EFFECTS OF A NATURAL BIVOLTINE STRAIN OF THE EUROPEAN CORN BORER, OSTRINIA NUBILALIS (LEPIDOPTERA: PYRALIDAE), ON GRAIN CORN YIELDS IN SOUTHWESTERN ONTARIO, 1973–77

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Abstract
A 5-year study of a bivoltine strain of the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner), showed that first-generation moths deposited more eggs on early-planted corn, whereas second-generation moths oviposited more frequently on late-planted corn. The second generation was much larger than the first generation and caused the greater reduction in yield, regardless of whether the yields were based on physiological losses or a combination of physiological losses and dropped ears. It was shown that delay of harvest beyond the time that moisture content of the corn was sufficiently low for machine harvesting could result in severe yield losses from broken stalks and dropped ears during autumn storms.