Decis and Voliam Xpress are two additional insecticides registered for control in corn only. Most feeding occurs on cloudy days or at night. When making insecticide treatment decisions, it is important to know the threshold of the western bean cutworm. The moth flight usually peaks in early to mid-July. Scientific Name Striacosta albicosta. By controlling major leaf-, stalk- and ear-feeding corn insects, including Western bean cutworm, the Agrisure Viptera trait offers better crop stand and limits the levels of ear-feeding, and disease and mycotioxin development, resulting in better quality, increased yield and profit potential. Look for eggs on the top surface of the upper most leaves or look for larvae … Western bean cutworm moths prefer to lay eggs in corn plants that are in the late whorl stage compared to those that have completely tasseled. ; Threshold is 5% of corn plants with egg masses and/or early instar larvae feeding in leaf axils. The WBC infestation rate prior to treatment was higher in 2017 (21% of plants were infested with WBC) than in 2015 (7%) and 2016 (9%). Properly timed insecticide treatments remain the only highly effective means of control in both corn. Control decisions should be made shortly after the moth flight peaks. The western bean cutworm has yet to be identified in Ontario. Of 53 chemicals tested in the laboratory, 24 showed effectiveness approximately equal to or better than DDT or carbaryl, which were used as standards. Despite its name, the Western Bean Cutworm (WBC) is a pest of corn (field, sweet and seed) as well as dry beans (with the exception of soybeans) and to a lesser extent tomatoes and nightshades. Western Bean Cutworm: Characteristics and Management in Corn and Dry Beans – 5.538 Quick Facts…. Infestations on Corn. In this study we evaluated the efficacy of foliar insecticide treatments for the control of western bean cutworm in field corn plots during 2015-2017. Bt corn hybrids containing the Herculex I event are labeled for control of Western bean cutworm. For corn hybrids that do not provide Bt control of western bean cutworm, consider applying an insecticide if 5-8% of the corn plants have egg masses or larvae. Scouting for western bean cutworm should begin in field corn when the first moths are caught. 1 Unlike many cutworms, WBC does not cut plant stems; it feeds on the reproductive parts of plants. Egg mass of western bean cutworm. Following its initial discovery in southeastern Iowa in 2004, it was found the following year in western Illinois and in northwestern Indiana in 2006. This pest feeds on reproductive parts of its host plant and not by ‘cutting’ its way through stems. We have developed a new "speed-scouting" method for western bean cutworm egg masses. Treatments were made on July 31, 2015, July 25, 2016, and July 24, 2017. The western bean cutworm is on the move, in areas of the western Corn Belt where it has not previously been seen. Western bean cutworm larvae are found feeding in ear tips, often leaving behind chewed kernels at the tip as well as frass that many consumers find unappealing. The goal of chemical management is to ensure that hatched larvae are contacted by insecticide and eliminated prior to entering the ear to feed. Effective management of WBC depends on selecting the best product for your farm and rotating insecticide mode of action to prevent or delay the development of resistance. If an insecticide treatment is warranted in corn, it should be made when 95% of the plants in a field have tasseled. Larvae may disperse up to 12 feet within a row and 10 feet across rows. Fields still in the whorl stage are preferred for oviposition (egg-laying). Other Bt traits originally developed for European corn borer will not provide effective control of western bean cutworm. and a reminder for when future scouting should be conducted. 1 WBC does not cut plant stems like most cutworms, but rather feeds on the reproductive parts of plants. The moth emerges near the time of corn tasseling and lays its eggs near the ear leaf of a pollinating corn plant. Only the Bt corn hybrids containing the Cry1F toxin (e.g., Herculex I, Herculex XTRA, SmartStax) are labeled for control of western bean cutworm larvae. Moths lay eggs on the upper surface of leaves in masses of 5 to 200 with an average of about 50 eggs per mass (Figure 3 ). ; Threshold is 5% of corn plants with egg masses and/or early instar larvae feeding in leaf axils. Many 'above-ground' Bt traits will not control western bean cutworm. 