potato moth

5.9

A small greyish-brown moth whose caterpillar eats and damages potatoes

noun
/pəˈteɪtoʊ mɔθ/

Specialized

: polilla de la papa

The larvae of the potato moth cause significant damage to stored potatoes.

Examples

Researchers are developing new methods to prevent potato moth outbreaks.
Farmers struggled to control the potato moth infestation in their fields last year.
The potato moth can cause significant damage to crops.
Farmers are worried about the potato moths this season.
Farmers struggled to control the potato moth infestation in their fields last year.
The larvae of the potato moth cause significant damage to stored potatoes.
Researchers are developing new methods to prevent potato moth outbreaks.

Synonyms

splitworm

vspotato moth

Specialized

1 9.9

A grey brown moth whose caterpillars tunnel into and damage potatoes

is broader, naming the moth whose larvae are pests of tuber crops

potato tuber moth

vspotato moth

Specialized

8.2

A small grey-brown insect whose caterpillars eat and damage potato crops

is the same meaning but uses the shorter, more general name

Phthorimaea operculella

vspotato moth

Specialized

9.9

A small moth whose caterpillars eat and damage potatoes and other plants

is narrower, stressing damage to tuber crops rather than many plants

Surface Forms

potato moth singular

potato moths plural

Morphology

potato + moth

The meaning (a moth associated with or feeding on potatoes) is directly and transparently built from the constituents 'potato' (the host crop) + 'moth' (the insect). This noun–noun compounding pattern indicating type or host is common across languages, so a B1 learner who knows both words would readily infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Potato moth comes from a simple, literal image: these moths lay eggs on potato plants and their small caterpillars burrow into potatoes, spoiling the crop. That's why the name means a 'pest' called the 'potato tuberworm' that attacks stored and field potatoes.