![\"Fall](\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/highmoor\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/48\/2015\/09\/FAWonLeaf-211x300.jpg\")
Early sweet corn harvest is under way in much of southern and central Maine this week. Quality continues to be reported as very good. Dry conditions continue to dominate, so growers are irrigating wherever possible. Pest pressure was moderate this week, as the weather has not been favorable for migrations of moths into the state.<\/p>\n
European corn borer:<\/strong> Moth counts remain very low this week. Trap captures of moths exceeded the control threshold (5) for silking corn in Palmyra and Garland. Larvae are still feeding in fields, and scouting for damage should continue. However, none of the fields scouted this week were over the damage threshold of 15%.<\/p>\n Corn earworm:<\/strong> Moth numbers were lower at most locations this week, although nearly all sites require protection of fresh silking corn to prevent infestation. A four-day spray interval for silking corn was recommended for Dayton and Gray; a five-day interval was recommended for Cape Elizabeth, Durham and one Wells site; a six-day spray interval was recommended for Biddeford, Bowdoinham, Garland, Lewiston, Monmouth and Oxford. Fields not yet in silk do not need to be protected from corn earworm.<\/p>\n Fall armyworm:<\/strong> Moths counts in pheromone traps exceeded the control threshold (3) for silking corn in Biddeford, Cape Elizabeth, Gray, Lewiston, Monmouth, Oxford, Wayne and one Wells site this week. Single sprays for silking corn were recommended for the Wayne and Wells sites, which are not presently under a spray interval for earworm. Armyworm feeding damage was low this week. None of the sites scouted exceeded the control threshold of 15% injury.<\/p>\n Western Bean Cutworm:<\/strong> Depending on location, moth counts ranged from 1 to 80 in our pheromone traps this week, indicating a peak in the flight of this pest. Nearly all sites were over our suggested threshold of three moths per week, but most fields are presently under a spray interval for corn earworm or fall armyworm. A spray for silking corn was recommended at the Farmington site.<\/p>\n Corn leaf aphids<\/strong> have been observed in several fields. Aphids often infest corn fields that have not recently been sprayed for other pests. These small, bluish-green insects can cover the tassels, stalks and husks. The waste produced by the aphids, called \u201choneydew\u201d stimulates the development of sooty mold, a slimy fungus that coats the surface of the husks, reducing the marketability of the ears. Sprays applied for corn earworm usually control aphids. Sprays specifically for aphids would only be recommended if sooty mold is becoming a problem.<\/p>\n\n\t\t