corn borer

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

• n. The larva of a European moth (Pyrausta nubilalis), now common in many areas of eastern North America, that feeds on and destroys corn and other plants, including potatoes and beans. Also called European corn borer.
• n. Any of various insect larvae similar to the corn borer that infest corn.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

• n. native to Europe; in America the larvae bore into the stem and crown of corn and other plants
• n. larva of the European corn borer moth; a serious pest of maize