This is the most common corn insect. When the plants are small, moths (adult stage) lay eggs on the leaves. The larvae go down into the whorl to feed, and by the time this "budworm" or "Shatterworm" injury is first seen, most of the damage has been done.
Foliage injury occurs before tasseling. Later generations of moths oviposit on fresh corn silk as it appears. Larvae cut a small hole at the side of the ear, through which they emerge. They drop to the ground to pupate beneath the surface.
Each female moth may lay from 1,000 to 3,000 eggs. Winter is passed in the pupal stage in the soil.
