Start the season off right with at planting corn insect pest decisions

Corn rootworms are important insect pest of corn in the Midwest. Two species of rootworms that may cause severe damage to corn as both larvae and adults, the western and northern corn rootworms. Southern corn rootworm adults may damage corn leaves, however, because they cannot overwinter in most areas of the Midwest, southern corn rootworm larvae do not present a major threat to corn in this region. However, male wing covers are often nearly entirely black or at least darker in pigmentation than that of the female, which usually appears as more regular stripes. Slight variations in these color patterns may occur. Female western corn rootworm adults have larger abdomens than the males.

Management of seed and seedling feeding insects uses tactics that impact one or more of the above mentioned areas. Cultural practices are very important in establishing a vigorous, full stand of seedlings. Also cultural practices can greatly influence pest populations, as well as crop competitiveness and tolerance. Producing a vigorous and competitive corn crop requires planning and site preparation. Perhaps the most effective, and often the lowest cost, cultural tactic for reducing many pest problems is crop rotation. Rotation of corn with a non-grass crop reduces the levels of many pests through starvation and elimination of pest insect reproduction. Rotation may be yearly or in multiples of years depending on the pest problems of a particular locale and crop combination.

To protect corn from earworms, you must keep them from entering the tip of the husk. You can do this by wrapping a rubber band around the tip of the ear. Three things constantly threaten gardens: disease, insects and animals.

Sweet corn producers must rely on timely pest monitoring and effective insecticide sprays to minimize ear damage by corn earworm, European corn borer and fall armyworm. The fresh-market can tolerate only minimal damage to the ears. Pyrethroids are the popular choice for worm control, but efficacy has declined in recent years due to resistance in corn earworm populations. Based on insecticide trials in the mid-Atlantic area, pyrethroids have lost about one-third of their efficacy since , although efficacy varies from year to year depending on the relative susceptibility of migrant moths from the south. Spray mixtures of Lannate or Larvin plus a pyrethroid have become a common practice to circumvent a potential resistance problem.