Insect
European Corn Borer
Cream-coloured caterpillars up to 25 mm long with brown head capsules that bore into corn stalks, pepper stems, and other thick-stemmed plants.
Symptoms to Look For
- Frass-filled holes in corn stalks or pepper stems
- Stalks breaking over at bore sites in wind
- Dead tassels or ears at the point of larval entry
Affected Plants
CornPepperBeanPotatoTomato
Organic Solutions
Bacillus thuringiensis spray
Apply Bt spray into the corn whorl and onto leaf axils when young larvae are actively feeding on leaf surfaces before burrowing in.
Trichogramma wasps
Release Trichogramma parasitic wasps at first moth flight to parasitise freshly laid eggs on leaf undersides.
Manual removal
Slit infested stems at bore entry points, remove caterpillars by hand, and seal the wound with moist soil or tape.
Prevention
- Shred and compost or remove all corn stalks promptly after harvest to destroy overwintering larvae
- Plant early-maturing corn varieties to reduce exposure to second-generation moths
- Monitor with pheromone traps to time Bt applications accurately to the egg-hatch window
Garden, by Willowbottom recommends only organic, wildlife-friendly solutions. No synthetic pesticides, no harmful chemicals - ever.