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European Corn Borer | |
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Life History and Crop Damage
The adult insect is a moth. The female lays 500 or more eggs in mid-July on the underside of corn leaves. The young larvae feed on leaves and they can be found in tassels, beneath the husks, and between the ears and stalks. Older larvae bore into stalks and ears where they overwinter. Infested corn stalks may break over or have weakened tassels that are easily broken by the wind. All above-ground parts of corn plants can be damaged by the larvae.
Examination of broken stalks in infested corn stands will reveal tunnels created by the corn borers and likely the presence of light-colored larvae marked with small brown spots.
There is only one generation of the European corn borer in western Canada.
Control
The corn borer adults are strong fliers and can be dispersed by wind. Transportation of infested plant material such as corn silage or corn cobs can spread the larvae.
As a protective measure, federal regulations require that sweet corn be fumigated before being shipped to Alberta and British Columbia.
Cultural procedures can greatly reduce corn borer infestations. Ideally, all crop residues should be cut for silage or shredded for fodder immediately after harvest. The remaining stubble should be burned or disked, and ploughed under 10-15 cm (4"-6"). Ridging may be necessary to cut down the risk of soil erosion.
If proper cultural control cannot be implemented in the fall, the corn residue and stubble should be ploughed down in early spring (by May 1). This is the last line of eradication because chemical control is not effective.
In areas where the borer is present, early planting of early maturing corn hybrids or varieties should be considered so that fall ploughing can be carried out as early as possible.
Deep cultivation of infested fields that were ploughed down should be avoided to prevent bringing up buried corn stubble.
The European corn borer was eradicated in Alberta 25 years ago by methods similar to those recommended in the present program.
Source: Agdex 622-9.
The contents of this page are no longer available.
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For more information about the content of this document, contact James Calpas.
This document is maintained by Ada Serafinchon.
This information published to the web on May 11, 2001.
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