Helicoverpa zea It is dismaying (and, I'll admit, a bit disgusting) to find these messy feeders in an ear of corn. But the damage is usually limited to the kernels in the tip. The same caterpillar also feeds on tomatoes (where it's known as the tomato fruitworm) and other vegetables. What to do now: The easiest solution is to cut off the damaged tip and eat the rest of the ear. Researchers at the University of Massachusetts found that using an eyedropper to squirt five drops of corn or soybean oil into the tip of each ear prevented damage. The oil smothers newly hatched caterpillars, when applied just as the first silk begins to wilt and turn brown (about four to six days after silk begins to form). Handpick caterpillars on tomatoes or spray the BTK I recommended for imported cabbageworms. Next year: Grow corn varieties with tight husks, such as 'Country Gentleman' and 'Breeder's Choice', which resist egg laying by the moths.
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