Corn Ear Worm Research |
The corn earworm, (Helicoverpa zea), is one of the most destructive insect pests of corn in the United States. American farmers have to plant, on the average, about two million acres of corn each year just to feed corn earworms! Earworms prefer corn, but also feed on tomato, cotton, sorghum and strawberries to name the major crops. On these crops, they are called tomato fruit worms, bollworms (cotton), sorghum head worms and strawberry fruit worms, respectively. These insects occur throughout most of the Americas, but particularly in North and Central America. It has co-evolved with corn in its place of origin
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Why is the Corn Ear Worm a Problem?Common in vegetable gardens throughout North America, the corn earworm (Helicoverpa zea) is one of the most destructive insect pests attacking corn. It’s also known to bore into other fruiting vegetables and feed on lettuce. One worm can do extensive damage, and often a single larvae is all that’s found on a fouled ear. The corn earworm is also a serious pest of cotton where it is known as the cotton bollworm. On tomatoes it is known as the tomato fruitworm.
Damage usually begins in the corn’s silk, where the moth deposits its eggs. The caterpillars follow the silk down to the ear, eating as they go. Extensive damage is often found at the ear’s tips, where the worms devour kernels and foul them with excrement. The larvae often destroy the silks before pollination is complete. The resulting ears are deformed and susceptible to mold and disease. |
We Will Be Researching the Corn Ear Worm and focusing on its Life Cycle |
Corn Ear Worms in Our ClassroomThis experience will help develop our future scientists while working with USDA researchers in Fort Collins. Students will learn about the life cycle of the Corn Ear Worm and how it affects the growth of corn and sorghum. This insect can be raised in the classroom and used in simple experiments to seek solutions to the problem infestations of the corn earworm cause in agriculture. Additionally, participants will learn about other research occurring at the USDA ranging from Sugarbeets to Plant & Animal Genetic Resource Preservation. Our classroom will be assisted in our research during the 2016-17 school year with support from, Dr. Craig Wilson, USDA Future Scientists Program Director, followed by student presentations at the USDA in Fort Collins in Spring 2017
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During this project we are partnering with Dr. Craig Wilson. Dr. Wilson works for the USDA and also works at Texas A&M University. He will be visiting our classroom 3 times throughout the year to help engage and excite students about science.
He is an amazing guy, who has helped launch a wonderful program. Here are links to two articles explaining some of the work that he does with students around the world.
blogs.usda.gov/2014/09/30/future-scientists-programs-to-tackle-future-agricultural-challenges/
and
www.science.tamu.edu/news/story.php?story_ID=588#.V-sizvkrLtQ
He is an amazing guy, who has helped launch a wonderful program. Here are links to two articles explaining some of the work that he does with students around the world.
blogs.usda.gov/2014/09/30/future-scientists-programs-to-tackle-future-agricultural-challenges/
and
www.science.tamu.edu/news/story.php?story_ID=588#.V-sizvkrLtQ