Colorado beetle
1
7.5
- noun
- /ˈkɒləˌrædoʊ ˈbiːtəl/
- US
:
escarabajo de Colorado
- The Colorado beetle has devastated several potato crops this season.
Examples
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Farmers are concerned about controlling the spread of the Colorado beetle in their fields.
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A single Colorado beetle can lay hundreds of eggs on the underside of potato leaves.
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The Colorado beetle is a serious pest for potato farmers.
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Have you seen a Colorado beetle in your garden?
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Farmers often struggle to control the Colorado beetle, as it can quickly damage potato crops.
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In the garden, I found a Colorado beetle munching on the leaves of my potato plants.
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The Colorado beetle is recognized by its distinctive black and yellow stripes and is notorious among farmers.
Synonyms
1
4.8
A black and yellow beetle that eats potato plants
1
7.0
A black-and-yellow beetle that eats potato leaves when young and as an adult
1
5.7
A black and yellow beetle that eats potato leaves
A black and yellow beetle that eats potato leaves
Surface Forms
Morphology
This is a straightforward place-name + noun composition: a B1 learner who knows 'Colorado' and 'beetle' will readily infer it refers to a beetle associated with Colorado (a species name). While specific biological details (e.g., that it feeds on potatoes) are not derivable from the constituents, the basic referential meaning is transparently composed and follows common noun-modifier patterns.
Etymology
Colorado beetle may come from the U.S. state of Colorado, where people first noticed the insect. With black-and-yellow stripes and a taste for potato leaves, the beetle became known as a farm pest, so 'Colorado beetle' means the small striped beetle that eats and damages potato plants.