Insect Alert For

Corn Earworm

Risk Level:
Low
Affected Area:
Full page
Alert Details

A new area of low pressure and associated cold front is expected to push southeast through the corn-growing region by early next week. Before this front moves through, however, corn earworm migration risks will remain in the forecast on a daily basis. Initially, Low risks are found across the Plains and far western corn-growing region mainly in Kansas, Nebraska, southern South Dakota, far southwest Minnesota, and western Iowa tonight into tomorrow morning. As high pressure in the Great Lakes region moves east, southerly winds should expand east, leading to Low migration risks further east into Wisconsin and western Illinois by tomorrow night into Sunday morning. By Sunday, the cold front will begin pushing southeast through the northern Plains and upper Midwest, and precipitation is likely to increase along and ahead of the front. With south to southwest winds continuing to the south of the front, Low migration risks remain in place from Kansas and southern Nebraska northeast into southern Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and points southeast. By Monday night into Tuesday, a Moderate corn earworm migration risk remains in the forecast for southeast Kansas east into southern Missouri where southerly winds in combination with precipitation and a full moon may lead to scattered moth flights especially into the Missouri bootheel but also in early-planted fields in southeast Kansas and southwest Missouri where some silking corn is now present. Low risks extend north to near the US 36/24 corridors from Kansas into northern Missouri, central Illinois, and into Indiana and Ohio. Growers in the far southern corn-growing region should monitor traps and fields for signs of new corn earworm moths by next week, and fresh market/vegetable growers further north may also see some isolated moth flights, as well.