Also known as pyralis. Latin name Ostrinia nubialis, it is an insect whose larvae eat and bore into the corn/maize plant (Zea mays L). In doing so, they can act as vectors (i.e., carriers) of the fungi known diS Aspergillusflavus (source of aflatoxin) or Fusarium moniliforme (source of fumonisin). ECB control can be effected via some of the following methods:
- spraying of conventional synthetic chemical pesticide
- spraying of pesticides produced via promulgation of Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.) bacteria
- incorporating a (protoxin) gene from Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.) into the DNA of the com plant, so that the plant itself produces B.t. protoxin.
As part of Integrated Pest Management (IPM), farmers can utilize:
- Corn possessing Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.) gene(s) to control populations of ECB without applying insecticides
- The parasitic Euplectrus comstockki wasp to help control the ECB. When that wasp’s venom is injected into ECB larva, it stops the larva from molting (and thus maturing).
- Other additional methods, alone or in concert with above