Insect Alert For

Western Bean Cutworm

Risk Level:
Low
Affected Area:
Full page
Alert Details

The first western bean cutworm development risk for the 2012 growing season is now in place across a portion of the eastern corn-growing region. A few moths have been recently caught at several trap sites in northwestern/western Ohio. As a result, Low western bean cutworm risks to account for additional development in and near this region are predicted for this weekend and early next week across portions of northeast Indiana, northwest Ohio, and adjacent sections of southern and southeastern Michigan. While heat unit accumulations still have a few more weeks to go before more widespread initial emergence occurs, the presence of early moths does suggest that at least isolated development may be underway across a favored geography for western bean cutworm. The risk brings awareness that this insect’s annual generational cycle may be commencing, and growers in and near the initial risk area should be on the lookout for additional moths in the coming weeks especially as corn advances closer to critical growth stages.