Western Bean Cutworm Numbers High in Michigan

Reports from Chris DiFonzo at MSU indicate that WBC populations are high in Northwest counties of
Michigan, in particular Oceanic and Benzie Counties for anyone who knows their Michigan geography. Some corn fields in these hot spots have 30% plants infested with egg masses and are being sprayed this week. Trap counts at these locations were up to 100 moths in one week. Fortunately, so far Ontario is not experiencing high trap counts. However with the number of storm fronts that pass over Michigan on the way here, we need to be diligent and pay attention to our traps as well as look for egg masses in corn fields. Chris has learned that it is very easy to spot the egg masses in corn. Again, being tall does help though. Given the damaging levels experienced this year in Michigan, this does indicate that WBC has successfully overwintered in Michigan so it can happen here too in the near future.

Given what Michigan is experiencing, my advice is for reps and growers here to check their corn fields this week for signs of infestations. Follow the scouting instructions given in recent articles in CropPest and alert me to any fields that have egg masses. Egg masses can range from 2 eggs to 500 eggs per egg mass.

If you'd like to learn even more about Western Bean Cutworm, I encourage you to check out these presentations online.

1. The North Central IPM Centre ran a short distance educational course on Western Bean Cutworm over the internet in February and taped the audio while the specialists made their slide presentations. http://www.ncipmc.org/teleconference/wbc2007/videos/
   
   
2. Dr. Tom Hunt from Nebraska (where WBC originated) spoke here at Ridgetown at our Southwest Agricultural Conference (SWAC) this past January. We also recorded his presentation and have provided it online on the SWAC website at:
   http://www.southwestagconference.ca/presentations2008/42/index.cfm

When pesticide products are discussed in these presentations, they apply to the US only. No products are currently registered in Ontario for WBC, though registrations are underway.