Black cutworm and True armyworm

There have been intense catches of black cutworm and true armyworm moths with our field corn pheromone-trapping network in both Eastern and Western NY. We have caught a lot of black cutworm moths near Amenia, NY in Dutchess County. There have been several intense catches of black cutworm and true armyworm near Seneca Castle and Linwood in Western NY. There have not been enough degree days yet for he eggs to hatch. It is best to keep a close eye on fields over the next few weeks. Remember if your corn is not planted yet and you till the soil and moths have laid eggs it will have little to no effect on the insect in the field. The moths will lay eggs on grassy weeds in fields. Once the weeds have been eliminated, they can focus on your corn. Make sure to get out and scout for both these insect pests. Black cutworm and true armyworm can do a lot of damage if in high numbers and undetected.

Information on Black Cutworm

https://cals.cornell.edu/field-crops/corn/insects-corn/cutworms

Information on True Armyworm

https://cals.cornell.edu/field-crops/corn/insects-corn/armyworms

Field Crops Pheromone Trapping Network Interactive Map

 

Black Cutworm Degree Day Accumulations

*Location for Intense Catches	Black Cutworm (Base 50)	Life Stage
Seneca Falls Seneca County April 20	25	Egg Laying and Egg Development
Amenia Dutchess County April 28	40	Egg Laying and Egg Development
Seneca Falls Seneca County April 26	13	Egg Laying and Egg Development
Amenia Dutchess County May 3	36	Egg Laying and Egg Development
Seneca Falls Seneca County May 3	13	Egg Laying and Egg Development
Linwood NY Livingston County May 4	13	Egg Laying and Egg Development

*Intense Catch is over 15 moths in a week.

True Armyworm Degree Day Accumulations

*Location for Intense Catches	True Armyworm (Base 50)	Life Stage
Seneca Falls Seneca County April 20	25	Egg Laying and Egg Development
Seneca Falls Seneca County April 26	13	Egg Laying and Egg Development

*Intense Catch is over 15 moths in a week.

 

Alfalfa Weevil

Alfalfa weevil adults should be in fields laying eggs. There should be very few larvae present in fields. In the next week or so larvae should be present. Start gearing up to scout alfalfa fields.

For more on alfalfa weevil please view the link to management information:

https://cals.cornell.edu/field-crops/forages/insects-forage-crops/alfalfa-weevil

Alfalfa Weevil Degree Day Accumulations from March 1 to May 8

Weather Station Location	Alfalfa Weevil	Life Stage
Arkport	170	Egg Laying
Bergan	166	Egg Laying
Canton	150	Egg Laying
Ceres	164	Egg Laying
Conesus Lake	184	Egg Laying
Corwin	137	Egg Laying
Geneva	173	Egg Laying
Highland	280	Hatching
Ithaca	201	Egg Laying
Kinderhook	230	Egg Laying
Laurens	156	Egg Laying
Northport	327	2nd Instar
Peru	151	Egg Laying
Red Hook	234	Egg Laying
Versailles	196	Egg Laying
Watertown	140	Egg Laying

 

Alfalfa Weevil Life Stage Development

Growing Degree Days for peak (50%) occurrence of stage

Stage of Life Cycle	Degree Days *
eggs hatch	280
Instar 1	315
Instar 2	395
Instar 3	470
Instar 4	550
Cocooning	600
Pupa	725
Adult Emergence	815

*48 degree F base temperature