pear borer

noun

1
: the larva of a small clearwing moth (Thamnosphecia pyri) that is similar to the peach-tree borer but smaller and that bores beneath the bark of the pear
2
: the larva of a beetle (Chrysobothris femorata) of the family Buprestidae that attacks apple, pear, oak, and maple trees
3
: the larva of a related European beetle (Agrilus sinuatus) that bores under the bark making zigzag galleries

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Cite this Entry

“Pear borer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pear%20borer. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

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