The caterpiller hibernates in the trunks of the corn on the soil surface. In spring it goes to pupa and in early summer the butterfly will hatch. After one day the adult will start the egg laying and will progress during several weeks. The eggs will be laid in groups close to the central leaf axis. The larva will hatch after 10 to 15 days depending on temperature and L1 and L2 feeds on leafs and antheras. L3 bores itself into the trunk of the corn and feeds inside the trunk. First they move upwards inside the trunk and later they will move downwards. At the knots the larva has to leaf the trunk and it bores into the trunk below the know again. In cool climate the foll developed L5 will go to diapause and finish the development in the next spring. In warmer climate a several generation will occur in the same year.

The flight starts in cooler areas at the beginning of summer. The actual climate situation for the flight is warm nights (more than 16°C) and high relative humidity (more than 80%). Flight can go over an period of 60 to 80 days depending on the actual climate. Approximately 10 to 14 days after the start of egg laying the first larva will occur. Another week later the first larva will enter the trunk of the corn. The period in between egg hatch and entering the trunk is where it can be reached by pesticide.

At the end of the season we can find up to 50% of the larvas at the lower third part of the trunk but only 10% to 20% at the ground of the trunk. This is the reason that corn for corn production is more in danger by European corn borer than corn for soilage.

 Development Model

 

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