View of field of cord seedlings in springAn unexpected foe is making its way to a cornfield near you. Black cutworm moths are traveling north with plans to feed on corn in the Midwest. While the pest has not had the opportunity to ravage acres quite yet, pheromone traps are indicating a large presence already, pointing to what will be a growing issue for corn farmers. A significant flight of moths is whenever eight or more are captured over a two-night period. Pheromone traps in Illinois have found between 25 and 30 moths.

Farmers who had cover crops, heavy residue or early-season weed pressure will need to be extra vigilant to scout for the pest. As for damage scouting, Black cutworms exhibit two feeding patterns that depend on soil moisture and the size of the corn plant. Some larvae will cut off an average of five corn plants during its development and others will feed on the plant just below the soil surface, depending on how much moisture is present.

Read more on Black cutworm moths here.