105 Ag. Western Bean Cutworm Western Bean Cutworm (WBC) is another pest that is capable of causing significant yield losses in corn production. western bean cutworm • Know the resources available to determine timing and increase efficiency of scouting corn for western bean cutworm • Recognize the “good guys” out there‐the beneficial insects preying upon western bean cutworm in the field Western bean cutworm egg masses are usually found on the upperside of corn leaves and the underside of dry bean leaves. This is the threshold for both dryland and irrigated corn, although keep yield potential in mind. ; Threshold is 5% of corn plants with egg masses and/or early instar larvae feeding in leaf axils. Western Bean Cutworm in Corn Western bean cutworm (WBC) is a native of North America and can be a severe pest of corn and dry beans (but not soybean). Baute, and C. D. Difonzo. Western Bean Cutworm, Richia albicosta. WBC larvae feed on the silk of corn ears, and also burrow through the side of the ears. Feeding damage to aborted kernels was significantly lower at the highest rate of Steward compared to two rates of Mustang Maxx and the lower rate of Hero. When scouting for western bean cutworms in corn, check 20 plants in at least five areas of each field. When scouting for western bean cutworms in corn, check 20 plants in at least 5 areas of each field. Look for eggs on the top surface of the upper most leaves or look for larvae in the tassel. ; Threshold is 5% of corn plants with egg masses and/or early instar larvae feeding in leaf axils. References: Michel A.P., C.H. l pint l 0 lbs. 2). Western Bean Cutworm is now the most economically significant pest in corn, but it’s quickly becoming a challenge in other nearby crops, especially dry beans. Thus, scouting and application timing are critical. Control decisions should be made shortly after the moth flight peaks. This insect was historically found in the western Corn Belt where it is a common pest of dry beans and a sporadic pest of corn. Between four and 14 insecticide treatments (including an untreated control) were tested each year.The 2015 field trial was located at the West Central Water Resources Field Laboratory near Brule, while the 2016 and 2017 trials were located at the Henry J. Stumpf International Wheat Center near Grant. The eggs are spherical with ridges. Often, the larvae greet the consumer just as the husk is pulled back from the tip of the ear. Western bean cutworm damage in corn crops can make as much as a 40% drop in yield. Applications were made with a backpack sprayer with an 8.3-foot handheld boom fitted with six TeeJet AIXR 11002 yellow nozzles spaced 20 inches apart, at 15 gpa carrier volume with 30 psi pressure maintained with a CO2 propellant. Of the 140 larvae counted on plants at 7, 14, and 21 DAA, over half (52.9%) were dead at 7 DAA, whereas only 16.1% and 0.0% larvae were dead at 14 and 21 DAA, respectively (Table 4). The western bean cutworm (WBC) is an economically important pest of corn and dry beans. Share. Because corn prices are at or above $3.50/bu, if 4% of the corn plants have egg masses or larvae, consider applying an insecticide. Dry bean crops are another common target for the western bean cutworm. Field beans DDT 5% Dust Sevin (carbaryl) 80% WP Thiodan (endosu.lfan) 2 lbs/gal EC Field corn Endrin 1. When larvae approach ½" in length, they begin feeding at night on young leaf material and blossoms. 1. The western bean cutworm is a late-season pest of corn that robs yield and reduces grain quality. High larval mortality caused by a temporal mismatch between crop growth stage and larval development likely reduced ear infestation rates and feeding damage. Control of western bean cutworm using bioengineered corn is limited. 2009: 56. July 24, 2020 by Ernst Undesser. We recorded our first western bean cutworm moth capture in Nebraska at Concord on July 7, and a western bean cutworm egg mass was reported in Adams County the same day. The highest rate of Steward performed the best in terms of reduction in ear tip and harvestable kernel damage, percent ear infestation, and percent of ears with secondary fungal infections. To reduce the risk of resistance, rotate between chemical families each year. However, western bean cutworm moths are still flying and laying eggs. Western bean cutworms can be a serious quality issue for fresh market sweet corn growers. In the last week or so, scouting emphasis has shifted from sampling for egg masses in pre-tassel corn to finding early instar (VERY tiny and elusive) larvae in the ear zone of pollinated corn. Indiana Corn: Scouting Western Bean Cutworm