European corn borer - Injury to Corn

European corn borer feeding on sweet corn

Fri, 25 Jun 2004 11:58:24 -0500

European corn borer larva feeding on the side kernels and ear tip of sweet corn.

Whorl-stage susceptible corn plant

Thu, 24 Jun 2004 15:21:49 -0500

Whorl-stage susceptible corn plant of the same heritage as this one, except without the Bacillus thuringiensis,, subspeices kurstaki, gene showing damage by European corn borer (B. D. Barry).

Whorl-stage transgenic corn plant

Thu, 24 Jun 2004 14:07:42 -0500

Whorl-stage transgenic corn plant containing the Bacillus thuringiensis,, subspeices kurstaki, gene undamaged by European corn borer (B. D. Barry).

Tunnel in ear shank

Wed, 24 Mar 2004 12:19:57 -0600

Late-stage larvae commonly tunnel into the earshank of commercial dent corn hybrids. Extensive tunneling, even by a single larva, may cause the ear to fall to the ground before harvest.

First-stage larva and "window pane" injury

Wed, 24 Mar 2004 12:19:54 -0600

A first instar European corn borer will scrape the upper tissue from a corn leaf leaving a thin membrane or "window pane" in the leaf.

Larva in corn stalk

Wed, 24 Mar 2004 12:19:52 -0600

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.

Tunnel in popcorn ear shank

Wed, 24 Mar 2004 12:19:51 -0600

Late-stage larvae will tunnel into all varieties of corn, including popcorn.

First-stage larva and window pane injury

Wed, 24 Mar 2004 12:19:51 -0600

A first instar European corn borer will scrape the upper tissue from a corn leaf leaving a thin membrane or "window pane" in the leaf. Note the characteristic black head of this corn pest.

Extensive shot holes in leaves

Wed, 24 Mar 2004 12:19:50 -0600

Several European corn borer larvae feeding inside a corn whorl can cause extensive shot holes in leaves.

Midrib tunneling

Wed, 24 Mar 2004 12:19:44 -0600

When larvae reach the third stage, they become large enough to start tunneling. Backlit from the sun, this larva can be seen tunneling into the leaf midrib. Shot holes from earlier injury are to the right of the midrib.

Shot holes in leaves

Wed, 24 Mar 2004 12:19:43 -0600

Small holes called "shot holes" in newly developing leaves indicate that early-stage European corn borer larvae may be present inside the whorl causing additional injury.

Transgenic corn and nontransgenic corn stalks

Wed, 24 Mar 2004 12:19:38 -0600

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.

Mold on corn ear

Wed, 24 Mar 2004 12:19:38 -0600

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.

Broken stalk

Wed, 24 Mar 2004 12:19:36 -0600

European corn borer larvae often initiate their tunnels near the leaf axil (where the leaf extends away from the stalk). Frass indicates that a larva tunneled into the plant near that location.

Extensive stalk tunneling

Wed, 24 Mar 2004 12:19:36 -0600

Late-stage larvae occasionally cause extensive tunneling inside corn stalks. This tunnel is nearly four inches in length.