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What insects are in my (corn) ears?

Blog Post

Caterpillars have been extremely active this year, especially in soybean. We suspect that late-season infestations of caterpillars in corn are no exception. These infestations are serious because these caterpillars feed on the ear and/or tunnel into stalks. Their feeding can also lead to secondary infestations of other, less common insects, and severely infested fields can be at risk for ear molds and mycotoxins. August is an excellent time to scout for ear-feeders.

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Planted Non-Bt Corn? Plan to Scout for European Corn Borer

ICM News

Farmers have enjoyed the benefits of Bt corn since its introduction in 1996, particularly “in the bag” transgenic protection from insect pests and the yield loss they inflict. European corn borer (ECB), Ostrinia nubilalis, was particularly challenging and the target of the first Bt hybrids. The adoption of Bt corn in the U.S. prompted a widespread suppression of ECB. Even so, ECB still shows up in conventional cornfields in Iowa and can be a devastating pest.

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European Corn Borer Numbers Are Up in 2009

ICM News

Table of labeled foliar insecticides for European corn borer

With an increase in first generation European corn borer activity, Extension specialists describe proper scouting and offer a spreadsheet to calculate action threshold and a chart of insecticides registered for use in Iowa.

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Correction to the European Corn Borer Economic Threshold Spreadsheet

ICM News

By Jon Tollefson, Department of Entomology

A user of the revised Economic Threshold that we recently published in the Integrated Crop Management News noticed that there was an incorrect function. I didn’t see it because it didn’t make a difference with the numbers that I used worked through it. We have replaced the previous threshold spreadsheet with a corrected one.

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