Bugs in sweet corn

GordoSD · Aug 13, 2010

I'm starting to find what look to me like fleas in the ears of my sweet corn. The tips of the ears are eaten away and there are little black bugs that look like a flea boring holes in the cob. Are these flea beetles?

Gordo

Rootsy · Aug 13, 2010

Flea beetle is an exterior pest... Sap beetle is most likely what you are seeing. You generally find them on tips where the ears have filled and pushed through the husk on corn that didn't receive adequate moisture during initial ear development. The husk is stunted and then when water is applied late in ear development the ear over-runs the husk and the beetles sneak in through the compromised tip cover.

You won't find them on ears that have good tight tip cover unless corn borer has infiltrated... then they'll just crawl in through the hole...

GordoSD · Aug 13, 2010

Yep, I found the sap beetle info on the Purdue ag site. That's what they are. Will liquis Sevin sprayed on the ear kill them?

Gordo

Rootsy · Aug 16, 2010

Yes...

Could also look into some Bt or Permethrin...

Bugs in sweet corn

GordoSD

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Rootsy

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GordoSD

Well-known Member

Rootsy

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