Comparison of Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner) Maize and Conventional Measures for Control of the European Corn Borer (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)

Field experiments were conducted in 1997 to compare the efficacy Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner) maize hybrids and two conventional measures for control of the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner). Treatments consisted of transgenic Bt maize hybrids and their non-Bt isolines, and isolines treated with a formulated Bt or permethrin insecticide. All control measures significantly reduced O. nubilalis damage in terms of tunnels per plant, length of tunneling, and larvae per plant. The following hierarchy in terms of O. nubilalis efficacy was observed: transgenic Bt > permethrin > formulated Bt > control. In most cases, transgenic Bt maize was most effective in preventing European corn borer damage to ear shanks and generally produced the highest grain yields.