Corn Earworm
Corn earworm migration risks return to at least a portion of the corn-growing region, mainly west of Lake Michigan, by late week and into next weekend as a cold front pushes southeast through the Midwest. The predominant wind flow, however is from the northwest so the possibility for larger scale migrations is very low. As a result, only Low risks are in the forecast despite a growing and active moth population in mid-south and Mississippi delta source regions. Low risks are initially found mainly in Kansas and Nebraska tomorrow night into Thursday morning as low pressure organizes in the western Plains states and southerly winds begin to blow north. The risk shifts slightly north and east into the I-90 and US 65 corridors for Thursday night into Friday, and then as far north as near Minneapolis, Minnesota and near Green Bay, Wisconsin, but mainly west of Lake Michigan and I-55 in Illinois by Friday night into Saturday morning. While some isolated moth flights are possible late week into next weekend, widespread problems are not currently anticipated based on the predicted weather pattern and expected source regions for any southerly winds. Growers with crops at susceptible stages to damage should continue to monitor traps closely and take any necessary action based on thresholds set for that particular crop.