Finding earworms in your corn can be frustrating.
It can be exceptionally frustrating to go to your garden and find that your sweet corn has been attacked by corn worms, also known as the bollworm, or the larva stage of the Helicoverpa zea, a moth that feeds its young on corn crops. These 1 to 2 inch caterpillars are various shades of green, yellow, and even brown and pink, and have a life cycle of 12 days. Adults burrow 3 to 5 inches into the soil. Not only will they feed on corn, they will also infect tomato, cotton and bean plants. Deal with earworms chemically or with natural predators. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Check your corn early. The earworms will eat through the leaves and leave telltale holes that will make an infestation easy to identify. Make regular inspections.
2. Spray your corn with a pesticide containing carbaryl, if you choose to use chemicals. This will kill the worms and prevent the maturation of the larvae. Spraying should be conducted according to manufacturer's directions.
3. Spread a bit of mineral oil on the silks. This is a natural alternative that works on smaller patches of corn in the backyard garden.
4. Plant chrysanthemums around your corn to help repel adult moths. You can also buy a concentrate made from chrysanthemums called pyrethrum -- available at your local co-op or gardening supply store -- and mix it with a source of sweetness that won't be easily rinsed off, such as corn syrup or molasses.
5. Purchase lacewings or ladybug beetles. These natural predators of the corn worm will help you control the pests without adding harmful chemicals. It is best to release the insects before the corn gets too large.
Tags: your corn, natural predators