Insect Alert For

Black Cutworm

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

Black cutworm migration risks abound in the next several days as an active and complex weather pattern takes hold across the corn-growing region. Several opportunities for black cutworm migration exist through Monday, with a greater focus on the central and eastern growing areas as a whole especially heading into this weekend. Low migration risks are predicted tonight into tomorrow morning generally west of Lake Michigan and the I-57 corridor in eastern Illinois as the first of two low pressure systems develops in the central Plains states. Moderate risks are then in the forecast tomorrow night into Saturday for portions of Missouri, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and lower Michigan as south to southwest winds continue to increase east of a cold front and as more precipitation comes into play further east. Moderate risks continue in the forecast both Saturday night and Sunday night mainly for areas along/east of the Mississippi River as the front moves southeast, and as south to southwest winds continue east of the front. Growers should monitor traps closely and also keep track of heat unit accumulations from any previous flights that may have occurred this month. Additional moth captures are likely in some areas this weekend, again especially in central and eastern portions of the corn-growing region but even areas further west may see more isolated flights in higher numbers.