armyworm, Ar·my worm Zool. (a) A lepidopterous insect, which in the larval state often travels in great multitudes from field to field, destroying grass, grain, and other crops. The common army worm of the northern United States is the noctuid moth (Pseudaletia unipuncta, formerly Leucania unipuncta. The name is often applied to other related species, as the cotton worm. (b) The larva of a small two-winged fly (Sciara), which marches in large companies, in regular order. See Cotton worm, under Cotton.
 Syn: -- army worm
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 Cat·er·pil·lar n.
 1. Zool. The larval state of a butterfly or any lepidopterous insect; sometimes, but less commonly, the larval state of other insects, as the sawflies, which are also called false caterpillars. The true caterpillars have three pairs of true legs, and several pairs of abdominal fleshy legs (prolegs) armed with hooks. Some are hairy, others naked. They usually feed on leaves, fruit, and succulent vegetables, being often very destructive, Many of them are popularly called worms, as the cutworm, cankerworm, army worm, cotton worm, silkworm.
 2. Bot. A plant of the genus Scorpiurus, with pods resembling caterpillars.
 Caterpillar catcher, or Caterpillar eater Zool., a bird belonging to the family of Shrikes, which feeds on caterpillars. The name is also given to several other birds.
 Caterpillar hunter Zool., any species of beetles of the genus Callosoma and other allied genera of the family Carabidæ which feed habitually upon caterpillars.
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 army worm
      n : noctuid moth larvae that travel in multitudes destroying
          especially grass and grain [syn: armyworm, Pseudaletia
          unipuncta]