The European corn borer (ECB) is a major pest of corn in the United States. It is a small, black and white moth that lays its eggs on the leaves of corn plants. The larvae hatch and tunnel into the stalks, ears, and leaves of the plant, causing significant damage.

Bt corn is a type of genetically modified organism (GMO) that has been enhanced through biotechnology to protect against insect pests. The protection comes from a naturally occurring microorganism called Bacillus thuringiensis or “Bt.” The protein produced by Bt corn selectively targets caterpillar larvae, like the kind that infect corn.

Graph of Grain Yields