Week Ending August 16 – Corn earworm (bollworm) moth catches remained relatively high this week.  As I said last week, we should have heightened awareness for this pest, especially in late maturing fields of soybean and susceptible cotton fields. Beet armyworm moth catches were well up again, and I’ve already had two calls in soybean where it appeared larvae had moved from pigweed (which is a favorite host).

To top it off, fall armyworms larvae are being found in very high numbers in grasses, grassy field edges and pastures.  I’ve included a picture (right) of 10 sweeps from a grassy alley at the Jackson station.  Watch soybean field edges closely for movement of larvae into the field.  They will do so if and when they eat all the available grass.

Note: This will be the last week of moth trapping as my summer helpers are abandoning ship.  Complete moth trapping results for bollworm (corn earworm), tobacco budworm, beet armyworm and southwestern corn borer are linked below.  These efforts are partially supported by state Cotton Incorporated funding.

2012 Moth Trapping Data (Excel file)