What's eating my bloody butcher corn?

Bloody Butcher Corn faces corn earworm as its worst threat — larvae bore directly into ears and destroy kernels. European corn borer tunnels through stalks, aphids cluster below leaves, and deer and raccoons raid ears as they ripen. Mineral oil applied to silks and physical fencing are the most effective defenses.

Caterpillars feed inside the ear tip, destroying kernels and leaving frass; entry hole visible at the silk end. Apply a few drops of mineral oil to each ear's silk just after pollination; Bt spray on silks; beneficial nematodes in soil.

Larvae tunnel into stalks and cobs, causing broken tassels, lodged plants, and frass-filled bore holes in stems. Apply Bt or spinosad at first tassel emergence; remove and destroy crop debris after harvest to break cycle.

Dense blue-grey colonies on leaves and tassels; honeydew fosters sooty mould and can interfere with pollination. Tolerate light infestations; encourage natural enemies; insecticidal soap spray if colonies cover more than 50% of tassels.

Ears torn from stalks and husks peeled; deer also browse on young plants; damage typically occurs overnight. Electric fence with two wires (15 cm and 60 cm) deters raccoons effectively; tall physical fencing for deer.