Common Name: corn earworm Order: Lepidoptera
Scientific Name: Noctuidae: Heliothis zea Status: a major agricultural pest, particularly of sweet corn
Damaging Stage: caterpillar
Biology: Adult moths are light yellow and have distinctively different color patterns in the underwings. Larvae can be light green, pink, dark brown, or nearly black. They have alternating light and dark stripes that run longitudinally down the body. Usually, there are double dark stripes toward the center of the back. When mature, larvae reach a length of approximately 1 1/2 inches. There are usually two to three generations per year.
