How to identify
- Variable green to brown caterpillars in ear tips or fruit
- Frass at the silk end of corn ears
- Holes in green tomatoes
Damage: Wormy ear tips; tunneled tomatoes.
Control methods
- For corn, apply a drop of mineral oil to silks just after pollination (home-garden method).
- Harvest corn promptly; destroy infested tips.
- On tomatoes, hand-pick and remove damaged fruit.
What products to use
We list product types and what to check on the label — not brand rankings, prices, or “we tested” claims. Always follow the label for your crop, and prefer the least disruptive option that works.
Bt or spinosad timed to egg hatch
When: When moth flights are active (extension alerts help)
Look for: Labeled for corn earworm / fruitworm on the crop; silk sprays on corn need careful timing