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Home > Soil Insects > Southern Corn Rootworm

Southern Corn Rootworm

Description

  • also called the spotted cucumber beetle
  • adult is about 1/4 inch long, greenish yellow with 12 black spots on its back
  • adults have a black head and relatively long dark antennae
  • larvae are long and slender and are about 1/2 inch long when full grown
  • white to yellowish, with a distinct brown head
  • brown patch on top of the last abdominal segment

Damage

  • known to feed on more than 200 different plant species including many crops
  • adults are general foliage feeders
  • often occur in large numbers
  • damage appears as irregular holes in leaves, and damaged growing tips
  • may cause considerable leaf damage
  • occasionally seedlings are girdled at or near ground level
  • larvae feed on plant roots and bore into germinating seed
  • may infest large roots and underground stems
  • larval damage wilts and stunts plants or stand loss

 

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