tobacco hornworm
noun
: an American hawk moth (Manduca sexta) whose large usually green larva is a hornworm that feeds on the leaves of plants of the nightshade family and especially tobacco and tomato
Examples of tobacco hornworm in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The tobacco hornworm, for example, not only tolerates the toxicity of nicotine but exploits the plant’s weapon in the interest of its own survival: After feeding on tobacco leaves, the hornworm releases enough nicotine through its spiracles to ward off the spiders that prey on it.
—
Barbara Spindel, WSJ, 22 Dec. 2023
Thus, something unique to the bite of the tobacco hornworm induces a rearrangement around the double bond of GLVs [Ars Technica].
—Andrew Moseman, Discover Magazine, 26 Aug. 2010
On the other hand, plants damaged by larvae of the tobacco hornworm (Manduca sexta), release a roughly equal mixture of (Z)-GLVs and (E)-GLVs, isomers where the main chemical groups lie on different sides of a double bond.
—Andrew Moseman, Discover Magazine, 26 Aug. 2010
In 2008, researchers from Georgetown University, in Washington, D.C., taught caterpillars of the tobacco hornworm moth to dislike—and avoid—a particular scent.
—Liz Langley, National Geographic, 11 Aug. 2020
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of
Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback
about these examples.
Barbara Spindel, WSJ, 22 Dec. 2023
Thus, something unique to the bite of the tobacco hornworm induces a rearrangement around the double bond of GLVs [Ars Technica].
—Andrew Moseman, Discover Magazine, 26 Aug. 2010
On the other hand, plants damaged by larvae of the tobacco hornworm (Manduca sexta), release a roughly equal mixture of (Z)-GLVs and (E)-GLVs, isomers where the main chemical groups lie on different sides of a double bond.
—Andrew Moseman, Discover Magazine, 26 Aug. 2010
In 2008, researchers from Georgetown University, in Washington, D.C., taught caterpillars of the tobacco hornworm moth to dislike—and avoid—a particular scent.
—Liz Langley, National Geographic, 11 Aug. 2020
Dictionary Entries Near tobacco hornworm
Cite this Entry
“Tobacco hornworm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tobacco%20hornworm. Accessed 17 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share