the european corn borer ("ostrinia nubilalis"), also known as the european corn worm or european high-flyer, is a moth of the family crambidae which includes other grass moths. it is a pest of grain, particularly corn (maize or "zea mays"). the insect is native to europe, originally infesting varieties of millet, including broom corn. the european corn borer was first reported in north america in 1917 in massachusetts, but was probably introduced from europe several years earlier. since its initial discovery in the americas, the insect has spread into canada and westward across the united states to the rocky mountains.