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Glite Dictionary
ailanthus silkworm

ailanthus silkworm

9.9
A large bright green caterpillar that eats the leaves of the ailanthus tree and makes silk
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : gusano de seda del ailanto
  • The bright green color of the ailanthus silkworm makes it easier to spot among ailanthus leaves.

Examples

  • In Asia, the ailanthus silkworm is sometimes cultivated for silk production.

  • Look at that ailanthus silkworm munching on a leaf!

  • The ailanthus silkworm feeds exclusively on the leaves of the tree of heaven.

  • The ailanthus silkworm is known for its vibrant green color.

  • The ailanthus silkworm larva is a vital part of the ecosystem as it feeds on ailanthus trees.

  • Farmers in some regions raise the ailanthus silkworm to produce silk from its cocoons.

  • The lifecycle of the ailanthus silkworm starts with it munching on the leaves of the tree of heaven.

Synonyms

silkworm
vsailanthus silkworm
3 3.4

A caterpillar of a moth that makes silk for cloth

is a wild green larva feeding on a particular tree not the domesticated form
Samia cynthia
vsailanthus silkworm
  • Specialized
9.9

A large green silkworm raised to make silk

is the same species but noted for feeding on one particular tree
giant silkworm
vsailanthus silkworm
  • Specialized
7.0

A large caterpillar that makes strong silk for its cocoon

is a green larva specifically associated with one moth species and a tree
wild silkworm
vsailanthus silkworm
7.7

A caterpillar that lives in the wild and makes strong silk in a cocoon

is tied to a specific host tree rather than broadly wild

Surface Forms

ailanthus silkworm singular
ailanthus silkworms plural

Morphology

ailanthus + silkworm

The compound denotes a silkworm associated with (feeding on) the ailanthus tree, so its meaning is directly built from 'ailanthus' + 'silkworm' and is compositionally predictable. Noun–noun compounding with a species/source first element is a regular, cross-linguistic pattern, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would be able to infer the meaning.

Etymology

Ailanthus silkworm is named from the tree ailanthus and the word silkworm. Imagine a bright green caterpillar living on the ailanthus tree, eating its leaves and spinning silk, so the name means 'the large green larva that feeds on ailanthus trees and produces silk'.