Color varies from yellow or pink to green, sometimes almost black. Body usually marked with alternative light and dark stripes. Skin covered with microspines. May be confused with the western bean cutworm.

Eggs individually laid on silks and newly hatched larvae tunnel into ears where they feed on developing kernels. Feeding usually starts at the ear tip and works downward. Usually only one mature larva develops per ear.

Late July, August, and September (statewide).

Examine silks for eggs' presence during the green silking period. Examine ear tips for small larvae.

Treatment not economically justified for field corn. Seed corn, popcorn, and sweet corn may require treatment.

http://www.unl.edu/entomology/extension/crops/fieldcorn.shtml