Insect Alert For

Black Cutworm

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

Increased black cutworm migration risks are in the forecast this week as a more active weather pattern is expected to lead to at least isolated, if not scattered, moth flights into portions of the corn-growing region. Low risks are predicted tonight into tomorrow mainly east of I-35 and south of I-90 from Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, far southeast Minnesota, and points east as southerly winds increase ahead of a weak cool front. Moderate risks have been introduced into the forecast tomorrow night into Wednesday morning especially east of the I-57 corridor in eastern Illinois across Indiana, Ohio, and southern lower Michigan as a stronger cold front/low pressure system move through the northern corn-growing region. The positioning of this front will allow for gusty south to southwest winds over this region with an origin in likely black cutworm source regions in the mid-south and southern Mississippi River valley region. A brief break in the migration risks is expected after this front passes on Wednesday night into Thursday, but Low risks are already in the forecast late week and into the weekend as the next weather system develops in the Plains and moves east. This system does not appear as strong as the early week one, but given the time of year and anticipated planting over the next few weeks, forecasts will be aggressive in terms of potential migration risks.