Insects
Insect pests may cause direct and or indirect injury to crops. Get more information on key insect pests in Iowa, how to scout for them, and how to implement integrated pest management tactics that utilize economic thresholds to know when action is warranted and minimize the spread of insecticide resistance.
Timely Insights on Insects
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June 17, 2026Content Author
From industrial applications to hobbyist platforms, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), commonly referred to as drones, have rapidly integrated into the agricultural landscape. Equipped with high-resolution sensors, these aerial platforms have fundamentally altered how modern production agriculture monitors crop development.
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June 9, 2026Authors
Japanese beetle development is about two weeks ahead of schedule this spring, which is not too surprising with the warm May temperatures. Japanese beetle adults begin emergence when approximately 1,030 growing degree days (GDD; base 50°F) have accumulated since January 1 and will continue emerging until 2,150 GDD have accumulated.
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June 4, 2026Content Author
If you have been out in the field checking stand or doing early-season scouting for weeds, diseases, and insects, you might be noticing that insect activity is picking up across the state. We are approximately 200 growing degree days ahead of schedule this spring, which means insect development is happening quickly for insects that overwintered or arrived here with strong storm systems.
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June 3, 2026Content Author
The trapping season for black cutworm has come to an end. We appreciate our cooperators for tirelessly checking traps the last two months and reporting their captures so we can provide the most accurate scouting information for these pests. To recap, we had 15 volunteers participate from 18 counties in Iowa. A total of 22 black cutworm traps were placed and monitored during April and May.
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June 3, 2026Authors
Stalk borer is an occasional pest of corn, but it can be persistent in some fields, especially those fields near perennial grasses that serve as overwintering sites (fence rows, terraces, and waterways are typical sites). Tracking degree days is a useful way to estimate when common stalk borer larvae begin moving into cornfields from their overwintering hosts.
