during the day and emerge to feed at night.
Moth or butterfly young
- grubFood or larva
- mothNight-flying lepidopteran
- instarArthropod developmental stage
- pupaInsect's resting stage
larvae · metamorphosis · molting · lepidoptera · mandible · cocoon · life-cycle · larval
Pest takeover situation
- insecticideToxic agent targeting pests
- pesticideAgent destroying harmful organisms
- controlAuthority to direct
- eradicationTotal elimination of something
scouting · monitoring · threshold · outbreak · spraying · baiting · treatment
Recently sprouted young plant
- transplantMove tissue between bodies
- cornCereal grown on cobs
- tomatoRed culinary fruit
- cabbageLeafy vegetable head
field · tillage · cultivation · planting · rotation · collar · barrier
Losing turgor and drooping
- defoliationLoss of foliage
- tunnelingDigging underground passages
- chewedCrushed with teeth
- holesOpenings through material
caterpillar
Moth or butterfly young
pupa · larvae · metamorphosis · molting · lepidoptera · mandible · cocoon · life-cycle · larval · entomology
infestation
Pest takeover situation
- insecticideToxic agent targeting pests
- pesticideAgent destroying harmful organisms
- controlAuthority to direct
eradication · scouting · monitoring · threshold · outbreak · spraying · baiting · treatment
seedling
Recently sprouted young plant
- transplantMove tissue between bodies
- cornCereal grown on cobs
- tomatoRed culinary fruit
cabbage · field · tillage · cultivation · planting · rotation · collar · barrier
wilting
Losing turgor and drooping
- defoliationLoss of foliage
- tunnelingDigging underground passages
- chewedCrushed with teeth
hiding
Staying out of sight
- duskDimming after sundown
- undergroundBelow ground or countercultural
- debrisScattered broken fragments
- bugsbeetle, cricket, bug, firefly, cockroach
- farm pestsaphid, aphids, armyworm, boll weevil, corn borer
- garden bugsant, aphid, bee, beetle, butterfly
- pestsants, ant, bugs, cockroach, cockroaches
- bug nicknamesbug, critter, creepy crawly, crawler, pest
- caterpillarscaterpillar, inchworms, hornworm, spanworm, armyworm
cutwormbeneficial insect
Arthropod aiding agriculture
pollinator · earthworm · ladybug · honeybee · lacewing