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Hungry Corn Root Worm

Monday, 4 August 2014 at 10:41

Corn Root Worm Larvae feeds off corn roots.

Corn Root Worm is getting ready to lay it's eggs and feast on corn in August.

OXFORD COUNTY- The widespread Corn Root Worm is working up an appetite in August, working double duty eating the corn and laying its eggs. The pest is native to Ontario and causes widespread destruction on corn crops if left to its own devices. Ministry of Agriculture corn specialist Greg Stewart says there are two ways the pest destroys the plant. 

"The larval stage, sort of a little worm, thats when it does the most damage it feeds on the corn roots and so it can do so much feeding on the corn roots, the corn plants cant take up water or nutrients very well and in some cases can't even stand up," said Stewart.

"There's a sort of yellow or green beetle about quarter of an inch long, then they feed on pollen and silks, and leaves and they're observed in August and September and that's when they actually lay the eggs in corn fields."

The pest can be avoided with a simple planting strategy.

"If you don't plant two years of corn in a row that is you rotate it so you plant corn this year and say soy beans next year then root worm doesnt cause the soy beans plants any problems."

The pests are manageable, however other variations are popping up in North America that are harder to deal with. 

For more information on the pest visit http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/pub812/1crw.htm

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