Sweet Corn IPM Newsletter No. 10 – August 26, 2022

Sweet Corn IPM Newsletter – No. 10 – August 26, 2022

MODERATE CORN PEST PRESSURE

Silk Sprays Needed for Corn Earworm, Fall Armyworm at Most Sites

Highmoor Farm Twilight Meeting: Thursday, September 8, 5:30-7 p.m.  Come join us for a tour of the vegetable variety trials at the Maine Agricultural Experiment Station. Pumpkins, corn, radicchio, celery, artichokes parsnips, carrots, and more will be on display. We are located at 52 US Route 202 in Monmouth.

SITUATION

Insect populations remained relatively stable from last week with moderate numbers for this point in the season. Most fields with silking corn require some protection for earworm and armyworm. Current forecasts are not suggesting any major weather events that would bring more moths into the state for the next week.

European corn borer:  Larval feeding injury from corn borer remains low and was not over the 15% control threshold for pre-tassel corn at any of our scouting sites. Moth captures were inconsistent, similar to last week, but generally lower overall.  Counts were over the 5-moth threshold for silking corn in Bowdoinham, Lewiston, and Oxford. All of these sites were on a spray interval for corn earworm, so no additional sprays were recommended.

Corn earworm:  Moth counts declined at most locations this week but are high enough to continue spray intervals for silking corn at most locations. A 6-day spray interval for silking corn was recommended in Biddeford, Dayton, and Sabattus.  A 5-day spray schedule was recommended for Bowdoinham, one Lewiston site, Monmouth, Oxford, Palmyra, Wayne, and one Wells site. A 4-day spray interval was recommended in Cape Elizabeth, one Lewiston site, New Gloucester and one Wells site.

Fall armyworm:  Fall armyworm moth counts were generally lower week, and its distribution remains variable.   Trap counts were over the three-moth threshold for silking corn in Biddeford, Bowdoinham, one Dayton site, one Lewiston site, Monmouth, New Gloucester, Oxford, and Wells.  With the exception of the Dayton site, all of these locations are on a spray interval for corn earworm, so additional sprays should not be needed. A single spray for silking corn was recommended in Dayton.  Larval feeding damage on leaves and tassels of younger corn was over threshold in several locations, and growers should continue to scout younger fields for injury.  Sprays for feeding damage were recommended in Bowdoinham and Cape Elizabeth.

Western bean cutworm:  Numbers continue to fall this week, with many sites not catching any moths.  The highest numbers were in western Maine, and no traps had more than 8 moths.  Fields under a spray interval for corn earworm will also be protected against this pest.

Birds, etc.: Flocking species of blackbirds are starting to cause damage in cornfields around the state.  Birds may to be more of a problem in dry years, when food and water is more difficult to find.  They are especially attracted to fields where corn has been allowed to get over-mature. Deer, skunks and raccoons have also been troublesome this year. For information on wildlife problems and management options, you may call the APHIS office in Augusta at 1-866-487-3297.

Highmoor Farm Twilight Meeting: Thursday, September 8, 5:30-7 p.m.  Come join us for a tour of the vegetable variety trials at the Maine Agricultural Experiment Station. Pumpkins, corn, radicchio, celery, artichokes parsnips, carrots and more will be on display. We are located at 52 US Route 202 in Monmouth.

 

Sincerely,

David T. Handley

Vegetable and Small Fruit Specialist

 

Highmoor Farm                       UMaine Extension Diagnostic

P.O. Box 179                           Research Lab, Pest Mgmt. Unit

52 U.S. Route 202                   17 Godfrey Drive

Monmouth, ME  04259          Orono, ME  04473

207.933.2100                           1.800.287.0279

 

Sweet Corn IPM Weekly Scouting Summary

 

Location	CEW Moths	ECB Moths	FAW Moths	%Feeding Damage	Recommendations / Comments
Biddeford	2	0	10	11%	6-day spray interval for silking corn
Bowdoinham	6	8	12	28%	5-day spray interval for silking corn
Cape Elizabeth	8	0	2	18%	4-day spray interval for silking corn
Dayton I	2	0	0		6-day spray interval for silking corn
Dayton II	1	0	4	3%	One spray on silking corn for FAW
Farmington	0	4	1		No spray recommended
Garland	1	0	0	0%	No spray recommended
Lewiston	6	5	0		5-day spray interval for silking corn
Lewiston II	9	3	7		4-day spray interval for silking corn
Monmouth	4	3	6		5-day spray interval for silking corn
New Gloucester	36	2	14	3%	4-day spray interval for silking corn
Oxford	4	7	7	11%	5-day spray interval for silking corn
Palmyra	3	0	0	0%	5-day spray interval for silking corn
Sabattus	2	3	1		6-day spray interval for silking corn
Wayne	7	0	0		5-day spray interval for silking corn
Wells I	7	0	4		5-day spray interval for silking corn
Wells II	9	0	10	12%	4-day spray interval for silking corn

CEW: Corn earworm (Only fresh silking corn should be sprayed for this insect.)

ECB: European corn borer

FAW: Fall armyworm

 

European Corn Borer Thresholds Whorl stage: 30% or more of plants scouted show injury. Pre-tassel-silk: 15% or more of plants scouted show injury. Silk: 5 or more moths caught in pheromone traps in one week.

Corn Earworm Spray Thresholds for Pheromone Traps

Moths caught per week	Moths caught per night	Spray interval
0.0 to 1.4	0.0 to 0.2	No spray
1.5 to 3.5	0.3 to 0.5	Spray every 6 days
3.6 to 7.0	0.6 to 1.0	Spray every 5 days
7.1 to 91	1.1 to 13.0	Spray every 4 days
More than 91	More than 13	Spray every 3 days

Thresholds apply only to corn with exposed fresh silk. Lengthen spray intervals by

one day if maximum daily temperature is less than 80°F.

 

IPM Web Pages:

http://extension.umaine.edu/ipm/

http://www.pestwatch.psu.edu/sweet_corn.htm

https://ag.umass.edu/integrated-pest-management/

https://nevegetable.org/crops

 

 

Where brand names or company names are used, it is for the reader’s information. No endorsement is implied nor is any discrimination intended against other products with similar ingredients. Always consult product labels for rates, application instructions and safety precautions. Users of these products assume all associated risks.

 

 

 

The University of Maine is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution.