Corn Borer Pressure Escalates in Latham Country

Latham Corn Product Specialist Nick Benson is seeing above-average pressures of corn borer in his northeast Iowa territory. If your acres aren’t protected by a corn borer trait, Nick advises you to check fields as soon as possible for corn borer larvae and consult with an agronomist about treatment if thresholds are met. 

Click the video below for information on how to scout your fields for corn borer. 

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YbFHunRgSY&feature=channel_video_title[/youtube] 

Trio of late-stage larvae showing dark and light color phases

According to Iowa State University’s Pest Management website, corn borers are often misidentified. This link provides their suggestions for identification and scouting based on the growing season. 

Female moths have dull, buff colored wings while males have brown colored wings.

Corn Borers damage plants when their “boring” tendencies disrupt the plant tissues and interfere with water and nutrient uptake and transfer. Boring into plants creates a wound providing opportunity for infectious disease to enter the plant. Lastly, corn borers can cause weakened stalk and ear strength leading to lodging or ear drop. It’s important to catch these pests early on in the infestation stages to prevent severe damage to the integrity of your plants. 

Late-stage larvae commonly tunnel into the earshank of corn.

Management approaches differ according to generation of corn borer, stage of growth in the corn plants and the cost analysis in your field. Iowa State provides these guidelines, but it’s advisable to run an individual analysis and consult with your agronomist for recommendations to suit your unique situation. 

For more information on corn borer or management approaches, don’t hesitate to ask questions in the comment box below, or contact us directly.