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Definition of vegetable caterpillar in US English:

vegetable caterpillar

noun

  • Any of several kinds of caterpillar (especially those of the porina moth of New Zealand and moths of the Asian genus Thitarodes) when invaded and deformed by a fungus of the ascomycete genus Cordyceps while pupating underground.

Origin

Mid 19th century; earliest use found in The Sydney Morning Herald.