What Insects Eat Sweet Corn?

Sweet corn, field corn, sorghum, and grasses are preferred food sources for the fall armyworm, which can infest various plants including alfalfa, bean, peanut, potato, soybean, sweetpotato, turnip, spinach, tomato, cabbage, cucumber, and cotton. The adult black bug, around 5 mm long, is fast-moving and preys on aphids, mites, and heliothis eggs.

There are three major insect pests of sweet corn in New England: European corn borer, corn earworm, and fall armyworm. These insects spend their adult life as moths, but the damaging stage of the insects is the most likely to affect corn. The main pests of sweet corn include cutworms, seedcorn maggot, wireworms, corn leaf aphid, and the lepidopteran complex of the European corn borer, corn earworm, and fall armyworm.

To make sweet corn a commercial and home-grown vegetable, growers must keep them free of destructive insects such as the fall armyworm and corn. Insect protection is crucial, and it is recommended to plant Su and Se varieties side-by-side to avoid silking.

Beetles, distinctive shield-shaped bugs, are also important for sweet corn, feeding by puncturing plant tissue and sucking out plant fluids, causing stunting and tillering. Beetles lay eggs at the base of corn stalks, and larvae hatch the next year and feed on corn roots.

What Is Eating My Sweet Corn?

Raccoons, squirrels, birds, deer, and even black bears pose significant threats to homegrown sweet corn, typically consuming it just before harvest time. Raccoons are known to topple stalks and strip husks to access the corn while squirrels scatter corn pieces all over the ground. Generally, four-legged animals—excluding bears—prefer to consume corn on the edges of the patch, with bears often damaging plants by targeting the central area. The challenge for gardeners lies in identifying the culprit behind the corn damage. Various pests, including insects, may also invade sweet corn, chewing through both leaves and cobs.

Identifying which specific animals or insects are responsible for the damage can be tricky. For instance, caterpillars often emerge by August, indicating a particular type of infestation. Many gardeners have reported similar issues, with rodents such as rats and mice munching on the sweet corn, especially if the ears remain on the stalks too long. The presence of large mice and their potential weight makes them viable suspects for significant consumption overnight.

One gardener shared their surprise at discovering significant damage to their sweet corn, emphasizing that they previously believed they were free from pests. These experiences highlight that small rodents, along with other, larger animals, could be causing havoc during nighttime hours. It's essential for gardeners to scout for signs of feeding and look for pest activity, particularly when signs of damage appear. Ensuring the corn is harvested in a timely manner and implementing preventative measures may help safeguard future crops from the variety of critters that could spoil the harvest.

Is Epsom Salt Good For Sweet Corn?

Corn, a domesticated plant, can tolerate relatively high levels of magnesium from Epsom salts, essential for its growth and cob production. For tomatoes, it’s advisable to apply Epsom salts just before blooming to ensure optimal magnesium levels. A solution of 2 tablespoons per gallon was sprayed on the leaves, and notable improvements were observed five days later. Fertilizers often use seed meals, like cottonseed meal, which is acidic, making it suitable for acid-loving plants like tomatoes and effectively lowering soil pH.

For sweet corn (Zea mays), nitrogen and phosphorous are crucial, and liquid fertilizers provide faster nutrient delivery compared to granular options. Consistent fertilization is key to powering sweet corn's growth.

To optimize sweet corn production, a balance between plant needs and soil nutrients is essential, making soil testing important. If spring applications were missed, adding a quarter cup of Epsom salts around each plant can boost their fall performance. Epsom salts, consisting of hydrated magnesium sulfate, support magnesium absorption, vital for building strong cell walls and fruit. Sweet corn is not only delicious but also nutritious, offering dietary fiber, Vitamin B1, Vitamin C, and potassium.

For effective fertilization, especially with yellow corn, applying Epsom salts can aid growth. Additionally, sweet corn requires significant watering and nitrogen, with sulfate from Epsom salts being the usable form for the crop. However, caution is necessary: excessive magnesium in the soil may produce competition between magnesium and calcium ions, potentially leading to rot. Thus, while Epsom salts can enhance growth, their application must be balanced to avoid negative interactions, ensuring optimal health and productivity for crops like sweet corn.

