Southern corn rootworm

Pronunciation
/SOUTH-er-n korn ROOT-wurm/
Category
Entomology
Singular
Southern corn rootworm
Plural
Southern corn rootworms

Definition

A beetle that is a pest of corn, especially in the southern United States. It is the larval stage of the spotted cucumber beetle (Diabrotica undecimpunctata).

Etymology

Named for its distribution in the southern regions of the United States.

Example

The southern corn rootworm is a major threat to corn production in the southeastern United States.

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