Something eating on my sweet corn

[sam5570]

Last year coons got into the garden the night BEFORE we was going to pick some last year. This year I've tighten up the fence some and improved how the electric fence was setup. I suppose it is coons....but I'm still not sure, since the game camera hasn't caught anything. Plus it's way before there is corn to eat.

Could it be a corn bore? Here's a bit better picture. Sam I was wanting to take the stalk to someone to ID what did it....but was unsure who to take it too.

the people here that carry all the fertilizer and plants (our local feed stores) know alot about this stuff do you have them in your area i just now seen the last pic and looks just like what coons do to it they ride it down then get the ears hope we can figure out before you loose any more

 

[jcummins]

To early, corn has no ears at all. That's part of the puzzle....these are chewing on the stalk.

 

[blueriver]

Well I'll say "Black Cut Worm" ... usually they hit ground level BUT they will bore the center of the stalk and come out anywhere on the stalk making it do what your picture shows .... Liquid Sevin Dust Concentrate ... mix it with water per the instructions and spray the corn.... and if its not the Cut worm it will stop anything in the worm family that may be doing it.

 

[Western]

I would show it to your local AG office, guarantee they've seen it before.

I saw this product mentioned on a hunting forum, you'll have to judge the morality/legality of it.

This fly control product has been used to control coons by a few folks that feed corn to deer (using deer feeders), Supposedly works on killing coons as well as flys. Don't know, reported as extremely effective.

Starbar Golden Malrin Fly Bait, 5 lb. - 2212653 | Tractor Supply Company

 

[nelso1]

Chewing on the stalk is a good example of a cut worm or corn borer. For either one, you can do a quick Bing search. eHow has a good article on corn borers. Here's one for cut worms: Cutworms - Identifying and Controlling Cutworms in the Garden .

 

[jcummins]

Blueriver and nelso1 nails it. Found out an AG agent with U of I lives real close to me. He stopped by this morning. Says it's combination of different worms, saw some Japanese beetles too. So I'm headed to town for some Sevin.

 

[BATTY54]

You are not the only one, here are a few pics of my corn damage, looks similar, don't think worms or bugs could have dragged the plants away. What ever did the damage left no tracks in the soil. It had to be the size of squirrel, chipmunk or crow. Turkeys or racoons would have left tracks. There is not much left after the crows got an early start as soon as it broke through the soil and now this.

 

[jcummins]

You are not the only one, here are a few pics of my corn damage, looks similar, don't think worms or bugs could have dragged the plants away. What ever did the damage left no tracks in the soil. It had to be the size of squirrel, chipmunk or crow. Turkeys or racoons would have left tracks. There is not much left after the crows got an early start as soon as it broke through the soil and now this.

When I talked to the agent and said the corn was 3+ foot high, he was doubtful it was cut worms. They normal go for the smaller crops. But once he got here and saw first hand, it was multiple types of worms and beetles. From my research Sevin takes care of all of them. From your pics, I'd say you got the same problem, I'd get some liquid Sevin.

 

[Stimw]

I grew some BEAUTIFUL corn a couple years ago and got one pick, the next day it was wiped out! My problem was squirrels. (doesn't anyone eat them anymore?)
I have given up on corn.
This thread got me thinking, what if I sprayed the almost ready ears with cayenne pepper/water spray? Shouldn't penetrate the husk. Any thoughts?

 

[sam5570]

When I talked to the agent and said the corn was 3+ foot high, he was doubtful it was cut worms. They normal go for the smaller crops. But once he got here and saw first hand, it was multiple types of worms and beetles. From my research Sevin takes care of all of them. From your pics, I'd say you got the same problem, I'd get some liquid Sevin.

sure glad you found the problem hope the sevin works should have time to re plant what they messed up