bollworm
noun
boll·worm ˈbōl-ˌwərm 
: corn earworm
also : any of several other moths that feed on cotton bolls as larvae
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web In Burkina Faso, a country in western Africa famed for its high-quality cotton, companies introduced Bt cotton in 2008 after being devastated by bollworm pests. 
Amanda Morris, The Arizona Republic, 29 Apr. 2021 For every one wild pink bollworm, Tabashnik said researchers needed to release 200 sterile moths, which would not have been logistically practical unless the pink bollworm population hadn't already been diminished. Amanda Morris, The Arizona Republic, 29 Apr. 2021 These bollworms had been genetically modified to carry a fluorescent protein, which marked them as the company’s. Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 8 Sep. 2017 That’s been successful in suppressing the screw-worm fly, Mexican fruit fly, a cotton bollworm and some other pests. Mary Esch, The Seattle Times, 29 May 2017 That's been successful in suppressing the screw-worm fly, Mexican fruit fly, a cotton bollworm and some other pests. CBS News, 29 May 2017 That’s been successful in suppressing the screw-worm fly, Mexican fruit fly, a cotton bollworm and some other pests. Washington Post, 29 May 2017 That 25 percent enabled enough Bt-vulnerable pink bollworms to survive that the spread of resistance was halted. Bradley J. Fikes, sandiegouniontribune.com, 13 May 2017 Smatecek said Monsanto’s genetically engineered cotton doesn’t repel all bollworms, but does reduce the amount of pesticide needed to control the pest. Associated Press, WIRED, 10 Feb. 2003 See More
Amanda Morris, The Arizona Republic, 29 Apr. 2021 For every one wild pink bollworm, Tabashnik said researchers needed to release 200 sterile moths, which would not have been logistically practical unless the pink bollworm population hadn't already been diminished. Amanda Morris, The Arizona Republic, 29 Apr. 2021 These bollworms had been genetically modified to carry a fluorescent protein, which marked them as the company’s. Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 8 Sep. 2017 That’s been successful in suppressing the screw-worm fly, Mexican fruit fly, a cotton bollworm and some other pests. Mary Esch, The Seattle Times, 29 May 2017 That's been successful in suppressing the screw-worm fly, Mexican fruit fly, a cotton bollworm and some other pests. CBS News, 29 May 2017 That’s been successful in suppressing the screw-worm fly, Mexican fruit fly, a cotton bollworm and some other pests. Washington Post, 29 May 2017 That 25 percent enabled enough Bt-vulnerable pink bollworms to survive that the spread of resistance was halted. Bradley J. Fikes, sandiegouniontribune.com, 13 May 2017 Smatecek said Monsanto’s genetically engineered cotton doesn’t repel all bollworms, but does reduce the amount of pesticide needed to control the pest. Associated Press, WIRED, 10 Feb. 2003 See More Word History
First Known Use
1843, in the meaning defined above