Description: Adult: wingspan of 1 to 1 1/2 inches. Usually light, yellowish-olive in color, with a dark spot near the center.

Larvae: variable colors; five pairs of prolegs. Newly hatched larvae are less than 1/8 inch long, yellowish white with a dark head. Second instars are yellow-green, often with darker longitudinal stripes and red-brown to brown head. Later instars may be green-yellow, reddish, or brown with pale, longitudinal stripes, raised black spots, and brown heads. Mature larvae reach up to 1 3/4 inches.

Hosts: Corn is preferred host. Will infest more than 100 different hosts, including many other agronomic crops. Wild hosts include toadflax and vetch.

Damage: Prefer fruiting bodies of host; will also attack foliage, especially tender growth. First generation larvae often feed in corn whorl, causing ragged holes that appear when leaves unfurl. Excreta will collect in whorl. Larvae move to flower buds and fruiting bodies as they appear. Larvae are cannibalistic; typically one larvae per feeding site.

Life Cycle: Overwinter as pupae in about two inches of soil. Adults emerge in April-May, mate, and lay eggs. Most eggs laid on corn leaves if available; most eggs laid on silks as they appear. Eggs laid on other hosts as corn silks dry down Up to 3,000 eggs are deposited individually by each female. Eggs hatch in 2-5 days; larvae feed for 2-4 weeks and pupate in the soil for 2-4 weeks. Entire life cycle, 4-8 weeks. Several generations per year.

Corn Earworm larva and feeding damage
Photo by: Steve Brown, UGA

Corn earworm
Photo by: David Adams, UGA

Corn earworm
Photo by: David Adams, UGA

Corn earworm on soybean
Photo by: David Adams, UGA

Corn earworm light and dark phases on soybeans
Photo by: David Jones, UGA

Corn earworm moth on cotton
Photo by: David Jones, UGA

Corn earworm moth on soybeans
Photo by: David Jones, UGA