Western Bean Cutworm
The annual western bean cutworm moth flight may commence in the usual “hot spot” corn-growing region areas within the next week. Low emergence risks are in the forecast across northern Kansas into southern Nebraska as well as in northern Indiana, northwest Ohio, and southern lower Michigan by the end of the week and into next weekend. Growers are encouraged to set up traps and begin monitoring efforts in anticipation and preparation for this year’s annual flight. The initial threat to crops is pretty low but once the flight begins in earnest either very late this month or in early July, treatment windows can be small and timing is critical based on crop stage and eventual egg laying/larvae stages.