European Corn Borer

Common Name: European Corn Borer

Genus: Ostrinia

Species: nubilalis

Identification: see lifecycle

Lifecycle: The insect passes the winter as a full grown caterpillar in stems of plants they eat. The worms are 3/4 to 1 inch in length and are flesh colored. In the spring the caterpillar constructs a cocoon and after pupating, the adult emerges during June and continue to come out in the northern states until August. The moths have a wing expanse of about 1 inch. They are primarily nocturnal in habit. Each female will lay about 600 eggs on the undersides of leaves. The young larvae feed in spaces between oppressed leaves and when about half grown begin to bore into the stalk and ears. There appears to be two strains. The corn borers in eastern and southern areas are a multiple-generation strain while one generation insects are found in the northern areas. The multiple strain is most destructive.

Geographic Distribution: Found in all major corn growing areas in the United States.

Damage and Treatment: European corn borer injury often results in broken tassels and in heavy infestations the stalks can break off. The spotted caterpillars bore into all parts of the stalk and can result in the complete loss of crops of early sweet corn. Treatment should be made when insect populations and/or damage levels reach economic thresholds. Refer to local University Extension Pest Management Guidelines for specific state thresholds.

Corn

Corn - Seed

Corn - Sweet

Potatoes

Sorghum

Soybeans

Amaranthes Amaranthus palmeri, Amaranthus hybridus, Amaranthus spinosus

Aphids Therioaphis maculata, Dysphis plantaginea, Acyrthosiphon kondoi, Acyrthosiphon kondoi, Acyrthosiphon pisum, Aphis gossypi

Armyworm, Beet Spodoptera

Armyworms

Barnyardgrass Echinochloa

Billbugs

Black Cutworm

Black Nightshade

Cabbage Looper Trichoplusia

Chinch Bug

Colorado Potato Beetle Leptinotarsa

Common Cocklebur Xanthium

Corn Earworm

Corn Rootworm

Crabgrass Digitaria sanguinalis, Digitaria ischaemum, Digitaria ciliaris

Cupgrass Eriochloa gracilis, Eriochloa villosa

Cutworms Agrotis ipsilon, Agrotis orthogonia, Peridroma saucia

Eastern Nightshade Solanum americanum, Solanum nigrum, Solanum ptycanthum, Solanum saccachoides

Fall Armyworm Spodoptera

Foxtail Species Setaria venticillata, Setaria faberi, Setaria viridis, Setaria glauca

Goosegrass Eleusine

Grasshopper Melanoplus sanguinipes, Camnula pellacida

Jimsonweed Datura

Johnsongrass seedling Sorghum

Kochia Kochia

Lambsquarters Chenopodium

Lygus Bug Lygus

Nightshades Solanum americanum, Solanum nigrum, Solanum ptycanthum, Solanum saccachoides

Northern Corn Rootworm Diabrotica longicornus barberi, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera

Nutsedges Cyperus rotundus, Cyperus esculentus

Panicum, Fall Panicum

Panicum, Texas Panicum

Pennsylvania Smartweed Polygonum

Pigweed, Redroot Amaranthus

Prickly Sida Sida

Ragweeds Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Ambrosia trifida

Sandbur, Field Cenchrus

Seedcorn Beetle

Seedcorn Maggot

Shattercane Sorghum

Sicklepod Cassia

Sod Webworm

Southern Corn Leaf Beetle

Southern Corn Rootworm Diabrotica

Southwestern Corn Borer Diatrea

Spider Mites Tetranychus urticae, Tetranychus turkestani, Tetranychus pacificus, Tetranychus cinnabarinus

Spotted Cucumber Beetle Diabrotica

Spurred Anoda Anoda

Stalk Borer

Stink Bug Nezara viridula, Chlorockroa say, Euschistus consperus

Tarnished Plant Bug Lygus

Thrips

Tobacco Budworm Helicoverpa

Velvetleaf Abutilon

Venice Mallow Hibiscus

Waterhemp

Western Corn Rootworm Diabrotica longicornus barberi, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera

White Grub

Wild Mustard Brassica

Wild Sunflower Helianthus

Wireworms Melanotus fissilis, Limonius spp. Many species in the order Coleoptera, family Elatoridae.

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