pink bollworm
noun
: a small dark brown moth (Pectinophora gossypiella) whose pinkish larva bores into the flowers and bolls of cotton and is a destructive pest in most cotton-growing regions
Examples of pink bollworm in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
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
Over the years, the success of screwworm eradication has inspired scientists to apply the sterile-insect technique to other agricultural pests such as the Mexican fruit fly, the Mediterraean fruit fly, and the pink bollworm.
—
Sarah Zhang,
The Atlantic,
26 May 2020
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Amanda Morris,
The Arizona Republic,
29 Apr. 2021
Over the years, the success of screwworm eradication has inspired scientists to apply the sterile-insect technique to other agricultural pests such as the Mexican fruit fly, the Mediterraean fruit fly, and the pink bollworm.
—
Sarah Zhang,
The Atlantic,
26 May 2020
Cite this Entry
“Pink bollworm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pink%20bollworm. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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