European corn borer
July 6, 2015
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European corn borer larvae initially chew round holes in leaves and then tunnel into plant stems. European corn borer will attack a wide variety of herbaceous perennials grown outdoors. They are more problematic in areas adjacent to cornfields.
European corn borer larvae are 2 to 2.5 cm in length. They are gray to pink with a distinct black head. Dark brown spots are present on each segment of the abdomen.
Management
Remove volunteer corn from adjacent areas. Applications of an insecticide derived from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringensis var. kurstaki are effective on young larvae feeding on plant leaves but less effective on larvae that bore into plant tissues. Scout regularly using yellow sticky cards, which are attractive to the adults.
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