Q&A - Why do I have big holes in my corn leaves?
Question:
Every year I have several of my corn plants that have slits eaten into them. The slits go across the width of the leaves. What causes this to happen?
Answer:
European corn borer attacks the plant when it is young and eats in a whorl of leaves close to or in the stalk. The caterpillar is small and the holes are small, but as the corn leaf grows the previously eaten holes appear to grow too. The damage is often seen later as large holes in the corn leaves after they have grown. European corn borer can be controlled by BT.
Related Resources:
Growing Sweet Corn in Home Gardens
Vegetables: Growing Sweet Corn in Home Gardens
Insect Pests of Sweet Corn
Every year I have several of my corn plants that have slits eaten into them. The slits go across the width of the leaves. What causes this to happen?
Answer:
European corn borer attacks the plant when it is young and eats in a whorl of leaves close to or in the stalk. The caterpillar is small and the holes are small, but as the corn leaf grows the previously eaten holes appear to grow too. The damage is often seen later as large holes in the corn leaves after they have grown. European corn borer can be controlled by BT.
Related Resources:
Growing Sweet Corn in Home Gardens
Vegetables: Growing Sweet Corn in Home Gardens
Insect Pests of Sweet Corn