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Photo by R. Bessin.
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Southwestern
Corn Borer
Adult Southwestern corn borers are a dull white to tan or
yellowish in color. They have a wingspan of approximately 1¼-inches.
The first generation of adult Southwestern corn borer moths
flies in mid-to late May in Kentucky. The first generation larvae appear
in early June. Late planted corn has the greatest potential for damage
from the first generation. The second and third generations cause the
greatest damage in Kentucky.
During the late 1970's it was regarded as one of the most
serious insect pests of corn, but after more than a ten-year period of
not being reported in Kentucky, the southwestern corn borer has reappeared.
Since 1992, the southwestern corn borer has spread across the western
half of Kentucky and its distribution now extends to Hardin and Pulaski
counties. Information on Southwestern corn borer biology, impact on corn,
a comparison of the Southwestern and European corn borer and management
can be found in
EntFact-108 Southwestern Corn Borer.
The following graph shows the average trap counts for Southwestern
corn borer moths at the UK Research and Education Center for the four-year
period from 1998 through 2001. This information is also available through
the Kentucky
Pest News web site.
Trap Counts for Southwestern corn borer are available
for the following years:
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Original document: 5 November 2001
Last updated: 19 February 2004
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Scoutcat logo courtesy of C. Ware, copyright 2000
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1998