Late-stage European corn borer larvae occasionally tunnel through the softer central tissues of the corn cob. The center of the corn cob may be used by the larva as an overwintering site.

A fifth-stage larva on a commercial dent corn ear. Note that the head is completely black and the body is dark gray or brown in color.

Late-stage larvae typically tunnel into corn stalks. The tunneling injures the plant and can lead to stalk breakage during strong winds or rainstorms.

Fourth and fifth-stage larvae commonly tunnel into corn stalks. The tunneling can disrupt the flow of water and nutrients to from the roots to the growing parts of the plant.

This late-stage larva died inside a corn stalk from an infection of Beauveria bassiana, a fungal pathogen. This naturally-occurring disease helps to reduce populations of this insect in corn.

This early-stage larva died on a corn leaf from an infection of Beauveria bassiana, a fungal pathogen.