Insect Alert For

Corn Earworm

Risk Level:
Low Risk
Affected Area:
Full page
Alert Details

Corn earworm migration risks remain in the forecast for the next several days as no less than two separate weather systems move through the corn-growing region. The present system should send a cold front through much of the eastern corn-growing region by later tomorrow, but before that happens some additional moth flights appear probable at least on an isolated basis mainly from southeast Missouri and Illinois and points east of Lake Michigan and mainly south of I-96 in lower Michigan. Southerly winds are not expected to be as strong as the past few nights when Moderate risks were in place near or in the risk area overnight tonight, thus the Low risk, but some scattered intense moth flights may still occur especially in northern Indiana, northwest Ohio, and southern lower Michigan prior to a cold front passage and/or precipitation/thunderstorms occurring in the area. We contemplated another small Moderate risk area but uncertainty with exactly where precipitation develops and traverses later this evening into the early morning hours tomorrow precludes the risk upgrade at this time. Low risks then focus back west in the Plains by tomorrow night into Thursday as the next system moves in, and the Low risk then spreads east once again into the central and eastern corn-growing region especially Thursday night but potentially into eastern areas Friday night, as well, before northwest flow locks back in by the weekend and into early next week. All processing and fresh market growers should expect corn earworm moth captures to increase in the coming week at least on an isolated, if not more widespread, scattered basis as these weather systems move through.