Insect Alert For

Corn Earworm

Risk Level:
Low
Affected Area:
No risk Full page
Alert Details

A very active early fall weather pattern is expected to remain in place across the corn-growing region through the rest of this month and right into early October, as well. Southwest flow will be the dominant pattern, so despite the calendar now saying it is fall and late September, we are still carrying Low migration risks as late/re-planted fields as well as intentionally late planted processing and fresh market fields are still at risk of seeing corn earworm damage. Low risks are predicted tomorrow night into Friday from Nebraska and Minnesota as far east as Lake Michigan and northern Illinois and southerly winds increase ahead of a developing low pressure system and cold front in the Plains states. This cold front will push southeast late in the week and weekend, so Low risks focus mainly across the southern Great Lakes and eastern corn-growing region on Friday night into Saturday. Already by late in the weekend and early next week, however, the next weather system is likely to develop in the Plains and spread stout southerly winds back into the corn-growing region, especially from Lake Michigan westward. Growers with crops still at susceptible stages to corn earworm damage should not let their guard down yet – additional moth arrivals and damage to crops are still possible despite the late point in this growing season.