noun
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: 螟蛾
稲の茎に螟虫が入り込んでいた。
A borer had gotten into the rice stem.
このずいむしは螟蛾の幼虫です。
This borer is the larva of a pyralid moth.
螟蛾 is the adult pyralid moth, while 螟虫 refers specifically to its larva.
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.