The phone has begun to ring now that Japanese beetles are out and about and we also have corn beginning to tassel.  Japanese beetles will feed on corn leaves but are particularly attracted to silks.  Leaf feeding is of little concern, but silk feeding draws a lot of attention.  It is not uncommon to see a covey of 4-10 beetles on one ear, particularly on field edges.  Naturally, this causes worries about whether this feeding reduces pollination.  The answer is … it depends. Continue reading →

It is a common practice to spray an insecticide on field corn during early tasseling when making a fungicide application.  I often get no answer when I ask a grower what pest he is spraying.  Just as commonly I’m told they are trying to control corn earworm, Japanese beetles or corn borers.  This application is often made Continue reading →