Figure 1. Corn earworm moths in a pheromone trap at the Central Maryland Research and Education Center in Beltsville.

Figure 1. Corn earworm moths in a pheromone trap at the Central Maryland Research and Education Center in Beltsville.

Updated: August 6, 2021
By Alan Leslie

Corn Earworm Trap Captures Up, and New Web Page for Updates 

Figure 2. Weekly captures of corn earworm moths using pheromone traps at select sites across the state. Dashed line represents the cutoff for what is considered heavy moth pressure.
Figure 2. Weekly captures of corn earworm moths using pheromone traps at select sites across the state. The dashed line represents the cutoff for what is considered heavy moth pressure.
 

A few hot spots where corn earworm (also known as tomato fruitworm, soybean podworm, and sorghum headworm) activity is starting to rise have been identified in central Maryland. The relatively mild 2020-2021 winter allowed adult moths to overwinter in Maryland, and some parts of the state experienced a higher than normal first flight in early June. Now that we are heading towards the end of summer, the next generation of moths are emerging as adults and have begun flight. Some areas continue to capture few moths and are experiencing low pressure, while others have been experiencing moderate pressure that has increased to heavy pressure (Fig. 1). See Figure 2 for pressure at select sites in Maryland. Monitoring pressure using on-farm traps provides the most accurate information for making management decisions. We recommend using two pheromone traps and replacing the lures frequently, especially during periods of hot weather. For weekly updates on pheromone trap captures across the state and information on how to scout for and manage corn earworm in vegetable and grain crops, visit the new webpage: https://extension.umd.edu/resource/corn-earworm-pheromone-trapping.

This article appears on August 2021, Volume 12, Issue 5 of the Agronomy news.

Agronomy News, August 2021, Vol. 12, Issue 5

Agronomy News is a statewide newsletter for farmers, consultants, researchers, and educators interested in grain and row crop forage production systems. This newsletter is published once a month during the growing season and will include topics pertinent to agronomic crop production. Subscribers will receive an email with the latest edition.

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