Insect

Corn Earworm

Stout caterpillars up to 4 cm long, variable in colour from pale green to brown or reddish, found feeding inside corn ears, tomato fruits, and pepper pods.

Symptoms to Look For

Silks clipped and eaten at the corn ear tip
Frass-filled tunnels inside corn ears or tomato fruits
Entry holes at the stem end of tomatoes or the tip of corn ears

Affected Plants

CornTomatoPepperBeanSquashPea

Organic Solutions

Mineral oil in silks

Apply a few drops of food-grade mineral oil to corn silks at the tip of the ear right after pollination to suffocate newly hatched larvae.

Bacillus thuringiensis spray

Spray Bt onto corn silks every 3 - 5 days during silk emergence to kill newly hatched larvae before they enter the ear.

Trichogramma wasps

Release Trichogramma egg-parasitic wasps at the start of silking to parasitise earworm eggs before they hatch.

Prevention

Plant sweet corn varieties with tight husk tips that physically deter larval entry
Monitor with pheromone traps to time Bt applications to coincide with peak egg-laying
Remove and destroy crop debris promptly after harvest to reduce overwintering pupae

Garden, by Willowbottom recommends only organic, wildlife-friendly solutions. No synthetic pesticides, no harmful chemicals - ever.