Visit http://www.ent.iastate.edu/pest/cornbore... for a great documentation of this pest.
This corn borer is a grayish to pink caterpillar with a dark head and spots on each segment. White eggs are laid in groups on the undersides of leaves. The adult is a nocturnal beige colored moth with dark bands on the wings. The larvae (borers) chew leaves and tassels of corn and the foliage of other plants. The larvae overwinter in corn stubble.
Your first notice that this pest is present would be tiny holes in the new growth of corn. Later, they move into the stalk and eventually the ears. Sawdust-like material can be seen around the stalk. The plant gradually wilts.
This pest affects corn, potatoes, peppers, and other vegetables and flowers.
Control methods include Bt, fall cleanup, crop rotation, and a healthy crowd of predators. This pest is hard to control, but easier to prevent.
Plant a trap crop of sunflowers around your garden to attract them away from the important vegetable crops. Use Bt every 7-10 days. Use rotenone in 1% solution for most pests and 5% solution for hard to kill pests.
Handpick larvae off the plants by slitting the stalks or fines below the hole you find and pluck the worm out with tweezers. Dump in some vegetable oil OR squash if you aren't squeamish. Another control is Ryania applied every week after eggs have been laid. Use until you see no more larvae.
Plant resistant varieties of corn such as Apache, Bellringer, Burgundy Delight, quicksilver, Sweet Sue, Tablevee, or Butter & Sugar to name a few.
Intercropping with peanuts and soybeans seems to lower the borer numbers.
Use barriers of pantyhose to cover corn ears. It dries off quickly after rain and doesn't hold heat.
Attract birds, toads, and moles (I would not recommend moles. They ate everything I planted last year accept 1 tomato plant and 1 squash. Maybe it was a vole or squirrel instead. Never did see it but it left a channel of tunnels in my hard earth backyard.).
Delay corn planting until mid season as moths lay their eggs early in season.
Attract beneficial nematodes, lacewings, lady bugs, and parasitic wasps.
 |
 |
Go To Page: 1
