Moths of North Carolina
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82 NC Records

Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner, 1796) - European Corn Borer Moth

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Pyraloidea Family: CrambidaeSubfamily: PyraustinaeTribe: PyraustiniP3 Number: 801423.00 MONA Number: 4949.00
Comments: This genus was recently revised by Yang et al. (2021), with fifteen species now described worldwide. Four species occur in North America, and all occur in North Carolina. As described by Yang et al. (2021), O. nubilalis is included in their Clade II, the 'Penitalis Species Group'.
Species Status: This is an Old World species that historically was considered to be the most serious pest of corn in North America. The development of Bt transgenic hybrids and insecticides has proven to be highly effective in controlling this species, and its numbers have declined markedly in recent decades in North Carolina.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Munroe (1976)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The ground color is generally a brighter yellow than in our three native species in this genus, but the pattern of lines is generally the same. Unlike our other species, O. nubilalis is sexually dimorphic. The males are heavily shaded with brown, with patches of the pale ground color evident in the antemedian area, in the area in between the two spots, and beyond the postmedial line (Forbes, 1923). Females are generally brighter than our other three species, but in some cases may need to be dissected to be sure of the identification.
Adult Structural Features: Heinrich (1919) has illustrations of the male and female genitalia.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: The following life history account is based on that of Capinera (2017). The final-instar larvae overwinter within a tunnel in the stalk of corn or in the stem of other hosts. Pupation and emergence of adults occurs in early spring or later depending on the latitude. After mating, the females typically lay masses of 15-20 eggs on the undersides of leaves, with hatching occurring after 4-9 days. A single female may oviposit for 14 days and deposit 400-600 eggs during her lifetime. When feeding on corn the young larvae tend to feed initially within the leaf whorl, especially on the tassel. Once the tassel emerges from the whorl, the larvae move downward and burrow into the stalks and ears. Pupation occurs within the burrow, with the pupa usually enveloped in a thin cocoon. The adults emerge around 12 days later.

When feeding on other vegetable crops the larvae may damage different parts (stems, fruits or leaves) depending on the particular species of host plant. The larvae pass through six instars and local populations can have up to four generations per year. The older larvae vary from light brown or pinkish gray and have a brown to black head capsule and a yellowish brown thoracic plate. The body is marked with round dark spots on each body segment (Capinera, 2017).
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from close inspection of specimens or by DNA analysis.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Ostrinia nubilalis was introduced to North America from Europe and was first documented in Massachusetts in 1917. It has since spread across much of the eastern and central U.S., as well as adjoining areas of southern Canada (Capinera, 2017). It occurs statewide in North Carolina.
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Flight Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge
Flight Comments: The adults have been found from April through October in North America, with local populations having from one to four generations per year. Populations at the northernmost latitudes typically have a single generation, while those in Virginia southward can have three or four generations annually (Capinera, 2017).
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Most of our records probably come from croplands (Wray, 1976). Natural habitats where this species has been collected include some lowland areas but also several upland habitats such as dry ridges.
Larval Host Plants: This polyphagous species is a major pest of corn crops, but a wide variety of other plant species are also used (Caffrey and Worthley, 1927; Munroe, 1976; Heppner, 2007; Solis, 2008; Robinson et al., 2010; Capinera, 2017). It has been found feeding on numerous cultivated crops such as turnips, cotton, lettuce, strawberries, rhubarb, celery, peanuts, common oats, barley, millet, sorghum, common hops, beets, clover, cayenne pepper, tomatoes, tobacco, fennel, garden peas, soybeans, sunflowers, peaches and apples. It also attacks ornamental flowers such as cannas, dahlias, cosmos, gladiolus, chrysanthemums and hollyhocks. Examples of other reported hosts that are mostly weedy species include Redroot Amaranth (Amaranthus retroflexus), Lesser Burdock (Arctium minus), Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris), beggarticks (Bidens spp.), jimsonweed (Datura spp.), Common Barnyard-grass (Echinochloa crusgalli), Marijuana (Cannabis sativa), Annual Sunflower (Helianthus annuus), smartweeds (Polygonum spp.), Curly Dock (Rumex crispus), Bitter Dock (R. obtusifolius) and Johnson Grass (Sorghum halepense). Caffrey and Worthley (1927) noted that many of these are used because they grow in close proximity to corn plants. - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights and pheromone traps, and the larvae can be found on corn, potatoes, and other host plants.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 SE
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: This introduced pest is of no conservation concern.

 Photo Gallery for Ostrinia nubilalis - European Corn Borer Moth

Photos: 7

Recorded by: Lenny Lampel on 2016-08-04
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: B. Bockhahn, P. Coin, C. Sorenson on 2015-07-24
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: B. Bockhahn, P. Scharf on 2015-07-22
Stanly Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Paul Scharf on 2015-05-07
Warren Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Doug Blatny / Jackie Nelson on 2012-05-27
Ashe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: T. DeSantis on 2010-04-17
Camden Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: T. DeSantis on 2009-08-22
Camden Co.
Comment: