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Pest Management & Crop Development Bulletin • No. 13/ June 20, 1997 Hot Topics! European corn borer injury and larvae found in central Illinois. European corn borer larvae have been detected in the whorl leaves of corn plants in Macon County. In addition to early instars, fresh egg masses were found in the same field. Moth flights have been reported throughout the state; and, in some pheromone traps, moth captures were impressive. Growers are encouraged to accelerate their scouting activities for potential firstgeneration corn borer injury during the next several weeks. Even for those growers who planted transgenic Bt corn, we suggest a scouting trip or two across these fields. This page. Corn rootworm eggs have hatched. Our colleagues at Purdue Uni- versity indicate that corn rootworm egg hatch has occurred. The hatch is about 1 day behind last year’s hatch. So, the trend of delayed hatches continues. Growers who planted in early to mid-April and used a soil insecticide should be alert to potential larval injury. Simi- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE lar to last season, we anticipate that larvae will extend their root- No. 13/ June 20, 1997 feeding activities well past mid-July. This will increase the likelihood of performance problems for some soil insecticides. Producers Executive editor: Kevin Steffey, should be alert for signs of larval injury such as lodging of corn Extension Entomologist plants. Page 111. Web subscriptions available: http://www.ag.uiuc.edu/cespubs/pest/ For subscription information, phone Hot INSECTS 217.244.5166, or e-mail Topic [email protected] European Corn Borer Moth In This Issue Captures Impressive in Some Sites ❏ European Corn Borer Moth Cap- The 1997 European corn borer season lurched forward during the tures Impressive in Some Sites, 109 past week! Steve Wendzel with Crop Production Services, Galesburg, ❏ Western Corn Rootworm Eggs Illinois, is monitoring the corn borer flight with 19 pheromone traps Have Hatched! 111 located in western counties. Beginning in early June, moth captures ❏ Egg Counts in East-Central Illi- were common in many of Steve’s traps; and, by June 5 through June nois Soybean Fields, 112 13, numbers were very respectable in some traps. Wayne Buhler, an ❏ The Good Guys Are Here! 112 entomologist with Purdue University, is using numerous pheromone ❏ WorldWide Web Addresses for traps in an experiment located in east-central Illinois and, during the IPM, Environmental, and second week of June, collected 195 moths in one of his traps. Wayne Pesticide-Related Issues, 113 indicated that he caught moths for the first time this season in Benton ❏ IPM Adoption: How Far Along the Continuum Are We? 113 County, Indiana, on June 4. Doug Gucker, Piatt County Extension Service, reports that he has been observing European corn borer ❏ Preharvest Weed Control Treat- ments for Wheat, 114 moths since June 5 in action sites. Dave Feltes and Jim Morrison, ❏ Replanting Herbicide-Resistant/ Extension Service educators, also have observed moths in northwest- Tolerant Soybeans, 114 ern Illinois counties since approximately June 4. On June 17, Howard ❏ Controlling Waterhemp in Large Brown, an agronomist with Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. re- Corn, 115 ported that a cornfield near Niantic, Macon County, had whorl-feed- ❏ One More Caution, 115 ing injury and active early instar European corn borers in the whorls. ❏ Scab of Wheat, 115 Howard also found egg masses on several plants. Corn borer season ❏ Pesticide Safety Education Pro- is under way! gram Information, 116 109 Pest Management & Crop Development Bulletin • No. 13/ June 13, 1997 Table 1. Projected degree-day accumulations (developmental threshold of 50o F) from initial capture of moths in the spring to first occurrence of life stage or activity of first-generation European corn borers (from European Corn Borer: Ecology and Management, NCR Publication no. 327, Iowa State University, Ames). Accumulated First General activity Projected date Projected date Projected date degree-days occurrence for Northern for Central for Southern of event Illinois Illinois Illinois (first (first moth (first moth moth capture, capture, 6/7) capture, 6/1) 5/24) 212 Egg hatch Pinhole leaf feeding June 19 June 15 June 7 (first instar) 318 Second instar Shot-hole leaf feeding June 24 June 20 June 14 435 Third instar Midrib and stalk boring June 29 June 25 June 19 567 Fourth instar Stalk boring July 5 June 30 June 24 792 Fifth instar Stalk boring July 15 July 9 July 2 1,002 Pupa Changing to adult July 23 July 17 July 10 In an earlier issue of this Bulletin (no. These projections are based upon heat units by June 15. This projection 11, June 6), we provided a table that average historical temperatures for matches very nicely with Howard offered some information on European each of these regions of the state. The Brown’s observation in Macon corn borer lifecycle events based upon information that Scott has provided County. accumulated degree-days. Bob Scott, appears to be right on track. For in- Illinois State Water Survey, has pro- stance, we should expect to find first- How do I scout for the first generation vided (Table 1) some projections for instar larvae and egg hatch in central of European corn borers? When corn these corn borer development events Illinois by June 15. This is based upon plants have an extended leaf height of based upon first captures of moths in an initial capture of moths on June 1 15 inches, scouting should begin in northern, central, and southern Illinois. and a projected accumulation of 212 earnest. If possible, examine at least Figure 1. Management worksheet for first-generation corn borer. 110 Pest Management & Crop Development Bulletin • No. 13/ June 20, 1997 than sprays for controlling first-gen- eration corn borer larvae in the whorls, unless the sprays can be directed right over the rows. Mike Gray and Kevin Steffey, Extension Entomologists, (217)3336652 Hot Topic Western Corn Rootworm Eggs Have Hatched! Figure 2. Body lengths and prothoracic shield widths for instars of the Euro- John Obermeyer, an entomologist with pean corn borer. Purdue University, confirmed recently that corn rootworm eggs have hatched in Indiana. Entomologists at Purdue 20 consecutive plants in each of five you should fill out a management have used root-staining techniques for random areas for every 40 to 50 acres worksheet and make the appropriate many years to spot first-instar corn within a field. In very large fields, it decision (Figure 2). rootworm larvae feeding internally will be more practical (although less within corn roots. Egg hatch this sea- precise) to examine 25 consecutive In using Figure 1, keep these points in son occurred approximately one day plants in each of five random areas for mind. Prothoracic width is preferable later than last year’s delayed egg hatch every 80 acres. It’s also a good idea to for determining instars because less of June 12. This shouldn’t be a sur- walk at least 100 feet into the field variation is associated with this mea- prise, based upon the slow accumula- before sampling. If more than one surement than body length. Note that tion of soil heat units that we have variety of corn is being grown or if the unshaded portion of the body- reported in several earlier issues of different planting dates occurred length scale represents the upper range this season’s Bulletin. The following within the same field, it is important to in length of each instar. Also, note the equation might be worth paying close consider each section as a separate brackets around stages 4 and 5; these attention to. field when scouting. Plants should be two instars usually are found tunneling checked for fresh whorl-feeding dam- in the stalks. Consequently, they can- Early Planting + Delayed Corn age, and the percent of infested plants not be controlled with insecticides. Rootworm Egg Hatch + Cool, Wet calculated. For every 20 to 25 plants Spring + Extended Larval If control of an infestation of Euro- examined, remove the whorl leaves Feeding Period = Potential pean corn borers is justified, you can from two plants and check for the Soil-Insecticide Problems select among several insecticides presence of live borers (Figure 1). (Table 2) that provide essentially Growers should examine root systems This allows you to estimate the aver- equivalent control. Remember, for the presence of corn rootworm age number of borers per infested granulars are usually more effective larvae later this month and look for plant. After the field has been scouted, any signs of root injury throughout early July. Several soil insecticides are Table 2. Suggested insecticides for first-generation European corn borer in field corn. labeled for use as cultivation rescue treatments and include: Counter CR, Insecticide Amount of product per acre Placement Dyfonate II 15G, Force 1.5G and 3G, *Ambush 2E 6.4 to 12. 8 oz broadcast Furadan 4F, Lorsban 15G and 4E, and Dyfonate II 15G 4 to 8 oz per 1,000 ft row over whorls Thimet 15G and 20G. Cultivation Dyfonate II 15G 5 to 6.75 lb broadcast treatments generally perform less Lorsban 4E 1-1/2 to 2 pt broadcast Lorsban 15G 5 to 6.5 lb broadcast satisfactorily than planting-time treat- Lorsban 15G 3.5 to 8 oz per 1,000 ft row over whorls ments; however, this season, with corn *Penncap-M 2 pt over whorls development lagging and a delayed *Penncap-M 3 to 4 pt broadcast *Pounce 1.5G 6.7 to 13.3 lb broadcast corn rootworm egg hatch in progress, *Pounce 3.2EC 4 to 8 oz broadcast rescue treatments may be required in *Warrior 1EC 2.56 to 3.84 oz broadcast some fields.