First western bean cutworm moths trapped

Chris DiFonzo<difonzo@msu.edu>, Michigan State University Extension, Department of Entomology - June 27, 2011

The question is what stage will corn fields be in when flight occurs?

The first western bean cutworm moths of the season were caught in a trap on the MSU Entomology farm this week. The first moths were also caught in Ontario. This does not necessarily mean emergence is earlier – if we put out traps by mid-June, we do catch a few early-emergers. Emergence will pick up as we head into mid-July.

The big unknown this year will be the timing of flight versus stage of corn fields. Early-planted corn fields in an area may act as a trap crop and attract many moths for egglaying. Stay tuned as the trapping network comes on line and moth flight increases.

Dr. DiFonzo's work is funded in part by MSU's AgBioResearch.

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