What are the common pest species in the corn seedling stage?

The corn seedling stage is the period with the greatest variety of pests, the most concentrated occurrence, and also the most severe damage. If control is not carried out in time, losses may result. So what are the pests in the corn seedling stage?

1. Thrips

They mainly damage the heart leaves, generally causing damage to the tender leaves inside the seedling, and can also secrete toxins that inhibit corn growth. Silvery-gray spots appear on the leaves, the leaves lose green and turn yellow, and some leaves split, become deformed, and twist so they cannot unfold, resembling a cow's tail. They can cause damage as soon as the corn emerges, seriously affecting corn growth and internode elongation.

2. Corn rootworm

Damage occurs later than that of the wheat stem fly, mainly because the larvae bore into the seedling from the root and stem area, causing the corn to wilt and have dead heart, with leaves curling and deforming.

3. Third and fourth generations of the wheat stem fly

They damage summer-sown corn, millet, and other crops. Eggs can be laid as soon as the corn emerges, and maggot-type larvae hatch in about three days, mostly showing symptoms on the second to fourth leaves of the corn. They mainly damage the heart leaves, causing the heart leaves to stick together and rot, showing dead heart or various deformities, such as the heart leaves being unable to unfold and growing in a curved bundle, the edges of unfolded heart leaves being broken and yellow with transparent mucus, some damaged top leaves becoming scattered and wrinkled, some leaves showing longitudinal splits, notches, and white streaks, and some plants becoming dwarfed with abnormal tillering and unable to grow ears. Variety, sowing date, and the amount of firewood and grass are directly related to the occurrence of damage.

4. Armyworms and other pests

They generally can cause damage in late June. Armyworms are migratory and often cause severe localized outbreaks that eat the seedlings bare.

5. Other planthoppers, leafhoppers, mirid bugs, and red spiders

They mainly damage leaves, piercing and sucking leaf sap, causing blight spots and blight points on the leaf surface, and in severe cases can cause leaf tips to wither and leaves to dry.

Although there are many pests in the corn seedling stage, their occurrence time is concentrated and the relative damage period is short. As long as control work is done well, they can be effectively prevented.