Insect Alert For

Corn Earworm

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

High corn earworm migration risks are predicted tonight into Wednesday morning across portions of northeast Missouri, northern and central Illinois, eastern Iowa, southern Wisconsin, southwest Michigan, northern Indiana, and northwest Ohio. Moderate risks are predicted mainly east of I-35 including portions of eastern Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, southeast Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, lower Michigan, and southwest Ontario Canada. Low risks extend east into Pennsylvania. A cold front will push southeast through the corn-growing region today into tonight. Southwest winds in advance of the front may coincide with at least scattered precipitation along the front to produce a favorable drop zone for migrating corn earworm moths. The most favorable drop zone region is across the southwest Great Lakes region but additional scattered moth flights may be seen further west to near I-35 and also east into Ontario, Canada and Ohio/Pennsylvania. Growers are urged to monitor their fields this week not only for new migrants that are expected to arrive but also for the emergence of second generation moths that may result in feeding. Additional Low migration risks are predicted for Thursday night into Friday mainly for fields east of I-35 and south of I-80 in Iowa and Illinois and also south of I-94 into Michigan. Additional isolated moth flights are predicted across Kansas, Nebraska, and southern South Dakota by this weekend as the next weather system moves in from the west.