Newly emerging leaves from the whorl often have numerous large holes. Injury becomes obvious when the plant terminal begins to wilt and turn brown. Stalk borers are very common pests of corn, especially in rows next to grassy waterways and fence lines. These rows often are stunted in height. Early stage stalk borer has a purple midsection and an orange head with a black stripe.
Young larvae have cream-colored stripes along the center of the back and along each side.
The dark stripes and purple heart fade in older larvae. All larvae have a dark stripe on each side of the head. Females lay eggs in grassy or weedy areas during late summer and the larvae hatch the following spring. There is one generation per year. Hop vine borers are stem-tunneling caterpillars that kill young corn plants.