European Corn Borer, Ostrinia Nubilalis (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

European corn borer is native to Europe, where it is widespread. It also occurs in northern Africa. In neither area is it a serious pest. However, it gained access to North America near Boston, Massachusetts in 1917 where it quickly became troublesome. European corn borer quickly spread to the Great Lakes region. By 1948 it was established throughout the midwestern corn-growing region and eastern Canada. It now has spread as far west as the Rocky Mountains in both Canada and the United States, and south to the Gulf Coast states. The North American European corn borer population is thought to have resulted from multiple introductions from more than one area of Europe. Thus, there are at least two, and possibly more, strains present. The presence of an eastern or New York strain, and a mid western or Iowa strain, is evident because different pheromone blends are required to capture moths from each population. Both strains sometimes occur in the same area.