Western bean cutworm can be a serious pest in corn and dry beans, according to the University of Nebraska’s Panhandle Research and Extension Center. When cutworm populations or infestations exceed certain thresholds, insecticide treatment is warranted, and timely treatment is crucial for successful management.
For corn, a match between moth flight and the late whorl to early tassel stage of corn can result in high levels of infestation. For beans, if the cumulative moth catch at the peak moth flight (50 percent emergence) per green bucket trap is under 1200, between 1200 and 1700, and over 1700, the risk of significant damage is low, moderate, and high, respectively.
For more information on scouting, treatment recommendations and insecticide options https://cropwatch.unl.edu/2020/scouting-and-treatment-recommendations-western-bean-cutworm/.
PHOTO: Egg-laying is underway — don’t wait to scout for western bean cutworm in cornfields, especially those without VIP3A protection. (Julie Peterson | Nebraska Extension)
