Damage to germinating corn is common. Larvae of most species are cream to copper in color. This pest usually feeds on the roots of seedlings. Older infested plants are stunted and may not tassle. This typically wingless, pale green to blue-green aphid has a black head and black or reddish eyes.
Some females are gray and pink with a white, powdery coating.
Length varies from 0.3 mm for small nymphs to 2.0 mm for mature adults. Usually associated with anthills in corn fields, this aphid feeds on the roots causing the foliage to develop a yellowish to reddish tinge. Caterpillars - These moth larvae have three pairs of legs near the head and five pairs of prolegs. Cutworms - These fat, darkly colored caterpillars burrow in soil and debris during the day and cut off or partially sever seedlings near the soil line at night. This caterpillar, 3.5 to 45.5 mm in length, varies from light gray to black in color, often appearing greasy.