Relative stalk strength, firmness of the plant rind, and shank strength influence borer establishment on the plant, the amount of stalk breakage and the capacity for ear retention in the event of a cornborer infestation.
These activities may reduce overwintering cornborer populations in individual fields, but do not result in reduced damage the next year since eggs are laid by the winged adult and fields may be repopulated by moths moving in from other fields.
Assume that 50 percent of the corn plants in a field are damaged with an average of 4 larvae/damaged plant, that final yield expectation is 125 bu/acre, and that corn is worth $2.75/bu.
Where ECB is active, the development of borers in corn stalks interferes with the flow of nutrients in the host plant, enhances infection by stalk diseases, causes stalk breakage and ear drop, and reduces corn yield.
ECB overwinters as late-instar larvae in corn stalks.
Yield losses due to cornborer are due to a combination of stalk injury by first- or second-brood larvae, ear drop due to second-brood injury to shanks and ears, and enhancement of stalk rot due to microbial infection of injured stalks.
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