Pest identification
What's eating my popcorn?
Corn earworm (Helicoverpa zea)
Signs: Caterpillars tunnel into the cob tip via silks; frass and kernel damage at the tip; infection of entry wounds by moulds.
Control: Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki) applied to silks every 3–5 days from 10% silk emergence; mineral oil drops into silk channel.
Squirrels & birds
Signs: Gnaw through husks to reach kernels; can strip an entire patch of small Strawberry Popcorn cobs as they ripen.
Control: Net the block; use paper or mesh bags over individual cobs as they mature; allow cobs to fully dry on the stalk inside a netted structure.
European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis)
Signs: Larvae bore into stalks and cobs, causing stalk breakage and entry points for disease.
Control: Bt spray at egg-hatch timing; remove and destroy infested stalks after harvest; rotate corn away from same site.
Corn leaf aphid
Signs: Dense colonies on upper leaves and tassels during the long season; honeydew and sooty mould; reduced photosynthesis.
Control: Encourage natural enemies; remove heavily infested leaves; insecticidal soap spray if populations threaten tassels before pollination.
Keep popcorn pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Popcorn pests — FAQ
What is eating my popcorn?
Strawberry Popcorn requires a longer growing season, giving pests more time to build up. Corn earworm is the chief insect pest, attacking cobs through the silks. Squirrels and birds are persistent raiders. Corn leaf aphids colonise tassels. The ornamental small red cobs are attractive to wildlife, so netting is strongly advised.
How do I get rid of corn earworm (helicoverpa zea) on popcorn?
Caterpillars tunnel into the cob tip via silks; frass and kernel damage at the tip; infection of entry wounds by moulds. Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki) applied to silks every 3–5 days from 10% silk emergence; mineral oil drops into silk channel.
How do I get rid of squirrels & birds on popcorn?
Gnaw through husks to reach kernels; can strip an entire patch of small Strawberry Popcorn cobs as they ripen. Net the block; use paper or mesh bags over individual cobs as they mature; allow cobs to fully dry on the stalk inside a netted structure.
How do I get rid of european corn borer (ostrinia nubilalis) on popcorn?
Larvae bore into stalks and cobs, causing stalk breakage and entry points for disease. Bt spray at egg-hatch timing; remove and destroy infested stalks after harvest; rotate corn away from same site.
How do I get rid of corn leaf aphid on popcorn?
Dense colonies on upper leaves and tassels during the long season; honeydew and sooty mould; reduced photosynthesis. Encourage natural enemies; remove heavily infested leaves; insecticidal soap spray if populations threaten tassels before pollination.