zebra-caterpillarhttp://www.oed.com/dictionary/zebra-caterpillar_n%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_usezebra caterpillar, n.
Revised 2018

zebra caterpillarnoun

  1. 1841–
    The striped larva of a North American noctuid moth, Melanchra picta, which is sometimes a pest of cultivated vegetables.
    1. 1841
      Dr. Melsheimer calls it the zebra-caterpillar, on account of its stripes.
      T. W. Harris, Report on Insects of Massachusetts 328
    2. 1901
      The yellow Zebra caterpillar, conspicuously striped lengthwise with black, is commonly known on cabbage and other vegetables.
      M. C. Dickerson, Moths & Butterflies iii. 254
    3. 2005
      The Zebra Caterpillar is occasionally reported as a pest on field crops and in gardens.
      D. L. Wagner, Caterpillars Eastern North Amer. 414

Originally published as part of the entry for zebra, n.

zebra, n. was revised in June 2018.