How To Get Rid Of Corn Pests Naturally?

To manage corn earworms organically, several methods can be implemented to protect your crops without the use of harsh chemicals.

1. Oil Application: Applying mineral, olive, or canola oil to corn ears after the silks have browned can suffocate earworms, sparing the corn itself.
2. Bacillus Thuringiensis (BT): This natural bacterial pathogen is effective in controlling larvae, allowing for biological control.
3. Beneficial Insects: Introduce predators like green lacewings, ladybugs, and parasitic wasps to keep corn earworm populations manageable. Additionally, green lacewings and soldier beetles can effectively control these pests.
4. Natural Pest Control: Start with non-chemical methods such as manual removal and the application of natural pesticides like Bacillus thuringiensis or diatomaceous earth.
5. Crop Rotation: Rotate corn with non-grass crops to reduce pest levels through elimination of reproduction sources.
6. Weekly Monitoring: Inspect silks for larvae and eggs regularly, and consider spraying or injecting with oils combining Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki (Btk).

Using these techniques not only protects the corn but also maintains a healthier environment overall by conserving natural pest enemies and reducing reliance on synthetic pesticides.

How To Keep Aphids Off Corn?

Removing existing vegetation before planting enhances the penetration of insecticide sprays or granules. Implementing season-long weed control reduces damage by corn leaf aphids and boosts the effectiveness of insecticide treatments. Here are best practices for preventing aphid infestations in corn:

1. Plant Resistant Varieties: Opt for resistant varietals to combat aphids.
2. Evaluate Infestations: Before applying insecticides, check if 80% of plants are infested or if aphids are only around the field edges, and determine if they are colonizing the ears.

Implement an integrated pest management approach that includes natural controls, organic remedies, and preventive strategies. Best results can be achieved by removing crop residue and managing weeds through tillage or herbicides. Aphids preferentially feed on higher-quality sap from the upper leaves and lower stalk.

Natural control methods include blasting aphids off with water or using hand sprays of water mixed with dish soap, which kills aphids without harming plants. Avoid over-fertilization and ensure adequate watering to keep plants healthy. Aphids produce sticky honeydew as they feed, and while they rarely cause significant economic damage to corn, preventative measures are crucial. Use insecticides registered for corn aphids and time sprays when aphid populations exceed thresholds, while ensuring beneficial predators like lady beetles and lacewings are preserved.

What To Spray On Sweet Corn?

For sweet corn, Permit is the most economical option but is not labeled for other vegetables. Profine and Sandea are approved for sweet corn and various vegetables. When using Atrazine products, incorporating 0. 25—0. 5 pounds of active ingredient enhances effectiveness. Pre-emergent/burndown herbicides for sweet corn include Atrazine, Acuron, Flexi, Harness products, Armezon, Anthem Maxx, Bicep Lite II Magnum, and Zidua, which effectively control Palmer pigweed and waterhemp.

Pre-planting weed management can involve non-selective herbicides or black plastic for existing weeds, alongside a pre-emergent weed killer. Timing is crucial for application, starting at the first silk stage. Monitoring corn earworm populations with pheromone traps is recommended. New herbicide products are available for better management of difficult weeds, often premixes of existing active ingredients. Insecticides like Methomyl (Lannate) are effective against pests such as corn earworms, with applications starting when 25% of ears show silk.

Pyrethroid insecticides have historically provided good control of corn earworms. For pest damage exceeding 15%, consider Btk, neem, or carbaryl solutions, with Spinosad as an organic alternative for sweet corn pests.

What Bug Is Attracted To Corn?

Weevils, including maize, rice, and granary weevils, pose significant threats to stored corn, as their larvae develop from eggs laid inside the kernels, leading to hollowed-out grains. This NebGuide details the identification of both mature and immature insects that infest corn ears, emphasizing the highly damaging corn rootworms. Notable species include western, northern, and southern corn rootworm beetles. In sweet corn, the primary pest concerns are the green stink bug (Chinavia halaris) and brown stink bug (Euschistus servus), which feed on developing ears using their piercing mouthparts.

