Insect Alert For

Corn Earworm

Risk Level:
Moderate Risk Level
Affected Area:
Full page
Alert Details

Moderate corn earworm migration risks are in place across southwest portions of the corn-growing region the next two nights. Rather strong south to southwest winds are expected to blow in areas east of a southeastward advancing cold front from the Plains states into portions of the Midwest. With field corn now silking in portions of the southwest corn-growing region and fresh market sweet corn likely at a critical stage where corn earworm feeding could occur, a Moderate risk is in place across portions of Kansas, southern Nebraska, and western Missouri tonight into tomorrow morning. For Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, the same areas that are in a Moderate risk remain so but additional fields further north and east into Iowa and northern/eastern Missouri are also included. Low risks extend into the upper Midwest and also portions of the Great Lakes region as high pressure settles into the southeast United States and south to southwest winds expand their coverage area. As low pressure and a cold front sweep across the corn-growing region Wednesday night into Thursday, migration risks remain to the east of the front but are only in the Low category as the low pressure system and associated southerly winds weaken. A new low risk area is introduced to the forecast on Day 5 (Friday night into Saturday) as the next low pressure system in a progressive weather pattern develops across the Plains. Areas south of I-90 and west of I-35 have a Low risk at that time.