wireworm

English

Etymology

From wire +‎ worm, because of their slenderness and unusual hardness.

Noun

wireworm (plural wireworms)

1. The larva of the click beetle.
   • 2009 February 6, Veronica Heath, “Country diary”, in Alan Rusbridger, editor, The Guardian‎^[1], London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 13 October 2026:

     A farmer tells me that moles can be beneficial because they eat a lot of wireworms and other pests, not just earthworms.

Derived terms

• tobacco wireworm