Insect Alert For

Western Bean Cutworm

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

The annual western bean cutworm flight continues to increase across select regions of the corn-growing region. The greatest pressure at the present time appears to be in the northern half of Indiana where moth counts are the highest and where reports of egg laying and masses are more common. As a result, High western bean cutworm risks are now in place as peak flight moves through the northern portions of Indiana. Additional areas of concern remain in northern Kansas and Nebraska as well as sandier soils in western Iowa where a Moderate risk is in place. Additional Moderate risk regions are found in Wisconsin where the moth population continues to increase in a scattered fashion, and eastern Illinois is also likely seeing some moth activity. Growers from northwest into northeast Ohio should continue to monitor moth activity and signs of egg laying in the next week as well as into extreme southwest and southern Michigan where Moderate risks are in place. Low risks envelop much of the remainder of the corn-growing region where moth captures are lower or not present. Problems with this particular insect are likely to be more isolated to scattered but locally intense this year, so if you are especially in a Moderate or High risk region, consider monitoring your fields for western bean cutworm moths as well as egg masses and take appropriate action where it is needed.