The European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis Hübner, is known to attack nearly every herbaceous plant large enough for the larvae to enter. Although the borer is primarily considered a pest of corn, economic infestations in such New York crops as potatoes, gladiolus, and other large stem plants are not uncommon.

In 1977, 1978, and 1979, economic levels of borer infestations were observed in winter wheat. In 1977, the presence of borer in wheat was noted at a number of sites, but only a few cases could be considered economically significant. However, in the 1978 season, the presence of borer in wheat had become common and reports of economic infestations exceeding 5 or 10% were widespread in the western New York wheat growing region. In 1979, the problem of borer on wheat declined significantly, and of infestations located, only one could be considered of economic significance.