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strawworm

9.9

A young fly that lives in water and makes a protective case from silk and bits of sand or plants

noun
/ˈstrɔːˌwɜːrm/

Specialized

: gusano de paja

The strawworm uses tiny bits of debris to create a protective case for itself.

Examples

Scientists observed a strawworm at the bottom of the stream, carrying its camouflaged shelter.
A strawworm builds its case using materials from its environment.
As children, we liked searching for strawworms under stones in shallow rivers.
The strawworm is often found in freshwater streams.
As children, we liked searching for strawworms under stones in shallow rivers.
Scientists observed a strawworm at the bottom of the stream, carrying its camouflaged shelter.
The strawworm uses tiny bits of debris to create a protective case for itself.

Synonyms

caddisworm

vsstrawworm

Specialized

9.9

A young insect that lives in water and builds a protective case from silk and nearby sand or plant bits

is more general, naming the same habit rather than one specific larva

casemaker

vsstrawworm

Specialized

9.9

A young insect that builds and lives in a small case made from silk and bits of leaves or sand

is narrower, referring to a particular fly larva that makes such a case

Surface Forms

strawworm singular

strawworms plural

Morphology

strawworm = straw + worm (transparent) = straw + worm

The compound straightforwardly denotes a larval 'worm' associated with or described by 'straw', so the meaning is directly inferable from its parts.

Etymology

Strawworm is made of two words: straw 'dry plant material' and worm 'young insect'. Many of these larvae build a small case from plant bits and carry it like a straw shelter, so the name tells us they live in or use straw-like material.