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The character "螟", denoting a destructive borer insect like a moth larva, is formed from the insect radical "虫" and the phonetic component "冥", which also conveys a sense of darkness or concealment, reflecting the pest's hidden activity within plant tissues. Etymologically, this structure aligns with the insect's behavior of infesting crops obscurely. Initially, in classical Chinese, "螟" specified certain larvae harming grains, but its application gradually extended to similar plant-boring insects while retaining its core association with agricultural pests.
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