Fumonisins are a type of mycotoxin produced by Fusarium spp., mainly F. proliferatum and F. vertieilliodes. Fumonisins represent a potential hazard to the health of animals and humans. Autophagic cell death is a method of programed cell death called type II PCD, which has complicated connections with apoptosis. Our results indicated that FB1 substantially inhibited cell viability and was cytotoxic to hemocytes of Ostrinia furnacalis in a time and concentration dependent manner. We verified the activation of FB1-induced autophagy according to MDC staining, Lyso-Tracker Red probe staining, TEM observation and atg8-PE expression levels. We discovered that FB1 induced apoptosis in only a few cells based on Annexin V-FITC and PI staining. These results suggested that FB1 induced survivin inhibition and triggered autophagic cell death in the cell line. These findings might provide a plausible explanation for the underlying mechanisms of FB1 toxicity in insect cellular immune system. In addition, we provided the atg8 gene sequence of Ostrinia furnacalis, and it would be very useful to researchers if they were to study corn borer.