Insect Alert For

Black Cutworm

Risk Level:
Low
Affected Area:
Full page
Alert Details

A very active weather week is predicted for a large portion of the corn-growing region this week. Multiple opportunities for precipitation along with south to southwest winds keep black cutworm migration risks in the forecast on a daily basis. Increased migration risks are in the forecast especially later in the week and into next weekend as southerly winds increase and a cold front likely begins moving through the corn-growing region. Low risks are in place tonight into tomorrow morning from northeast Kansas and eastern Nebraska northeast into Minnesota, Wisconsin, and far southwest lower Michigan as well as into Indiana as south winds increase across the Mississippi River valley. Low risks continue in the forecast tomorrow into Wednesday morning mainly across fields along/south of I-90 from the eastern Plains into the eastern corn-growing region as a frontal boundary settles into an east-west position along/south of I-80. By late week, as a new low pressure system organizes in the Plains and begins to drag a cold front east across the corn-growing region, south to southwest winds are likely to increase. As a result, Moderate black cutworm migration risks are in the forecast especially across the southern Great Lakes region into the eastern Midwest Wednesday night into Thursday morning and then across Wisconsin and northern Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan Friday night into Saturday morning. At this point, late planted or fields yet to be planted are at the greatest risk, or those especially in Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, and northern Wisconsin. While some flights are likely to occur in other portions of the Midwest, they should be more isolated and may not pose a threat to this year’s crop especially in areas that were planted earlier and have already emerged. These fields may see corn advance in growth past critical stages where black cutworms could cause damage by the time enough heat units accumulate in June.