woolly adelgid

noun

woolly adel·​gid -ə-ˈdel-jəd How to pronounce woolly adelgid (audio)
: either of two aphids (genus Adelges) with a white woolly coating that have been accidentally introduced into North America:
a
: one (A. piceae) native to Europe that is a serious pest of fir trees
b
: one (A. tsugae) native to Asia that is a serious pest of hemlocks

Examples of woolly adelgid in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Be able to identify eastern hemlock trees and hemlock woolly adelgid. — Nushrat Rahman, Detroit Free Press, 13 May 2024 Hemlock woolly adelgid, a small, aphid-like insect that has devastated hemlock forests in Eastern states from Maine to Georgia, was discovered in small populations along the Lake Michigan shoreline in western Michigan around 2016. — Keith Matheny, Detroit Free Press, 6 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

adelgid ultimately from New Latin Adelges, probably irregular from Greek adēlos unseen

First Known Use

1987, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of woolly adelgid was in 1987

Browse Nearby Words

woolly
woolly adelgid
woolly alder aphid
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Woolly adelgid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/woolly%20adelgid. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Words You Always Have to Look Up

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Every Letter Is Silent, Sometimes: A-Z List of Examples
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

8 Words with Fascinating Histories

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

Birds Say the Darndest Things

10 Words from Taylor Swift Songs (Merriam's Version)
See More

Popular

See More

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

8 Words with Fascinating Histories
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
name that thing flower edition
Name That Flower Can you tell the difference between a lilac and a...
See All