Editing Western corn rootworm (section)

== Feeding habits ==

Rootworm larvae can complete development only on corn and a few other species of grasses. Rootworm larvae reared on other grasses (specifically, yellow foxtail) emerged as adults later and had smaller head capsule size as adults compared to larvae reared on corn.<ref name="Ellsbury">{{Cite journal | doi = 10.1603/0046-225X-34.3.627| title = Interactions Among Western Corn Rootworm (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), Yellow Foxtail, and Corn| journal = Environmental Entomology| volume = 34| issue = 3| pages = 627–634| year = 2005| last1 = Ellsbury | first1 = M. M.| last2 = Banken | first2 = K. R.| last3 = Clay | first3 = S. A.| last4 = Forcella | first4 = F.| doi-access = free}}</ref> Adults feed primarily on corn silk, pollen and kernels on exposed ear tips, although they will feed on leaves and pollen of other plants. Adults begin emerging before corn reproductive tissues are present, adults may feed on leaf tissue, scraping away the green surface tissue and leaving a window-pane appearance. However, adults quickly shift to preferred green silks and pollen as they become available. Northern corn rootworm adults feed on reproductive tissues of the corn plant, but rarely feed on corn leaves. "Northern" adults are more likely than "western" adults to abandon corn and seek pollen or flowers of other plants as corn matures.<ref name="Wright" />