Insect Alert For

Black Cutworm

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

A rather slow-moving low pressure system is expected to develop across the central Plains region over the next few days and eventually move through the heart of the corn-growing region by mid-late week and eventually east of the region by late week and next weekend. With high pressure focused across the southeastern United States, a favorable southerly to southwesterly wind pattern is likely to set up between these two pressure systems. Isolated to scattered black cutworm migration events may occur as a result, with Low risks in place tonight into tomorrow mainly from Kansas and Nebraska as far east as Indiana and southwest lower Michigan and potentially as far north as Minnesota and Wisconsin. Moderate risks on a more stout southerly wind regime are predicted tomorrow night into Wednesday morning across the Mississippi River valley, including portions of Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois. As the low pressure system moves east, Moderate risks shift east as well by Wednesday night into Thursday mainly across far eastern Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and lower Michigan. Growers should be cautioned that while there is no threat to any crops at this time, that these early season flights may result in generations that appear once the crop is in the ground and emerging later this spring so moth flights and dates should be documented even at this point to determine the most likely emergence date of the next generation.