Help! I know I could spray pesticides on the corn, but I'd rather use something less threatening. We have one inch long greenish, whitish worms in the ears of our corn. What suggestions do you all have? Thanks, Brian

-- Brian McCabe (scout@kanokla.net), July 10, 2000

Answers

Brian:

What you have are earworms. On the positive side they have a high protein level and make excellent bait for brim. As far as I know the only way to control them is to spray the tassle at silking and then every five days for two more sprays with an insecticide specific for them. If they are a minor problem you might just live with them. However, if you are going to sell sweetcorn ears to the public, you are probably going to have to spray.

-- Ken Scharabok (scharabo@aol.com), July 11, 2000.

I thought I read somewhere that you could just put a few drops of oil where the worm is and smother it or something like that. Is that just an old wives' tale?

-- Rod Perrino (redjouster@aol.com), July 12, 2000.

I would think you could use B T on them [bursalis tharenginsis, i am tired from fair so spelling is off and to tired to look up tonight]

-- kathy h (saddlebronc@msn.com), July 12, 2000.

I'm trying to remember about the oil. Mineral oil, but I can't remember if you're supposed to have it on the ears before the worms hit, or it it is supposed to suffocate the worms. Might not hurt anything to take an eyedropper and some oil out to the garden, treat a few ears and then check on them in a couple of days to see what happened. Gerbil

-- Gerbil (ima_gerbil@hotmail.com), July 17, 2000.