Young corn across Iowa remains vulnerable to stalk borers, a type of caterpillar that can tunnel into the stems of the crop. This pest often reinfests fields, however, which has given agricultural producers the opportunity to track it down in areas where it has previously appeared.
Tracking degree days has also helped corn farmers determine when stalk borer larvae will move. In turn, they are getting a better idea of when the pest will come into contact with insecticides.
Generally, stalk borers are not highly mobile, often failing to filter deep into crop acreage. “Dead heads” can indicate where stalk borers have moved within a field. Their purple coloring and white stripes can identify the stalk borer larvae.
Corn producers in Iowa are advised to begin scouting their plants for stalk borer larvae once their region has accumulated about 1,300-1,400 degree days (base 41 degrees Fahrenheit). Much of central and southern Iowa has already hit this point, meaning farmers can begin to plan insecticide applications.
Insecticides can be beneficial as stalk borer larvae are moving into corn fields. However, it often fails to affect once the pest has made its way into the crop — the insecticide typically cannot reach it. If a corn producer finds that stalk borers have infested their field, there are no rescue treatments available to remedy the problem. For this reason, it’s best for farmers to exercise prevention measures to ensure that the pest does not negatively impact their crops during the growing season.
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