Western Bean Cutworm
Western bean cutworm risks remain elevated this week especially across the central Plains and portions of the Great Lakes region as the annual flight continues. Moth captures remain rather impressive especially across Nebraska but also into portions of the southern Great Lakes region at this time (especially in northern Indiana). Moderate risks continue in the forecast this week and into next weekend across far northern Kansas into much of Nebraska, and also across central/northern Indiana into northwest Ohio, southern lower Michigan, and by next weekend into southern Ontario, Canada, as well. Low risks are found across northeast Colorado, Kansas, southern/southeast South Dakota, western Iowa, far southwest Minnesota, Wisconsin, and surrounding the Moderate risk area in the southern Great Lakes area. Growers are encouraged to regularly scout their fields, looking for not only moths but more importantly egg masses on corn leaves. In some instances, newly-hatched larvae may also be present and decisions on whether treatment may be necessary may need to be made quickly in order to prevent yield loss. Growers are strongly encouraged to not make treatment decisions based on moth counts in traps in the local area, but based on what is occurring with larvae/growth stage and also if your corn is at a critical stage of growth where western bean cutworm survival will be high. Problems are scattered, so adjacent fields may or may not see pressure.