Many corn pests remain undetected due to their concealed positions within soil, stalks, or ears, making early detection challenging. Cutworms, wireworms, white grubs, and others may proliferate in grass sod or amongst residual crop debris, necessitating accurate pest identification and damage assessment for yield protection.

The corn rootworm stands out as the most common and costly pest, affecting both above and below ground, with larval hatching triggered by accumulating growing degree units (GDUs). White grubs, cutworms, and other soil-dwelling pests typically attack corn prior to planting. Furthermore, the guide offers insights on scouting for various corn insects and diseases, incorporating information on destructive corn leaf aphids and the corn flea beetle, and highlighting the behavior of dusky sap beetles, which often feed on damaged corn. Overall, understanding pest dynamics is critical for effective corn management.

How To Keep Bugs Out Of Sweet Corn?

Lannate is a broad-spectrum insecticide featuring methomyl as its active ingredient, effective against various pests that harm sweet corn, such as armyworms, cutworms, earworms, corn borers, aphids, and leafhoppers. These insects can cause significant damage by feeding on corn foliage, roots, or ears while potentially spreading soil-borne diseases. If unaddressed, pests may overwinter and infest crops in the following spring. Natural and organic methods exist for controlling corn earworms, which damage corn by feeding on leaves, silks, and kernels.

Effective control measures boast success rates of 50-100%. Organic solutions include using green lacewings, soldier beetles, vegetable oil, and Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki (Btk) mixed with oil. To mitigate pest attacks, it’s advised to plant corn early and apply mineral oil on silks shortly after emergence. Additionally, cleaning and treating empty bins with Diacon IGR PLUS and PBO-8 Synergist is recommended. Black light traps can help estimate pest populations. Spinosad Garden Insect Spray is a noted organic remedy.

What Are The Natural Enemies Of Corn?

Sweet corn serves as a crucial habitat for beneficial insects that aid in pest population control by preying on caterpillar eggs, small larvae, and corn leaf aphids, as well as feeding on sweet corn pollen. Key natural enemies include ladybeetles, insidious flower bugs, lacewing larvae, parasitic wasps, and indigenous Trichogramma species. In a study conducted in Maros EF, eight types of natural enemies were identified, highlighting the presence of dome beetles (Harmonia octomaculata).

Additionally, the corn earworm (Helicoverpa zea), a moth belonging to the Lepidoptera order, poses a notable threat to corn. Various measures can combat pests like spider mites, including increasing leaf humidity or using substances like sulfur, neem oil, paraffin oil, or potassium soap. While corn leafhoppers (Dalbulus maidis) may cause direct plant damage through feeding, their primary impact is the transmission of diseases such as the maize rayado fino virus.

Important corn pests range from migratory ones like black cutworm and fall armyworm to those that overwinter, such as the European corn borer. To mitigate pest impacts, careful selection of crop varieties, cultural practices, and the conservation of natural enemies is crucial. The biological control provided by beneficial insects plays a vital role in managing corn pests and supports overall crop health.

Do Possums Eat Sweet Corn?

I regularly have visits from possums that enjoy corn and a bit of apple. Initially, I didn’t realize that apple could be an issue; thank you for pointing that out. However, I’ve observed that corn is their preferred choice. Possums are opportunistic eaters and will consume available corn, but it shouldn't constitute their main diet as it can be unhealthy for them. Their typical diet includes fruits, grains, and insects, although they might also forage from compost, garbage, and pet food.

In gardens, possums favor fruits like apples, berries, and grapes, as well as vegetables such as corn, lettuce, cucumbers, and broccoli. They are particularly fond of all corn types—sweet, popcorn, and field corn—though fresh corn is better. Possums are omnivorous, eating both plant and animal matter; a varied diet is essential. It's safe to offer fruits and vegetables like bananas or sweet potatoes, and you can also provide cooked meats.

They tend to enjoy high-sugar fruits (oranges, pears, figs, grapes) and starchy veggies (sweet potatoes, peas, carrots). While possums are less destructive compared to raccoons, they will eat fresh corn when available. Their adaptable eating habits make them versatile foragers in the wild and in gardens.