Posted on 07/29/2011 7:56:18 PM PDT by satan69
last falls corn crop had a lot of worm damage. It didn't come in through the silk. They seem to have bored right into the side of the corn.. I lost 50% of my crop to the worms.. When the corn was ripe I was very sad to see so many of the worms in the corn eating away... They attacked the sweet yellow corn more then the white corn. I sprayed and sprayed every week but the worms still got in.. Looked like the bored into the center of the ears as most had a hole in them... Any idea how to prevent this in the future... Do they make a Hybread that the worms will not eat? Thanks for your answers and help! this was south FL by the way... Great crop of corn, just a lot of damage from the worms...
I would contact these people in central Florida who grow corn for the Zellwood corn festival. I bet they could help you. Good luck!
Bt. spray, pheromone traps, insecticides, benficial insects, etc may help but see if you can get help from local people perhaps ag. school.
Armyworm... They are able to bore right into the ear of corn!
Contacting someone local is still your best source. You may find most do nothing unless the infestation becomes extreme and then only treatment of selected areas.
I live in south Mississippi and have never had a successful fall corn crop. In this locale, if you don’t get your corn crop started in early to mid March (and pray for no frost), before the insect population gets going, you can just about forget it. The worms that attack spring crops usually start in the silk and work their way inside. Early and frequent spraying will help prevent that, but is not nearly as successful if you plant late.
You might have picked the wrong site to get help with this; this is “FreeRepublic” not “BugFreeCorn.com”
With that screen name no wonder your crops are plagued with worms. ;)
Marielito gusanos?
You need to contact your County Extension office (USDA Extention is probably how it would be listed in the phone book). Ask them WHERE you should go for advice.
You aren’t telling us if this is Sweetcorn or #2. And given that more and more Sweetcorn is white or Bi-colored, it is difficult for those of use who ‘know corn’ to be able to assist you given the information you’re providing.
Call the Extention Office,, they can guide you to the proper authority for your area.
Disclaimer: Not an expert but here are my thoughts:
Since it’s best to use as few chemicals as possible, you might consider before next planting diligently and seriously working and amending your soil. Start some compost piles. Start a worm farm (to make your own vermicompost—that stuff is simply awesome for the soil and your plants).
Also, have you looked into planting and occasionally spraying your crops with H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide)? I’ve been reading about it recently and it sounds very interesting. Check it out.
Since a healthy plant is far more able to resist diseases and pests, making the soil conditions optimal for the plant’s healthy survival would be my number one priority.
Come on now! That’s not fair. There’s people here know everything and some even way more than everything!
If you had worms last year, be on the look out for locusts this year. Or maybe change your screen name and life style.
LMAO!! LOL!!
“They attacked the sweet yellow corn more then the white corn.”
Cabbage and tomatoes are up, H2O2 seems to have worked!
http://img850.imageshack.us/img850/4495/42298664.jpg
http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/355/42064275c.jpg
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.