As the name implies, the beetle hops like a flea. It eats holes in the leaves and feeding may severely weaken the seedling. Corn Earworm and Fall Army Worm - Damage to corn whorl or buds may be caused by the corn earworm and the fall armyworm. Both insects may be present in the same field. It also has a more greasy and smoother appearance than corn earworm because of fewer hairs on the body.
Corn can withstand a considerable amount of whorl damage.
When infestations are heavy enough to cause dead-heart or severe stunting of plants, yield loss may occur. When worms infest young plants, two to three feet in height, they may kill the center of the plant and on seedlings, death of the whole plant may occur. To determine the infestation level, check corn whorls for worms. Control is justified when you find three to six worms per plant. Several insecticides are effective.