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inchworm
inchworm name for the larvae of moths of the family Geometridae, a large, cosmopolitan group with over 1,200 species indigenous to North America. Also called measuring worms, spanworms, and loopers, inchworms lack appendages in the middle portion of their body, causing them to have a characteristic looping gait. They have three pairs of true legs at the front end, like other caterpillars , but only two or three pairs of prolegs (larval abdominal appendages), located at the rear end. An inchworm moves by drawing its hind end forward while holding on with the front legs, then advancing its front section while holding on with the prolegs. Inchworms have smooth, hairless bodies, usually about 1 in. (2.5 cm) long. They are green, brown, or black and in many species have irregular projections that cause them to resemble the twigs of the trees they feed on. Many inchworms, when disturbed, stand erect and motionless on the prolegs, increasing the resemblance. Certain destructive inchworms are called cankerworms . Adult geometrid moths range in wingspread from 3/8 in. to 2 in. (9.5-51 mm). Most are gray or brown with fine patterns and are well camouflaged on trees. The cabbage looper is not an inchworm, but a caterpillar of a different family. Inchworms are classified in the phylum Arthropoda , class Insecta, order Lepidoptera, family Geometridae. |
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"inchworm." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "inchworm." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-inchworm.html "inchworm." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-inchworm.html |
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looper
loop·er / ˈloōpər/ • n. 1. another term for inchworm. 2. Baseball a fly ball that becomes a hit by dropping out of the reach of the infielders. |
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"looper." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "looper." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-looper.html "looper." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-looper.html |
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looper
looper name for caterpillars that move with a looping motion, including the inchworm and the cabbage looper . |
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Cite this article
"looper." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "looper." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-X-looper.html "looper." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-X-looper.html |
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inchworm
inchworm •affirm, berm, confirm, firm, germ, herm, midterm, perm, sperm, squirm, term, therm, worm
•pachyderm • echinoderm
•wheatgerm • endosperm
•gymnosperm • isogeotherm
•ragworm • flatworm • threadworm
•tapeworm
•eelworm, mealworm
•silkworm • ringworm • inchworm
•blindworm • lobworm • roundworm
•slow-worm • screw worm
•woodworm
•bookworm, hookworm
•bloodworm • lugworm • lungworm
•earthworm
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Cite this article
"inchworm." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "inchworm." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-inchworm.html "inchworm." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-inchworm.html |
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looper
looper •coper, doper, eloper, Europa, groper, hoper, L-dopa, moper, no-hoper, opah, toper
•interloper
•blooper, cooper, Cowper, duper, grouper, Hooper, looper, pea-souper, pupa, scooper, snooper, stupa, stupor, super, trooper, trouper, whooper
•pooper-scooper • party-pooper
•paratrooper • mea culpa • chutzpah
•crupper, cuppa, scupper, supper, upper
•gulper, kalpa, pulper
•bumper, dumper, gazumper, jumper, lumper, stumper, thumper
•showjumper • diaper • galloper
•developer
•scalloper, walloper
•chirper, sherpa, usurper
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Cite this article
"looper." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "looper." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-looper.html "looper." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-looper.html |
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