CORN CRUNCHERS

Kommon Katerpillars

Picture courtesy of Robbie Williams, Henderson County (Ky) farmer

Southwestern corn borer- summer form is white to cream-colored larva with 8 distinct spots in a ring around the front half of each body segment. There are 2 dark spots on the top of the back half of the segment.

Feeds primarily on corn but may be found on Johnson grass and sorghum.

"Look-a-likes" are other borers:

• European corn borer- head solid redbrown to black, body light pink to light gray with some faint spots, a faint line may be seen down the center of the back. Circle of hooks on prolegs has a small gap.
• Southwestern corn borer- dark head and light colored body, summer form has dark spots, winter form is spotless.
• Common stalk borer has a purple area in the front third of the body and some distinct longitudinal stripes. There are no spots.