A Review of the European Corn Borer Outbreak in Ontario

The European corn borer (Pyrausta nubilalis) was discovered in Ontario in 1920. it increased in numbers with remarkable rapidity in the main corn growing counties. By 1926 all corn within an area of twelve hundred square miles was devastated. The normal acreage in two counties dropped from 140.000 to 45.000 acres. In the fall of the same year compulsory clean-up was started and has been continued ever since. As a result of the dean-up each spring there has been a reduction in the infestation, there is an increase in the acreage sown to corn. and the farmers feel that they can again grow corn and escape extensive damage.