How to Control Corn Borers & Earworms

Corn borers and earworms are common pests to corn crops. Both pests feed on corn tissue and damage corn tassels. Gardeners see most of the damage from pests during August through September. You may see the moths that lay corn borers and earworms before you witness their larvae's damage. Furthermore, earworm excrement may be seen on the tip of your corn. It is important to employ proper pest management practices before your crops become damaged.

Broad spectrum pesticide
Heliothis trap

Instructions

- 1
  Examine your corn silks for earworm eggs in the late summer to early fall. Earworm eggs hatch five to seven days after they are laid. For optimal control, pesticides must be timed to treat newly hatched eggs.
- 2
  Apply a pesticide that contains spinetoram, spinosad or permethrin according to its directions. Gardeners may also use an organic pesticide such as bacillus thuringiensis that infects earworms with a harmful bacterial.
- 3
  Place pheromone traps throughout the garden to lure corn borer moths in order to detect when you have a large infestation. Gardeners may use a Heliothis trap, rather than a light trap so they do not have to pick through other insects.
- 4
  Apply a granular pesticide over the top of plants to kill young corn borers 12 to 14 days after they have hatched. Gardeners may use a pesticide that contains bacillus thuringiensis to infect their corn borers with a lethal bacteria.
- 5
  Reapply your pesticides based on their recommended reapplication rates to kill off earworms and corn borers.

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