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Glite Dictionary
tussock caterpillar

tussock caterpillar

8.9
A caterpillar with small groups of hair that becomes a moth
  • noun
  • /ˈtʌsək ˈkætərˌpɪlər/
  • Specialized
translation icon : oruga de matorral
  • The tussock caterpillar is easily recognized by the distinctive tufts of hair along its body.

Examples

  • Despite their attractive appearance, tussock caterpillars can cause significant damage to trees and shrubs.

  • Farmers watched as tussock caterpillars devoured the leaves on their crops.

  • The tussock caterpillar is known for its hairy appearance.

  • Have you ever seen a tussock caterpillar before?

  • The tussock caterpillar is easily recognized by the distinctive tufts of hair along its body.

  • Farmers watched as tussock caterpillars devoured the leaves on their crops.

  • Despite their attractive appearance, tussock caterpillars can cause significant damage to trees and shrubs.

Synonyms

caterpillar
vstussock caterpillar
43 1.0

A soft young insect like a worm that becomes a butterfly or moth and eats leaves

is the specific larva of one moth type noted for tufts of hair

Surface Forms

tussock caterpillar singular
tussock caterpillars plural

Morphology

tussock + caterpillar

The meaning is directly derivable from combining 'tussock' (a tuft or clump, often of hair or grass) with 'caterpillar' (a larval insect): it denotes a caterpillar characterized by tussocks/tufts of hair. This is a straightforward descriptive compound following common noun+modifier composition, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

Tussock caterpillar gets its name from its look: the small caterpillar has many little clumps of hair called 'tufts', and the word tussock means a 'tuft' or clump. So the name simply describes the young moth covered in these hairy tufts.