CORN EARWORM, Heliothis zea (Boddie) (Also know as bollworm and tomato fruitworm)
Description	Picture	Damage
front wings which are a light grayish-brown, marked with dark-gray to olive-green irregular lines fore wings haves a darker band near the tip hind wings are light in color with slightly wavy dark bands, especially near the extremities 1 1/2-inch wing expanse larvae vary from light green or pink to brown or nearly black alternating longitudinal dark and lgiht stripes mark its body larvae vary from light green or pink to brown or nearly black coloration is so variable that it is not dependable for identification short microspines (visible through a hand lens) on the skin feeding habits are useful identifying characteristics	Photo credit: W. L. Sterling, Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University	newly hatched larvae begin feeding on the plant where eggs were laid on corn silk larvae burrow into and eat the developing grains may feed in whorls of young corn plants, but usually is not an economic threat there larvae are cannibalistic and usually only one larva grows in each ear

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Last modified: March 30, 1998