pyralid larva; borer
Entomological term for the larva of a pyralid moth, especially one that bores into plant stems. The reading めいちゅう is restricted to the kanji 螟虫 and is less common.
See also: メイガ
A borer had gotten into the rice stem.
This borer is the larva of a pyralid moth.
striped stem borer larva
Specialized kanji spelling; 螟虫 is the primary form, but both kanji forms are rare and technical.
Alternate kanji spelling; also rare and technical.
The kanji 螟 means 'borer' or 'pyralid moth larva', and 虫 means 'insect'. The reading ずいむし is a kun'yomi compound, while めいちゅう is an on'yomi reading. The alternate form 髄虫 uses 髄 ('marrow') possibly referring to the larva boring into the pith of plants.