Fontanelle
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Which Larvae Threatens Your Corn Yield?
July 8, 2009
In July, it is important to scout for three key corn ear-feeding insects. Larvae of corn ear worm, fall armyworm, and western bean cutworm are often mistaken for each other, and it is nearly impossible to distinguish between their feeding damage at harvest.
While western bean cutworm is a relatively new pest to some, corn earworm is estimated to account for 2.5% yield loss annually and is capable of reaching economic infestations of 35 million acres across the entire US.
Fall armyworm (FAW) can injure corn at several stages. Nationally, damage from FAW can cause yield losses up to $500 million each year.
Ear feeding from FAW and corn earworm can also increase the risk of mycotoxins, such as aflatoxin. The difficulty of effectively controlling corn earworm and fall armyworm with insecticides combined with the damage generally being over looked until harvest have made management a challenge for growers.
Fontanelle’s Genuity™VT Triple PRO™ corn products available for spring 2010 will help protect yield potential from these damaging insects.