wireworm

[wahyuh r-wurm] /ˈwaɪərˌwɜrm/

noun

any of the slender, hard-bodied larvae of click beetles, many of which live underground and feed on the roots of plants.

any of various small myriapods.

Origin

1780-90; wire + worm

Examples from the web for wireworm

Further crossing of aphid and wireworm resistant individuals to cultivated potato will be conducted.
wireworm bait stations should be used to determine if corn seed protection is necessary.
Research has also begun to identify tolerance to wireworm in both spring and winter wheat.
wireworm effects on sugarcane emergence after short-duration flood applied at planting.

British Dictionary definitions for wireworm

/ˈwaɪəˌwɜːm/

noun

the wormlike larva of various elaterid beetles, which feeds on the roots of many crop plants and is a serious agricultural pest