Corn Earworm—Helicoverpa zea
Corn earworm does the most damage to corn and tomatoes but they also feed on several other vegetables, many field crops, some ornamentals, and a wide variety of wild plants. Early caterpillars damage corn by feeding in the terminals of young plants; later caterpillars feed on the kernels of older plants. Tomatoes, and occasionally peppers, are damaged mostly by the larvae boring into the fruit.
Corn earworm larvae come in a wide variety of colors, including shades of pink, yellow, green, brown, and black. The color depends to some extent on the host plant. They grow to 1½ to 2 inches.
The larvae usually have darker or lighter stripes running lengthwise on the body; small bumps and hairs give it a rough texture. The head capsule is plain golden brown.
Corn earworm adults are night flying moths, with a wing-length of approximately 1½ inch. Adult moths are light tan with a distinctive dark spot on each forewing, and a dark band near the margin of the hind wing
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Identification and Control Information
- Fact Sheet: Corn Earworm (PDF)—University of Florida Extension
- Managing Insects Pests of Sweet Corn: Corn Earworm—University of Maine Cooperative Extension
[Photos, left to right: Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org; Alton N. Sparks, Jr., University of Georgia, Bugwood.org; Ronald Smith, Auburn University, Bugwood.org]