Stalk Borers Forecasted to Begin Movement Into Corn

June 3, 2009
ICM News

by Erin Hodgson, Department of Entomology and Rich Pope, Integrated Pest Management Program 


Stalk borer is native to Iowa and has only one generation per year. Adult stalk borers are grayish-brown moths with white spots along the forewing  with a 1-inch wingspan. Adults emerge in early August and lay eggs in grasses and broadleaf weeds until October. Larvae hatch in late April and early May, or when 500 degree days (base 41°F) have accumulated.


Small larvae are cream-colored with a dark brown or purple band around the body; lengthwise stripes may also be present along the abdomen. Young larvae burrow and feed in grass and weed stems until they outgrow the stem. These older larvae move to larger plants around 1,400 degree days, or earlier if the grass is cut or killed with herbicides. Fully-grown larvae drop to the soil to pupate, emerging in August to complete the life cycle.


Hosts

Stalk borers have a wide host range, with larvae feeding on over 175 different plant species. In the spring, young larvae are commonly found on brome grass and giant ragweed. Eventually, older larvae move to corn and occasionally soybean. 


Damage

Stalk borer feeding in corn can cause wilting of upper leaves or may make irregular holes in newly unrolled leaves. Stalk borer larvae, as the common name suggests, typically burrow into the stalk at soil level and tunnel upward. Infested corn plants will be stunted and not produce viable ears. In some cases, young corn plants die.


Iowa State University research has found Bt corn (YieldGard® corn borer hybrid) will suppress but not completely control stalk borers. Therefore, non-Bt corn is more likely to be damaged, especially fields adjacent to grassy areas, waterways, ditches and fencerows.


Scouting

Start looking for migrating larvae when 10 percent movement is predicted. This will vary by location and year since the prediction is based on temperature. The 2009 forecast for 10 percent stalk borer movement in Iowa is shown here.


 


projected 10% migration date for stalk borer


The larvae are not highly mobile, and typically only move into the first four to six rows of corn. Look for new leaves with irregular feeding holes or for small larvae resting inside the corn whorls. Larvae will excrete a considerable amount of frass pellets in the whorl or at the entry hole in the stalk. Exposed larvae can be killed with a foliar insecticide treatment, but tunneling larvae are not susceptible. Young corn is particularly vulnerable to severe damage, but plants are unlikely to be killed once reaching V7 (seven true leaves).


Management

Regular weed management within and around corn fields is crucial for reducing stalk borer populations. Stalk borers can cause damage throughout a field if grasses and broadleaf weeds are not controlled in a no-till system. Just killing weeds in a highly infested area will force larvae to feed on corn - this practice could significantly reduce a stand.


To prevent stand loss, scout and determine the percent of infested plants. The use of an economic threshold (Table 1), first developed by ISU entomologist Dr. Larry Pedigo, will help determine justifiable insecticide treatments based on market value and plant stage. Young plants have a lower threshold because they are more easily killed by stalk borer larvae.


If an insecticide is warranted, an insecticide can be tank-mixed with a fast burndown herbicide, or applied seven days after a slow burndown herbicide. A number of insecticides are available for stalk borer control (Table 2). Border treatment should be considered if infestations are localized. Insecticides must be well-timed so that products are reaching exposed larvae before they burrow into the stalk. Make sure to read the label and follow directions, especially if tank-mixing with a herbicide, for optimal stalk borer control.


Table 1. Economic thresholds for stalk borer in corn.corn borer thresholds


 


Table 2. Insecticides labeled for stalk borer control in corn.


table of Insecticides for stalk borer 2009


 


 


Erin Hodgson is an assistant professor of entomology with extension and research responsibilities. She can be contacted by email at ewh@iastate.edu or phone (515) 294-2847. Rich Pope is an extension program specialist with responsibilities in integrated pest management

Links to this article are strongly encouraged, and this article may be republished without further permission if published as written and if credit is given to the author, Integrated Crop Management News, and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. If this article is to be used in any other manner, permission from the author is required. This article was originally published on June 3, 2009. The information contained within may not be the most current and accurate depending on when it is accessed.

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Erin Hodgson Professor

Dr. Erin Hodgson started working in the Department of Entomology, now the Department of Plant Pathology, Entomology, and Microbiology, at Iowa State University in 2009. She is a professor with extension and research responsibilities in corn and soybeans. She has a general background in integrated...