cutworm
/ˈkʌtwɜrm/
noun
- A caterpillar that feeds on the stems of young plants, often cutting them off at ground level and damaging crops or garden plants.
- Gardeners often use collars around young tomato plants to protect them from cutworms.
- The farmer found cutworms in his cornfield, destroying the seedlings overnight.
- Cutworms hide in the soil during the day and come out at night to feed on tender stems.