Corn Earworm Organic Pest Control

The corn earworm—which is also known as the tomato fruitworm and the cotton bollworm—is a caterpillar that eats the fruit and leaves of corn, tomatoes, beans, peppers, squash, lettuce, peas, potatoes, and other crops. Corn earworms also chew tomato fruits from the blossom end, eat into bean pods and nibble lettuce. Earworms also attack okra and squash.

Corn earworm in corn — Corn earworm is also known as the tomato fruitworm

Corn earworms follow corn silks into the tips of husks and chew their way through the kernels. They chew into the kernels just inside the husks of ripening ears of corn. As tomato fruitworms, they bore into the stem ends of tomatoes and peppers and tunnel into bean pods and lettuce heads. Besides chewing crops they leave behind excrement which hosts mold and pathways for rot organisms to follow. At their least destructive, corn earworms chew leaves and buds leaving plants disfigured and stunted. By eating corn silks they inhibit pollination.

Handpicking, insect traps, and drops of suffocating mineral or vegetable oil are the least invasive controls for corn earworms. Bt, Bacillus thuringiensis, or a dusting of Sevin will slow heavy infestations.

The corn earworm, Heliothis zea, is the larvae of a night-flying moth. Neither the earworm nor the moth is easy to spot; they live and eat mostly out of sight.

Table of Contents

Corn earworm lifecycle

There are commonly four generations of corn earworms each year, more in regions where the summer is long and the winter mild. The corn earworm pupa passes the winter in the soil of mild winter regions. The moth emerges from the pupa in spring and lay eggs on plants. Earworm caterpillars emerge from the eggs and feed on foliage and fruits for about four weeks then the larvae drop to the soil and pupate. After a brief rest, the second generation emerges. Adult moths are carried on the wind to regions north of where they emerge from pupa in winter. The pupa does not survive in cold winter regions.

Adults

The adult corn earworm is a night-flying moth with bright green eyes and brownish or olive wings. The moth has a wingspan of 1½ inches with a dark blackish spot at the center of each forewing. The moth lays single eggs on the underside of the leaves. Moths lay eggs daily over the course of their lifespan.

Eggs

The moth lays single eggs on the undersides of plant leaves or tips of corn ears. Eggs are light brown or yellow, domed, and ridged. The eggs hatch in three days.

Larvae

The corn earworm is yellowish to green and sometimes red caterpillar with a yellow-brown head and four pairs of prolegs. It can grow to two inches long and has lengthwise stripes and short spines or bristles on its body. The earworm chews on buds and eats large ragged holes out of tender, unfolding leaves. The caterpillar burrows into tomatoes and peppers, into lettuce heads, and moves down ears of corn-eating kernels. The larvae feed for two to four weeks then drop to the ground and pupate in the soil. Adults emerge in 10 to 25 days.

Detection

The best way to detect adult moths is to set floral lure traps. To detect larvae inspect leaves for damage or fruits and pods for signs of tunneling.

Corn earworm organic controls

The corn earworm is a white, green, brown, or red caterpillar with spines. It is about 1½ long. The adult is a brown moth.

Mineral oil

Control earworms attacking corn by placing 1 to 5 drops of vegetable oil or mineral oil at the base of the silks inside each developing husk. The oil will suffocate the worms.

Use oil on corn only after the silks have begun to turn brown. The silks turn brown after pollination. A single silk will become a single kernel of corn once it is pollinated. When an ear of corn does not fill with kernels it is most often because of poor pollination.

Attract predators

Attract to the garden beneficial insects such as green lacewings and parasitic wasps—braconid, chalcid, ichneumonid, and Trichogramma—which attack earworms. Annual flowers such as alyssum and cosmos and perennial flowers such as yarrow and coneflowers all attract beneficial insects. Plant small flowered perennials such as dill, parsley, and yarrow and annuals such as alyssum around the garden to attract parasitic wasps which parasitize earworm eggs. The Tachnid fly is also an earworm predator.

Plant early

Plant early and early-maturing varieties of corn and tomatoes. Adult earworm moths will not arrive or emerge until the weather has warmed, by then early planted crops will be maturing and not suffer significant earworm damage as the pest population peaks.

Grow resistant varieties

Plant corn varieties with tight husks or husks that extend well beyond the tops of the ears; earworm-resistant corn varieties include Sliver Cross Bantam and Silvergent. Plant corn cultivars that have tightly wrapped husks which exclude earworms. Resistant varieties include Aristogold, Calumet, Country Gentleman, Iona, Seneca, Chief, Senecat Scout, Silver Cross Bantam, Staygold, and Victory Golden.

Traps

Use insect traps with a floral lure to attract and trap moths.

Handpick

Handpick earworms from plant leaves and fruits. Drown the worms in soapy water.

Block entry

Earworms enter corn ears along the silks. Block earworms from entering by wrapping a rubber band and clamping a clothespin around the tips of husks. Draw corn husks closed with a rubber band so that earworms can not enter. Do this after the silks emerge.

Suffocate with oil

When corn silks begin to turn brown, earworms start to crawl down the silks into the ears. Use an eyedropper to apply five drops of mineral or vegetable oil to the silks of each ear. The oil will smother the earworms. Do not apply the oil too early or it will interfere with pollination and result in poor kernel development. The oil will not affect the taste of the kernels.

Kaolin clay spray

Spray fruiting plants with kaolin clay to discourage moths from egg-laying. Kaolin clay coats plant leaves and fruit and disorients and repels pests but does not interfere with photosynthesis. Wash away the clay before eating fruit or pods. Don’t use kaolin clay on lettuce or leafy crops.

Sevin

Dust corn silks with Sevin, an insecticide containing carbaryl. Treat when silks first emerge and continue to treat every three to five days until the silks turn brown.

Bt and Spinosad

Spray or dust your crop with BT or Spinosad. These natural pesticides can be used once earworms have already crawled into the corn ears. Spray small caterpillars with Bt, Bacillus thuringiensis, a pathogenic bacterium (safe for man). Spinosad (a bacterium-based insecticide) can also control earworms.

Corn articles at Harvest to Table:

How to Plant and Grow Sweet Corn

Sweet Corn Seed Starting Tips

How to Harvest and Store Sweet Corn

Seven Ways to Cook and Serve Sweet Corn

Fresh Corn Salad Recipe

How to Make Sweet Corn Soup

Corn Chowder and Summer Flavors

Grilled Corn with Seasoned Butter

Corn, Herb, and Tomato Relish

Baby Corn Cooking and Serving Tips

Sauteed Corn