Southwestern Corn Borer

Common Name: Southwestern Corn Borer

Genus: Diatrea

Species: grandiosella

Identification: see lifecycle

Lifecycle: The winter is passed as full grown larvae stage located mostly in thetap roots of old cornstalks. When feeding, the 1-inch long larvae areconspicuously spotted with 8 dark spots. The insect is found in thelower part of the stalk. In early spring the overwintering larvaepupate inside the stalk and the nocturnal adult emerges a few dayslater. The female lays 300 to 400 eggs on the underside of leaves. Theworms hatching from these eggs feed on the leaves for a short timebefore boring into the stem. The first-generation worms become fullgrown by midsummer. The second generation reach maturity in the earlyfall and may remain as larvae during the winter. There are 1 to 3generations per year.

Geographic Distribution: Limited to the southern states.

Damage and Treatment: This is a very destructive insect. The worms enter the stalk and moveup and down the pith. The result is a twisted, stunted plant showingmany holes along the leaves which have been eaten out while stillcurled in the heart of the plant. Treatment should be made when insect populations and/or damagelevels reach economic thresholds. Refer to local University ExtensionPest Management Guidelines for specific state thresholds.

Corn

Corn - Seed

Corn - Sweet

Sorghum

Amaranthes Amaranthus palmeri, Amaranthus hybridus, Amaranthus spinosus

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

Armyworm, Beet Spodoptera

Armyworms

Billbugs

Black Cutworm

Black Nightshade

Chinch Bug

Common Cocklebur Xanthium

Corn Earworm

Corn Rootworm

Cutworms Agrotis ipsilon, Agrotis orthogonia, Peridroma saucia

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

European Corn Borer Ostrinia

Fall Armyworm Spodoptera

Grasshopper Melanoplus sanguinipes, Camnula pellacida

Jimsonweed Datura

Kochia Kochia

Lambsquarters Chenopodium

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

Northern Corn Rootworm Diabrotica longicornus barberi, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera

Pennsylvania Smartweed Polygonum

Pigweed, Redroot Amaranthus

Prickly Sida Sida

Ragweeds Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Ambrosia trifida

Seedcorn Beetle

Seedcorn Maggot

Sod Webworm

Southern Corn Leaf Beetle

Southern Corn Rootworm Diabrotica

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

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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