Chorizagrotis auxiliaris

9.9

A moth whose caterpillars, called armyworms, travel in large groups and eat grain and alfalfa crops

noun

Specialized

: Chorizagrotis auxiliaris

The larvae of Chorizagrotis auxiliaris can devastate entire fields of alfalfa in just a few days.

Examples

Researchers are developing biological controls to combat Chorizagrotis auxiliaris infestations.
Farmers in the Midwest often dread outbreaks of Chorizagrotis auxiliaris due to the damage they cause to grain crops.
The Chorizagrotis auxiliaris is known for its destructive larvae.
Farmers in the Midwest worry about Chorizagrotis auxiliaris infestations.
Farmers in the Midwest often dread outbreaks of Chorizagrotis auxiliaris due to the damage they cause to grain crops.
The larvae of Chorizagrotis auxiliaris can devastate entire fields of alfalfa in just a few days.
Researchers are developing biological controls to combat Chorizagrotis auxiliaris infestations.

Surface Forms

Chorizagrotis auxiliaris singular

Chorizagrotis auxiliarises plural

Morphology

Chorizagrotis + auxiliaris

This is a Latin binomial (a taxonomic species name), i.e. a proper noun label rather than a compositional English phrase. Even if a learner knows 'Chorizagrotis' as a moth genus and recognizes 'auxiliaris' as a Latin-looking adjective (or not), the detailed behavioral meaning (armyworm larvae that travel in groups and destroy crops) is not derivable from the constituents, so the expression is non-compositional for a B1 learner.

Etymology

Chorizagrotis auxiliaris may get its name from the part auxiliaris, which looks like the word 'auxiliary' and means 'helper'. The moth's larvae travel in large groups called 'armyworms' and can destroy fields, so the 'helper' idea is a simple memory hook for their group behavior and the damage they cause.