1. caterpillars that are destructive pests of fruit and shade trees, especially elm and apple trees
Usage: entomology; plural form

Examples

• The cankerworms stripped all the leaves from our apple trees.
• Spring cankerworms emerge early in the season to feed on new foliage.
• The city sprayed the elm trees to control the cankerworm infestation.
• Cankerworms move by arching their bodies in a looping motion.
• The gardener wrapped tree trunks with bands to prevent cankerworms from climbing up.
• Fall cankerworms can cause significant damage to deciduous trees.