Insect Alert For

Corn Earworm

Risk Level:
Low
Affected Area:
Full page
Alert Details

Low corn earworm migration risks continue through the next four days as persistent south to southwest winds are expected to provide at least an isolated opportunity for corn earworm migration to occur into portions of the corn-growing region. Initially, for tonight into Friday morning, the primary risk area is across the Great Lakes region and eastern corn-growing areas as a cold front pushes slowly southeast. The risk area, however, expands back to the west as the next low pressure system forms in Kansas and Nebraska on the tail end of the cold front. Southerly winds will return to the Plains and portions of the Midwest (especially to the south of I-80 and from Illinois west) by Friday night into Saturday morning, and then expand east and also north through much of the corn-growing region thereafter. The frontal boundary is finally expected to pass through much of the Plains and Midwest by early next week ending any potential migration risks. While crops are not at susceptible stages to damage from corn earworm as of yet, early moth flights can signal problems with later generations this summer so growers should still be on the lookout for new migrants into their fields.