The corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea, is a serious direct pest of sweet corn and an annual obstacle to production. Effective control tactics target the egg stage as it occurs prior to the pest entering the corn ear. Previous studies in this system indicate that Coleomegilla maculatais the most important mortality source on sentinel corn earworm eggs, accounting for up to 46% of observed predation events.

Current research is investigating possible indirect augmentation of C. maculata. In this context the investigators are seeking to determine if the pest mortality caused by larval C. maculatais replaceable or not. A two year exclusion study is being conducted to determine this. Survival of sentinel corn earworm eggs is being examined in three treatments: (1.) larval C. maculataremoved and sticky barrier around base of plant; (2) sticky barrier around plant base to exclude epigeal predators; and (3) control. Egg survival was examined at 6, 24, and 48 h after experiment initiation. In 2003 survival was higher in the treatment with removal and exclusion of larval C. maculata. This work is to be replicated in 2004 and as of the writing of this abstract data has not been gathered.