Insect Alert For

Corn Earworm

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

Corn earworm migration possibilities will be on the increase especially as we move into latter portions of the weekend and next week. Between now and Saturday, no risk is predicted as northwest flow dominates the weather across much of the corn-growing region. By the weekend, however, low pressure will begin to organize in the Plains states as high pressure moves into the southeastern United States. Southerly winds are expected to increase, and may pose a migration threat especially by Sunday night into Monday morning primarily from eastern Kansas and southeast Nebraska east into Iowa, Missouri, and Illinois. A Low risk is in place by this time with the threat predicted to remain mainly south of US 20 in northern Iowa and Illinois. Additional migration risks are likely next week especially along and east of I-35, with risk upgrades also possible as a persistent south to southwest wind pattern may remain in place for several days. Growers are advised that while crops are not at a susceptible stage to damage, the first generation corn earworm moth flight typically occurs around this time each year and moth captures across the mid-south and southern states are running at or above average right now which may result in a flight next week. Second generation flights which can affect crops later in the growing season can be greater especially if the first generation flight contained high moth numbers.