Insect Alert For

Corn Earworm

Risk Level:
Low
Affected Area:
Full page
Alert Details

A continued active weather pattern across a large portion of the corn-growing region will keep corn earworm migration risks in the forecast on a virtually daily basis for the next week. As a low pressure system continues to develop in the Plains states and high pressure remains in place across the eastern United States, south to southwest winds are likely to continue to the east of a trailing cold front south of the low pressure system. Winds should be less than optimal tonight into tomorrow morning for more than isolated moth flights, so Low risks are predicted generally from I-90 south and west of the I-65 corridor, or from Kansas and Nebraska east into Indiana and as far north as southern Minnesota and Wisconsin. Low pressure then moves east into the upper Midwest by tomorrow night, and a strong cold front is likely to push southeast through the heart of the corn-growing region and into the Great Lakes and eastern fields by Friday. South to southwest winds are likely to become stronger ahead of this front, so Moderate migration risks are predicted from southeast Missouri and Kentucky northeast into southern and eastern Illinois, Indiana, western Ohio, and extreme southern lower Michigan. Low risks extend east into the western edge of the Appalachian Mountains. After a break in the migration risks Friday night into Saturday morning, Low risks once again are in the forecast by Saturday night across the Plains and then as far east as the Mississippi River by Sunday night into Monday morning. Additional risk areas are likely next week. Growers should continue to monitor traps especially if fields are at a susceptible stage to damage as corn earworm flights are likely to be earlier this year in comparison to the past 2-3 summers given a favorable weather pattern and crops at a more advanced stage of growth due to warmer temperatures.