Post-Whorl – Video. It is now recommended that fields with Cry1F products be scouted for western bean cutworm and insecticide treatment considered if above the economic threshold. Egg mass of western bean cutworm. scouting data storage so you can review information without having Internet access. WBC moths emerge from the soil in early July and begin to lay eggs a week before tassel emergence. Western Bean Cutworm, Richia albicosta. To determine if insecticide treatments prevented WBC damage, 10 ears from the central two rows and interior 22 feet of each plot were randomly chosen and removed along with the husks on August 27, 2015, August 29, 2016, and August 23, 2017. In 2017, all foliar insecticide treatments failed to significantly reduce ear feeding damage to aborted ear tip kernels and harvestable kernels compared to the untreated control (Table 3). The moth emerges near the time of corn tasseling and lays its eggs near the ear leaf of a pollinating corn plant. The appearance of the first moths provides a signal that farmers and crop consultants should begin scouting  fields for the white, dome-shaped eggs. 6 lbs/gal. We have developed a Western Bean Cutworm card for background information including pictures and text. Why it matters : Scouting for Western Bean Cutworm (WBC) is much more challenging in dry beans than corn, so knowing the status of nearby corn fields and increasing moth trap numbers in bean fields are important. Tweet. The moth flight usually peaks in early to mid-July. The presence of WBC larvae and secondary fungal infection in the ears was also recorded. The ears were husked and examined in the laboratory to determine feeding damage, measured in square inches, to aborted kernels at the ear tip and harvestable kernels. In addition, although results from the 2016 trial showed that fungal infection is related to WBC infestation, very few ears in the 2017 trial had fungal infection. The app includes: The app is available for iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, and Android devices. ... the ear, contact with insecticide is … It is also available as a downloadable Excel spreadsheet, Western Bean Cutworm Speed Scouting, EC1585. Control tactics have focused primarily on using Bt traits that are effective at controlling WBC larvae or applying foliar insecticides after scouting has determined that the economic threshold has been met. l. 25 lbs. Unlike Corn Earworm, several caterpillars may be found on one ear as they are not cannibalistic. Environmental conditions may impact the efficacy and residual activity of foliar insecticides applied to control WBC. paperless scouting with real time, in-field decision support. The moth emerges near the time of corn tasseling and lays its eggs near the ear leaf of a pollinating corn plant. Adult moths are gray-brown in color with a creamy white stripe down the length of the forewing, and a small cream-outlined circle and kidney bean shape behind the stripe on each forewing (Image 1). Tomatoes and fruits of nightshade and ground cherry are acceptable but non-preferred hosts. Chemigation has provided very good control of this insect, even at lowest labeled rates. They are white when freshly laid but gradually turn darker with age (Fig. Adult moths are gray-brown in color with a creamy white stripe down the length of the forewing, and a small cream-outlined circle and kidney bean shape behind the stripe on each forewing (Image 1). Western bean cutworm (WBC) is native to North America and appears as a severe pest in several areas of the Corn Belt. Scouting for western bean cutworm should begin in field corn when the first moths are caught. Typically, control is achieved by pyrethroids or transgenic traits. ; Threshold is 5% of corn plants with egg masses and/or early instar larvae feeding in leaf axils. After mating, eggs are usually laid on either field corn, popcorn, sweet corn, or dry beans. Although primarily known a pest of field corn in many areas, its broad host range also includes legumes and it can be a pest of dryland beans (but not soybeans), where they are grown in abundance. It goes through four stages of development – egg, larvae, pupa, and adult (moth). Western bean cutworm is now the most economically significant pest of corn in Ontario, and its rise took seed companies by surprise. 1.25 lbs. Unlike other cutworms, this pest prefers to feed on the fruit of the plant, i.e. The western bean cutworm is a late-season pest of corn that robs yield and reduces grain quality. Description. ... 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