Tomato fruitworm / Corn earworm

Natural Habitat

Agricultural fields, gardens, and diverse landscapes worldwide, especially where host plants like tomato, corn, and cotton are grown.

Diet & Feeding

Polyphagous herbivore; larvae feed on fruits, flowers, and leaves of over 100 plant species, including tomatoes, corn, cotton, and beans.

Behavior Patterns

Larvae are often cannibalistic if they encounter each other. They typically bore into fruit or ears of corn to feed internally. Moths are nocturnal and attracted to light.

Risks & Benefits

A major agricultural pest causing significant crop damage and economic loss. Benefits to the ecosystem are minimal, primarily serving as a food source for birds and predatory insects.

Identified on: 6/5/2026