STALK BORER

By Eric Day and Alexandra Spring

DESCRIPTION: Slender. Young larvae: Creamy white; dark

purple band around the body; several brown or purple stripes
running lengthwise down the body. Full grown larvae: Creamy
white to light purple without band and stripes. Up to 1 and 1/4
inches long when mature.

COMMON HOST PLANT(S): Tomato, corn, pepper and potato.

DAMAGE: Eats tunnel in stem, causing plant to wither and die.

Tunnel usually has opening up to 1/4 inch in diameter at its lower
end.

DISTRIBUTION: Eastern part of United States.

LIFECYCLE: Eggs laid on grassy weeds in late summer or early

fall are the overwintering stage of stalk borers. Eggs can be found
singly or in groups. Preferred sites for egg laying are often near
waterways or field edges, but if fields are overrun with grassy
weeds females may deposit eggs throughout the field. In spring
the larvae emerge and move to corn as they mature. Larvae
experience 7 to 10 instars until full growth is attained in about ten
weeks when they enter the soil to pupate. Adult moths appear
from August through October. One generation occurs annually.

THRESHOLDS: If one of three plants exhibits stalk borer

Stalk borer, larva boring inside stem. Susan damage treatment may be warranted. Spot treatment of infested
Ellis, Bugwood.org plants may be effective.

CULTURAL CONTROL: Remove and destroy weeds; this insect breeds in weeds. Puncturing the insect may
save plant. To locate the borer split the stems lengthwise above opening to tunnel. Bind split stem and keep plant
watered. Destroy plants after harvest.

ORGANIC/BIOLOGICAL CONTROL: No organic or biological control known for stalk borers.

CHEMICAL CONTROL: No chemicals known for control of stalk borer in home gardens.

2011 Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University 3104-1567

Virginia Cooperative Extension programs and employment are open to all, regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. An
equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Virginia State University, and the U.S. Department of
Agriculture cooperating. Edwin J. Jones, Director, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg; Jewel E. Hairston, Interim Administrator, 1890 Extension Program, Virginia State, Petersburg.