Insect
Corn Rootworm
Slender white beetle larvae up to 12 mm long that feed on corn roots, pruning them to stubs and causing plants to lodge and fall over in wind.
Symptoms to Look For
- Corn plants leaning or lodging at an angle due to root damage
- Roots pruned back to stubs at the crown when plants are pulled
- Silk clipping by adult beetles reducing pollination during tasselling
Affected Plants
Corn
Organic Solutions
Crop rotation
Never plant corn in the same field or bed two years running - eggs are laid in corn soil and larvae hatch expecting corn roots the following spring.
Beneficial nematodes
Apply Heterorhabditis bacteriophora nematodes to corn fields at egg hatch in early summer to target larvae before root pruning begins.
Prevention
- Strict crop rotation is the single most effective management tool - one year's break prevents near-complete root damage
- Hill up soil around corn bases at the knee-high stage to encourage brace roots that compensate for root damage
Garden, by Willowbottom recommends only organic, wildlife-friendly solutions. No synthetic pesticides, no harmful chemicals - ever.