wireworm

The larva of the click beetle.

Noun

  1. The larva of the click beetle.
    • A farmer tells me that moles can be beneficial because they eat a lot of wireworms and other pests, not just earthworms. - 2009 February 6, Veronica Heath, “Country diary”, in The Guardian:

Origin

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

Forms

wireworms

Derived

tobacco wireworm