Pest Profile:Corn Worm
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Corn Earworm
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Corn earworms are naturally occurring pests found in many kinds of vegetable crops: sweet corn, tomatoes, squash, cabbage and eggplants. The eggs of corn earworms are white, with a dark ring that forms on the top just before erupting as larvae. As the egg darkens, the corn earworm larvae emerges just days later. The larvae of the corn earworm, also known as the tomato fruit worm, are about 1.5 inches long with distinctive light and dark stripes on their tannish-brown, pink or green body. The corn earworm eggs are usually in the silk entry area of the corncob and larvae typically work their way into the sweet kernel area of the corn. The larvae will feed on foliage, but prefer to feed on the tips of corn ears.
An early corn earworm infestation causes plants to lose their leaves, may affect the overall plants, results in tassel damage or harm to the corn silk and kernels. As the larvae mature, they continue to feed on the corncob and work their way down the ear. As the corn itself matures, a second-generation infestation of corn earworm occurs as the larvae travel down the silk vein into the maturing cob where more significant crop damage occurs.
Home gardeners can avoid most of the damage from ear worms by planting early, because sweet corn that is harvested before mid-August will usually avoid most of the damage. Prevent a significant infestation by examining crops at least once a week and thinning or heading any produce with signs of corn earworms. Home gardeners also may want to tolerate damage by cutting off the tips of damaged sweet corn ears.
For biological control of corn earworms, use minute pirate bugs, lady beetles or green lacewing larvae as an effective weapon. After the first frost of the year, till or plow the fields to destroy any corn earworm pupae that live in the ground and could cause reinfestation in the spring. Use pheromone traps or black-light traps to capture egg-laying corn earworm moths and prevent them from producing and to determine a spray schedule for the eggs.
When the presence of corn earworms is more than one larva per two plants, it is time to treat the crop using alternative means. We recommend Sevin.
Great for use on larger gardens, fruit and ornamental trees, and gardens. Provides excellent control of leaf eating and sucking insects! Controls ticks that vector lyme disease. Kills over 100 insects on fruits, vegetables, ornamentals and lawns. One pint makes up to 24 gallons of spray.