Newly-laid eggs of the European corn borer are milky-white in color. The eggs overlap each other like fish scales and are often laid near the leaf midrib.

Egg sacs of spiders on corn leaves may be confused with European corn borer eggs because of their similarity in color and size. However, spider egg sacs are usually fuzzy and not overlapping like fish scales.

First-stage larvae hatching from eggs. The black head of the unhatched larvae can be seen through the translucent egg shell.

European corn borer eggs are usually laid on the underside of a corn leaf. This egg cluster contains 38 eggs.

European corn borer eggs are usually laid on the underside of a corn leaf. Often the eggs are found near the leaf midrib.

These eggs have reached the blackhead stage and the larvae will hatch shortly. This egg mass contains 22 eggs.

Injury by European corn borer larvae to the tip of a corn ear allows molds to invade the ear and reduce the quality of the grain.

Transgenic corn (right) protects against stalk tunneling by European corn borer larvae. Nontransgenic corn (left and center) can be heavily injured by larvae tunneling into the stalk.

Transgenic corn (left) protects against stalk tunneling by European corn borer larvae. Nontransgenic corn (right) can be heavily injured by larvae tunneling into the stalk.

European corn borer overwinter in corn residue, particularly stalks and cobs. Farm operations which shred or bury corn residue destroy overwintering larvae but this seldom reduces populations in the field the following year --adult moths can fly into the field from neighboring areas. Additionally, soil conservation should be a priority in a field and not insect management with tillage.