This Eurasian species was first observed in the United States near Boston in 1917, and by the 1940s it had migrated into Missouri. Insecticides must be applied in a timely manner to achieve effective control. May. The adults usually mate within 48 hours of emergence in the grassy field margins around crop fields.
Male moths are smaller and darker and have olive-brown wing markings.
The female moth is an active flier and is capable of traveling 5 miles in a night. At dusk she will begin laying her eggs in masses of five to 50 eggs on the underside of leaves near the leaf midrib. Within 3 to 7 days, the young larvae hatch and are initially dull white with several rows of small brown spots. Fully grown larvae are about 1 inch long, light tan to a pinkish gray, and marked with two rows of small, circular, brown spots. European corn borer development rapidly slows in the summer when temperatures exceed 85 degrees F. Figure 1.