The European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis)

The European corn borer spends the winter as larve in the stems of the corn plant In spring, it pupates and flies from the middle of June until July. Right after it has started flying the female insects lay their eggs onto the undersurface of the leaves of the corn plants. After a few days, the larves hatch out. They bore their way into the stem and eat in cop and stem.

Larves of the corn borer in corn cob

This damage caused by eaten away lead to losses of yield which can even increase by a rise of the risk during storage of the stock. They bore their way into the stem and eat in cop and stem.

Trichogramma

A beneficial and natural enemy of the corn borer is Trichogramma brassicae.

Trichogramma brassica

By applying a high amount of Trichogramma brassica timely, a high percentage of the eggs of the corn borer are attacked by the female Trichogramma.

After 8-12 days, Trichogramma hatch out of these eggs and look ffor new eggs to attack. Hence, infestation and spreading of the corn borer is visibly being decreased.

The situation in Germany

The area of infestation of the European corn borer is about 100.000 ha with increasing tendency.

The biological suppression by using Trichogramma is executed un an area of 12.000 ha at the moment.

Unlike the chemical control with insecticides, our Trichogramma are distributed by hand in the patented TRICHOSAFE^® application packages. That is why distribution can be carried out at the right moment and it does not depend on the height of the corn plant and whether the ground can be driven on.

When using Trichogramma against the European corn borer, other beneficial insectary are being protected and therefore it helps to prevent the appearance of greenfly epidemics. The use of Trichogramma protects important opponents of greenflies and other beneficial insectary.