Worst pests in corn and soybeans in 2013. 2013.12
In the Midwest, insect pressure varies widely depending on location, weather and cropping practices. But year-in and year-out, some pests tend to dominate more than others. According to Extension entomologists in Indiana, Illinois,
Iowa and Nebraska, corn rootworm is by far the region’s worst insect pest for corn. Soybean’s top insect pest is less clear, but the four most often mentioned in the Midwest are soybean aphids, bean leaf beetles, Japanese
beetles and spider mites.
Knowing which insects will likely take the biggest bite out of crop production prior to planting can be helpful for planning yield-loss-prevention strategies. On the other hand, it’s still way too early to predict how much, if any, yield loss insects might cause for a particular field in 2013, says Christian Krupke, Purdue University Extension entomologist. A lot depends on Mother Nature, particularly during spring, he says.
“Spring weather conditions typically have a greater impact on insect pest pressure than winter conditions,” says Krupke. “If spring is unusually cool and wet, that’s generally bad for crops, but good for insects. The longer seed remains in contact with cool, wet soils before and during germination, the more difficult it is to prevent yield loss from insect pests. If spring is unusually cool, but not wet, that’s the next worst scenario.”
Since weather conditions are rarely the same across any given region, insect survival and/or migration patterns also vary widely between different growing areas, notes Krupke. Still, he and other Midwestern entomologists report regularly seeing yield-reduction problems from the following five corn insect pests nearly every year.
Corn Rootworm
“There is considerable variation across the Corn Belt with respect to the top 5 insects in corn and soybeans,” says Mike Gray, University of Illinois Extension entomologist. “However, in corn, western corn rootworms are undoubtedly the key pest, particularly with Bt resistance having recently been confirmed in Iowa and Illinois.”
Due to its ability to develop resistance to certain Bt corn hybrids, western corn rootworms are the key pest to guard against in corn fields for 2013, agrees Erin Hodgson, University of Iowa Extension entomologist. “Corn rootworm resistance to Bt is probably the ‘hottest’ topic in field crop pest management right now,” she states.
Corn rootworms are also the key concern in Nebraska, says Bob Wright, University of Nebraska Extension entomologist. He notes that western corn rootworm populations, (both adults and larvae) have been increasing in recent years due to milder-than-normal winters and more continuous corn production.
On the other hand, corn rootworm numbers have been trending very low for the last three or four years in Indiana, reports Krupke. “Corn rootworms tend to be vulnerable to heavy spring rains in May that kill a lot of the hatching larvae, and we’ve had several consecutive wet springs,” he says. “Also, corn rootworms are definitely more of a problem in continuous corn production. But in Indiana most growers have remained in a 50-50 corn/soybean rotation.”
Continuous corn can make a big difference in allowing insect pest pressure to build up, adds Krupke. “Crop rotation can be like hitting the reset button for lowering corn rootworm populations,” he says.
Ear-feeding caterpillars
Caterpillars that feed on corn ears are typically the second most likely cause for yield reductions in any given year, according to Wright, Gray and Krupke. One reason for potential yield loss is that “insecticidal control is difficult for these insects because of timing,” says Wright. “However, some Bt corn hybrids are available with activity against these insects.”
Western bean cutworms overwinter in the soil and can be worse after a mild winter, says Krupke. However, corn earworms are largely a migratory insect that are brought in by spring winds from the Gulf States. “So, earworm populations are heavily dependent on spring wind patterns,” he adds.
Japanese beetles
“These insects are a regular threat in soybeans but are increasingly a concern in corn where they can interfere with pollination by clipping silks,” says University of Illinois’ Gray.
