Corn Earworm

Heliothis zea

image of Corn Earworm
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Symptoms:
Corn earworm is the major problem of sweet corn, the same insect attacking other plants such as tomato, pepper, beans, cabbage and cotton. Worm feeding results in the production of brown "frass" that makes product un-marketable. Larva germinate from eggs laid by white to grayish moth.

Control:
Consult the Vegetable IPM Web Site for recommended controls of this pest. This pest is also being managed by BT sprays or genetically engineered crops that have been altered to produce BT toxin.

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Publication Revised July 2009