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Why are bollworms and measuring worms harmful to plants?
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Lepidoptera
Heliconius butterfly in South America.
Bollworms and measuring worms are the larval stages of various moths within the order Lepidoptera, and they are considered significant agricultural pests because of their feeding habits.123
- Measuring worms (family Geometridae) feed on foliage, often causing serious damage to trees and crops. They can skeletonize leaves and spin threads between branches, which can destroy or severely weaken the plants they infest.1
- Bollworms are known for their ability to burrow into and consume the reproductive or fruit-bearing parts of plants. While famously associated with damaging cotton bolls, they also feed on a wide range of commercial crops, including corn, tomatoes, peas, soybeans, and peanuts.2
Because these larvae consume vital plant tissues, they can significantly reduce crop yields and health, necessitating management strategies such as biological control or the use of insecticides.23