Defoliator (Noun)
Meaning
An insect that strips the leaves from plants.
Classification
Nouns denoting animals.
Examples
- The caterpillars of the gypsy moth are notorious defoliators of deciduous trees in North America.
- The invasive emerald ash borer is a defoliator that has killed hundreds of millions of ash trees in the United States.
- The fall webworm is a common defoliator of trees and shrubs in urban landscapes.
- The cankerworm is a type of defoliator that can cause significant damage to oak and other hardwood trees.
- The bagworm is a defoliator that feeds on the leaves of evergreen trees, particularly arborvitae and juniper.