commonly known corn species genus family major agricultural pest feeds different plants stage species given different common names including cotton wide variety crops species widely distributed americas exception northern canada alaska resistant controlled integrated pest management techniques including deep trap crops chemical control mineral oil biological controls species night carried use wait adverse environmental conditions especially high latitudes drought distribution corn found temperate tropical regions north_america exception northern canada alaska areas found eastern united_states successfully live kansas ohio virginia southern new_jersey survival rate mainly affected severity winter corn regularly migrate southern regions northern regions depending winter conditions found hawaii caribbean islands south_america including peru argentina brazil cotton reported china life cycle description eggs eggs individually deposited leaf hairs corn reference given eggs initially pale green color time turn yellowish grey eggs height average diameter hatch hours development larvae breached spend time emerging shell process larvae work exit hole larger head larvae spend rest time making silk exit hole helps escape shell helps find shell feed feeding shell larvae rest approximately minutes begin feeding plant material larvae following hatching larvae feed reproductive structures plant usually develop initially young feed stage destructive stage maturation older larvae aggressive leaving larvae feeding site predation usually orange heads black plates body color primarily black bodies brown pink green yellow mature larvae migrate soil days larvae soil surface brown color measure wide long biggest environmental factor affects developmental rate temperature primarily soil temperature proper development soil temperatures degrees higher mortality factor influences development soil moisture mortality high wet soil moisture level percent lead high death rates soil moisture low percent adults adults yellowish brown color dark spot located center body wingspan ranging live thirty days optimal conditions life span ranges days average nocturnal hide vegetation day adult collect plant large number plants live days females lay eggs lifetime economic impact damage corn major agricultural pest large host range encompassing corn crop plants second important economic pest species north_america estimated annual cost damage million dollars expenditure application reached million dollars high ability lay eggs feeding habits high mobility migration led success pest control kinds control measures advocated 19th century aims total pest population reduction aimed protection particular crop integrated pest management array techniques approaches control recommended practices deep mechanical destruction trap crops kill different chemical control widely successful includes use applying mineral oil inside tip corn ear young larvae method corn populations controlled widely insects resistant use biological controls forms common problems corn vulnerable afflicted larvae dropped ground survival natural enemies insect species prey usually feeding eggs larvae flower bug pirate bug feeds eggs acting biological control agent plants blend chemicals response damage attract parasitic insects solitary wasp makes use volatile plant compounds identify presence wasp finds damaged host plant search host antennae females find prey use antennae position deposits eggs host wasp deposits eggs inside living important related species high fungal cause outbreak disease mortality high predators harsh weather conditions collapsing chambers disease predation larvae mature increasingly aggressive host plants surrounding attack eat insects presented second corn larvae insect rolls form begins feeding insect posterior end begins bite defense degrees uses head capsule killing insect original position continues feeding insect entirely consumed presented larvae engages unique behavior larvae higher affinity prey plant material raised low moisture environment lower weight longer developmental time raised environments high moisture benefit aggressive feeding behavior conditions movement migration seasonal nocturnal adults disperse weather permitting poor reproductive conditions short range dispersal crop low foliage type dispersal independent wind currents long range dispersal involves adults flying meters ground moving crop crop migratory flights occur ground hours migration common flights carried usually intercepted produce transported air freight transportation activity restricted night time display vertical flight carries flight boundary layer allows undertake migratory movement upper wind systems mating males engage high speed directed flight search production ability enter state arrested development growth response change environment preparing major change environmental conditions increase reproductive success increases increasing latitude tropical conditions populations breed continuously subtropical temperate regions individuals individuals don enter areas emerge late fall die drought responsive observed summer feeding host plants wide host range attacking vegetables include corn pepper potato snap sweet potato good hosts corn shown great hosts tomatoes beneficial poor hosts corn favored corn signs reveal presence young crops holes leaves following feeding leaf eggs found larger plants display grazing evidence soft grains centimeters corn eaten corn ears develop observed bore holes observed hearts flower heads cotton fruits heads pod seeds eaten corn earns nickname corn widely known destruction corn feeds corn including severe feeding tip allows entry diseases mold growth larvae begin feeding reached larvae penetrate ear deeper penetration occurring larvae eat hard bites lowering quality corn processing common destructive pest growth virginia virginia treated annually pounds costing farmers million dollars degree damage varies size pest timing stage plant plants capable large damage substantial yield loss depending soil moisture planting date weather damage early plants life damage leaves plants compensate damage processes increasing seed size remaining pods damage happens august plants flowering attacks happen august damage pods developed tougher walls penetrate affect pod formation seed filling potential reduce yields happens later stages plants time compensate female attracted flowering fields severe occur flowering pods fully developed large scale outbreak associated time peak flowering pods developed peak flight giant attracted drought stressed fields poor growth dry weather leads quick drying corn plants compelling leave seek hosts heavy rainfall decreases corn populations soil chambers limits flight eggs leaves creates favorable conditions fungal diseases kill mating production produced brain female controls sex released stimulate production production acts cells calcium release extent chemical signals host plant effect time day corn fields produce night encounter corn natural corn silk like plant induce production presence silk ear corn cause production physical contact females corn unnecessary evolutionary mechanism enables coordinate reproductive behavior availability food female depleted sex mating hours separation male protein long found male causes female sex capability males selected increases reproductive fitness carry males attracted female sex female bear male offspring transfer products stop female production stop female calling behavior intense selection acting males manipulate female reproductive physiology promotes rapid evolution specific molecules male derived suppressing factors exhibit positive selection mortality sperm competition chemicals introduced females mating negative effect females lifespan males production sperm secondary chemicals reduces lifespan number increase rate mortality increases sexes flight behavior males wait sense female locate males engage flight find female warm major flight muscles reach temperature optimal sustain flight degrees activities males measured exposed different sex related cues males found heat quickly presence female lower temperature males exposed chemical heating right temperature leads better flight performance flying immediately trade sub optimal flight performance rapid onset directed flight males exposed attractive blend spend time increase heating rate behavior associated competition access females showing ecological trade gallery literature field crops corn hill
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