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Northern Corn Rootworm
(John Obermeyer, Purdue University)

Common Name: Northern Corn Rootworm

Order: Coleoptera

Family: Chrysomelidae

Pest Status: Corn rootworm larvae are serious pests of field corn when they feed on the roots and cause the corn to lodge or die. The adults also disrupt pollination when they feed on the silks.

Appearance: Adults are only 1/4-inch in length. Newly emerged adults are cream-colored and become yellow-green over time.

Life Cycle: The females lay their eggs in the soil during the late summer. The larvae hatch in late spring of the following year and begin feeding on corn roots. The larvae complete three instars and pupate in mid-summer. The adults emerge a short time later.

Where to Collect: All stages are commonly found in fields of corn.