Which corn pest is known for causing significant damage to corn plants?

The black cutworm is particularly notorious for causing significant damage to corn plants. This pest primarily targets young corn seedlings, where its larvae can cut the plants at the base, leading to wilted or dead corn plants that can drastically reduce crop yields. The damage typically occurs in the early stages of growth, making it especially critical during the planting season when corn is most vulnerable.

In contrast, while spider mites, ants, and thrips can also be pests of corn, their impact is usually less severe compared to the black cutworm. Spider mites are more often associated with environmental stress and are problematic under low humidity conditions, primarily causing leaf stippling rather than cutting plants. Ants, while they can protect aphids and other pests, do not directly harm corn plants themselves. Thrips, too, can feed on the leaves and cause damage, but they typically do not pose the same level of threat to corn as the black cutworm does, particularly in the critical stages of plant development.