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Helicoverpa zea (Boddie, 1850) The Corn ear worm moth
Family: Noctuidae.
Wingspan 32 to 45mm
Flight Season: May to late August.
Commonly known as the “Corn Ear Worm Moth” also other given names during Laval stage, “Tomato fruitworm” and “Cotton bollworm”. because the larva of this moth being very destructive and is a major agricultural pest throughout the world, especially North America; particularly the destruction of corn crops, as well as many other food crops, including a wide variety of vegetables. In North America it is one of the main agriculture pests, in monetary terms, amounts to costings well over 200 million dollars a year spent on insecticidal spraying. This is attributed to the female moth being able to lay up to 3000 eggs in her lifetime.
Helicoverpa zea, is a common and widespread species and the destruction of crops is mirrored across the world, in temperate and tropical countries.
The female lays her eggs singularly on the surface of leaves and corn silks. The eggs are pale green in colour and hatch between 66 to 72 hours.
After hatching the larva will devour the shell of the egg and will then begin feeding on the surrounding plant material with other young larva, while in large numbers they become their most destructive, towards their host plants.
The larva soon mature and become very aggressive towards each other, (even though there is plenty of plant material around them to feed from) the more mature and stronger larva will start to feed on the younger larva until only a few remain, feeding on the one host plant. Eventually they will migrate into the sandy soil where pupation takes place, for between 12 to 16 days, depending on the temperature.
Adults will live on average, between five to fifteen days, up to 30 days in optimum conditions, they will continue to feed on a variety of nectar giving plants.
They have many natural insect enemies, many taking advantage while in egg and larva stage. Although wet, cold conditions, will be more detrimental, for the larva and eggs to survive.
Read MoreFamily: Noctuidae.
Wingspan 32 to 45mm
Flight Season: May to late August.
Commonly known as the “Corn Ear Worm Moth” also other given names during Laval stage, “Tomato fruitworm” and “Cotton bollworm”. because the larva of this moth being very destructive and is a major agricultural pest throughout the world, especially North America; particularly the destruction of corn crops, as well as many other food crops, including a wide variety of vegetables. In North America it is one of the main agriculture pests, in monetary terms, amounts to costings well over 200 million dollars a year spent on insecticidal spraying. This is attributed to the female moth being able to lay up to 3000 eggs in her lifetime.
Helicoverpa zea, is a common and widespread species and the destruction of crops is mirrored across the world, in temperate and tropical countries.
The female lays her eggs singularly on the surface of leaves and corn silks. The eggs are pale green in colour and hatch between 66 to 72 hours.
After hatching the larva will devour the shell of the egg and will then begin feeding on the surrounding plant material with other young larva, while in large numbers they become their most destructive, towards their host plants.
The larva soon mature and become very aggressive towards each other, (even though there is plenty of plant material around them to feed from) the more mature and stronger larva will start to feed on the younger larva until only a few remain, feeding on the one host plant. Eventually they will migrate into the sandy soil where pupation takes place, for between 12 to 16 days, depending on the temperature.
Adults will live on average, between five to fifteen days, up to 30 days in optimum conditions, they will continue to feed on a variety of nectar giving plants.
They have many natural insect enemies, many taking advantage while in egg and larva stage. Although wet, cold conditions, will be more detrimental, for the larva and eggs to survive.
