CDFA Pest Prevention Plant Regulation Practice Exam

The southwestern corn borer overwinters as:

1. eggs

2. pupa

3. larva

4. adults

The correct answer is: larva

The southwestern corn borer indeed overwinters as a larva. This is significant because the larval stage of many insect species is often where they experience the most growth and development, particularly in their host environments. In the case of the southwestern corn borer, they spend the winter within corn stalks, where they are somewhat protected from the elements and can find food sources throughout the colder months. Understanding the life cycle of pests like the southwestern corn borer is crucial in pest management and prevention strategies. Knowing that it overwinters as a larva helps agricultural professionals time their control measures effectively, ensuring that they target the most vulnerable life stages of the pest. The other life stages, such as eggs, pupa, and adults, do not serve as the overwintering state for this specific pest. Eggs hatch into larvae, which then might develop into pupae, and finally into adult moths, but during winter, the larvae's resilience and adaptability allow them to survive adverse conditions more successfully than the other stages.