Ruqayyah Snyder
If you're growing corn, you may find that your crop is being eaten by a variety of pests. Birds, deer, raccoons, squirrels, and even black bears are all known to eat corn, and in Australia, you may also have to deal with possums. Corn aphids, a type of soft-bodied bug, can also be a problem as they attack all crop stages and transmit plant viruses. To protect your corn, you can try methods such as electric fences, noises, scarecrows, or duct tape.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Birds | Crows, Bowerbirds |
| Mammals | Deer, Raccoons, Squirrels, Possums, Mice, Rats, Woodchucks |
| Insects | Corn Earworm, Corn Aphid |
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What You'll Learn
Birds, including crows, are common corn eaters
Birds can cause significant damage to corn crops, and their droppings can contaminate surrounding crops. In regions where birds flock in large numbers, such as late summer in western New York, their feeding and waste can destroy nearly an entire crop. A Cornell Cooperative Extension study found that 84% of sweet corn farmers in western New York experienced crop losses due to birds.
To protect corn crops from birds, various deterrents and control measures can be implemented. These include scarecrows, electric fences, noises, and enviro-friendly netting with a fine-gauge mesh. For smaller plots, inflatable and moveable scarecrows can be effective if repositioned frequently. Methyl anthranilate, a chemical irritant that impairs birds' senses of taste and smell, is another humane option for deterring birds.
One highly effective method to protect sweet corn crops from birds is the use of automated laser systems. Birds perceive laser beams as threats and will avoid areas where the beams sweep. The AVIX Mark II laser system, for example, continuously sweeps a targeted area in random patterns, preventing birds from learning how to work around it.
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Deer, raccoons, squirrels and bears also eat corn
In Australia, birds, mice, and rats are the most common pests that eat corn seeds. Possums are also a potential culprit. However, if you're dealing with larger pests that eat corn, deer, raccoons, squirrels, and even bears may be the culprits.
Deer, raccoons, and squirrels can be persistent pests when it comes to corn crops. These animals can cause significant damage, leaving shredded corn and bent stems in their wake. While there are some creative deterrents, like the "three sisters" technique of planting corn with squash and beans, these critters often outsmart these methods. For example, while the squash vines' spines may deter raccoons and squirrels from eating the corn, they can also make it more difficult for humans to tend to the crops.
Raccoons, in particular, are intelligent creatures that can be challenging to repel. They have been known to ignore garlic, prickly plants, and even electric fences. Trapping and shooting raccoons is an extreme solution that may not be feasible or legal in some areas.
Squirrels, on the other hand, can be deterred by a motion-activated sprinkler, which can scare them away with a blast of water. Some people also find success with cayenne pepper or other hot pepper solutions, though these may need to be reapplied frequently.
Bears are another possible, though less common, culprit when it comes to corn theft. Black bears, for example, are opportunistic and will eat a variety of crops, including field corn and sweet corn. They have a keen sense of smell and will travel far distances to find food. An electric fence is recommended to deter bears, as they are difficult to chase out once they have entered a crop field.
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Corn earworms can hatch and eat corn kernels
Corn earworms are a common issue for corn growers in Australia. These pests can hatch and eat corn kernels, causing significant damage to crops. Corn earworms are the larvae of a moth, and they feed on a variety of crops, including corn, and can be challenging to control.
The scientific name for the corn earworm is *Helicoverpa zea*, and they are a type of lepidopteran pest. The moths lay their eggs on or near corn plants, and the resulting larvae feed on the corn kernels, often causing extensive damage. The larvae are small, green or brown caterpillars, and they can be difficult to spot until the damage is already done.
In Australia, corn earworms are a particular problem in warm, humid regions, as these conditions are ideal for their development and reproduction. The pests can infest corn plants at any stage of growth but are most prevalent in years with an early break to the season followed by mild autumn weather. Corn earworm populations can build up rapidly under these conditions, leading to significant crop losses.
To control corn earworms, growers can use a range of methods, including chemical pesticides and biological control agents. One effective approach is to introduce natural predators of the corn earworm, such as parasitic wasps or entomopathogenic nematodes. These natural enemies can help to keep corn earworm populations in check without the need for potentially harmful chemicals.
Another strategy is to focus on exclusion and prevention. This can involve using fine mesh netting to cover corn plants, preventing the moths from laying eggs on the plants. It is also important to remove any alternative food sources for the pests, such as weeds or volunteer corn plants, and to practise good crop rotation to disrupt their life cycle. By combining these strategies, growers can effectively manage corn earworm infestations and protect their corn crops.
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Corn aphids are a sporadic pest in Australia
These soft-bodied bugs are light green to dark green, with two darker patches at the base of each cornicle (siphunculi). They can be winged or wingless, with adults growing up to 2mm long, and having antennae that extend to about a third of their body length. Nymphs are smaller and always wingless.
Winged aphids fly into crops from grass weeds, pasture grasses or other cereal crops, and colonies start to build up within the crop. Aphids can reproduce both sexually and asexually, but in Australia, the sexual phase is often lost, and females give birth to live young. Aphid populations peak in late winter and early spring, with optimal temperatures for survival and reproduction between 20-25°C.
Corn aphids can be found all year round, but they are most commonly found during summer and early autumn on volunteer grasses and self-sown cereals. They can invade crops at any time from the seedling stage to grain fill, and they transmit viruses that cause yield losses, such as the barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) and turnip mosaic viruses (TuMV). These viruses are not seed-borne but are spread by aphids feeding and probing between plants.
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Mice and rats may dig up corn seeds
Rats and mice are known to dig up and eat corn seeds, and they are common in gardens in Australia. They are active during both the day and night and are relatively unafraid of humans. Rats and mice will dig up and eat the seeds, killing the plant in the process. They are also known to mow down tender seedlings.
To prevent this, you can construct simple coils out of chicken wire to cover and protect your seedlings until they are large enough to be unpalatable to the rodents. The coils need to be sunk into the earth to prevent the rats from digging under them. Another option is to use fine-mesh netting or chicken wire to cover pots and containers, which can be removed once the corn starts growing.
Rats are also known to be repelled by mint and mothballs, so planting mint around nesting areas or using mothballs in greenhouses may help deter them. Additionally, ensuring that compost bins are completely enclosed and do not contain cooked food scraps, bread, dairy, or meat can help prevent rat infestations.
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Frequently asked questions
Birds, such as crows, are known to take over cornfields a few days before the corn is ready to be picked. They can leave shredded husks and hollow kernel shells.
Yes, raccoons, deer, squirrels, and even black bears are known to eat corn.
Raccoons climb corn stalks, damaging or breaking them, and strip the ears of corn. They also pull back the husks and partially eat the cob, leaving shredded husks and muddy cobs.
Deer will bite off the tip of the cob and take a few bites before moving on to another. They also knock down stalks, especially when running through the area.
Yes, corn aphids are a common pest in Australia. They are soft-bodied bugs that can be light or dark green with darker legs and antennae. They spread plant viruses and can cause significant yield losses.
