Insect Alert For

Corn Earworm

Risk Level:
Low
Affected Area:
Full page
Alert Details

A brief lull in corn earworm migration activity is predicted tonight into tomorrow as much of the corn-growing region is in between weather systems. Low pressure will continue to develop across the western Plains today, and southerly winds will slowly increase to the east of this feature especially across the central Plains but also into portions of the western Midwest. Low risks are in place tonight from Nebraska and western Iowa southward into Kansas and western Missouri for the possibility of isolated corn earworm moth flights. As the low pressure continues to deepen and move to the northeast, high pressure will slide into the eastern and southeastern United States, allowing south to southwest winds to really increase and expand north and east across the corn-growing region. Precipitation is also predicted to become more common and may serve as insect drop zones, so Moderate corn earworm migration risks are back in the forecast tomorrow night into Saturday morning across Nebraska, eastern South Dakota, central/southern Minnesota, Iowa, and western Wisconsin. As a cold front moves east, Moderate risks are also shifted to the east of I-35 by Saturday night into Sunday, and include eastern Iowa, southeast Minnesota, central/southern Wisconsin, northern Illinois, northern Indiana, and far west central into southwest lower Michigan. No additional risks are predicted after midday Sunday as northwest flow returns to the corn-growing region. Growers located especially along and north of I-80, however, should monitor traps closely and scout fields for signs of new corn earworms and be prepared to take any needed action based on crop stage and insect intensity.

KEYWORDS: ,