European corn borer

European corn borer
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Crambidae
Genus: Ostrinia
Species:
O. nubilalis
Binomial name
Ostrinia nubilalis
(Hübner, 1796)[1]
Synonyms
List
    • Pyralis nubilalis Hübner, 1796
    • Pyrausta nubilalis
    • Botis nubilalis var. paulalis Fuchs, 1900
    • Ostrinia nubilalis mauretanica Mutuura & Munroe, 1970
    • Ostrinia nubilalis persica Mutuura & Munroe, 1970
    • Pyralis glabralis Haworth, 1803
    • Pyralis silacealis Hübner, 1796
    • Botys appositalis Lederer, 1858
    • Pyrausta rubescens Krulikovsky, 1928
    • Pyrausta nubilalis ab. flava Dufrane, 1930
    • Pyrausta nubilalis ab. fuscalis Romaniszyn, 1933
    • Pyrausta nubilalis ab. insignis Skala, 1928
    • Pyrausta nubilalis ab. margarita Skala, 1928
    • Pyrausta nubilalis ab. minor Dufrane, 1930
    • Pyrausta nubilalis f. fanalis Costantini, 1923

The European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis), also known as the European corn worm or European high-flyer, is a moth of the family Crambidae. It is a pest of grain, particularly maize (Zea mays). The insect is native to Europe, originally infesting varieties of millet, including broom corn. The European corn borer was first reported in North America in 1917 in Massachusetts, but was probably introduced from Europe several years earlier.[2] Since its initial discovery in the Americas, the insect has spread into Canada and westwards across the United States to the Rocky Mountains.

The adult European corn borer is about 25 millimetres (0.98 in) long with a 26–30 millimetres (1.0–1.2 in)[3] wingspan. The female is light yellowish brown with dark, irregular, wavy bands across the wings. The male is slightly smaller and darker.

European corn borer caterpillars damage corn by chewing tunnels through many parts of the plant, leading to a decrease in agricultural yield.

  1. ^ "Ostrinia nubilalis". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved July 6, 2007.
  2. ^ Caffrey, D. J.; Worthley, L. H. (1927). Details – A progress report on the investigations of the European corn borer. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.108390.
  3. ^ "European Corn-borer Ostrinia nubilalis". UK Moths. Retrieved September 8, 2019.