Corn Earworm vs Cane Cockroach

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Corn Earworm Cane Cockroach
Scientific Name Helicoverpa zea Methana marginalis
Order Lepidoptera Blattodea
Family Noctuidae Blattidae
Size 35-40 mm wingspan 25-35 mm
Habitat Farmland Gardens
Diet Fruit Feeders Fruit Feeders
Regions Americas Australia
Conservation Not Evaluated Least Concern

Corn Earworm

A highly polyphagous moth whose caterpillars feed inside corn ears, tomato fruits, and cotton bolls. It is one of the costliest crop pests in the Americas.

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Did You Know?

Caterpillars are cannibalistic, so usually only one survives per corn ear.

Cane Cockroach

A dark brown native cockroach commonly found in cane fields and tropical gardens. It has a distinctive pale margin along the edges of its pronotum.

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Did You Know?

Despite its name, it is a native Australian species and not an agricultural pest.