Tag Archives: Fall Armyworm

IPM in Fall Corn Production

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There are several growers who have planted corn crops for fall production. Much of the fall corn is sweet corn crops but other purposes exist as well including tourism. Insect issues can be more severe for fall planted corn and the crops should be monitored for pest insects. The three more likely insect pests that may develop into problems include fall armyworms, corn leaf aphids and corn leafhoppers. The corn leafhopper is the insect of greatest concern; not just because of what it can do to the current… Read More →

Fall Armyworm Management in Pastures

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We are finding Fall Armyworms in many pastures and hay fields. In fields with above threshold numbers, this can reduce the hay yield or grass available for cattle grazing. I use a sweep net to sample and use an economic threshold of 25 worms per 5 sweeps. An alternative threshold is when worm counts exceed 2-3 per square foot. We sprayed an insecticide control trial last Wednesday near Port Lavaca (9/14/22). Results of the trial found most commonly used insecticides worked well. This includes pyrethroids like Lambda-Cyhalothrin, Lambda… Read More →

Fall Armyworms in Bermudagrass Hay Fields

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All summer we have seen high numbers of fall armyworms in bermudagrass hayfields and pastures. Last week, I sprayed a Fall Armyworm insecticide control trial in a bermudagrass hayfield near Port Lavaca. To further complicate things, the field received rainfall 3 days after applications. This typifies what we have been experiencing this year. When scouting with a sweep net, we found very high numbers of fall armyworms. Pre-treatment  counts averaged around 250 worms per 5 sweeps. The economic threshold I use is 25 per 5 sweeps. In this… Read More →

Midge in Grain Sorghum

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Grain sorghum fields range in maturity from nearing bloom to soft dough and all of these fields need to be scouted frequently. Blooming sorghum is susceptible to sorghum midge and field scouts are finding more midge in the fields this week. Scout sorghum fields 2-3 times per week until past bloom. Start by scouting fields on the south side (downwind) as the midge is a poor flyer and will be found on the field margins first. When you are finding them on field margins, move 150-200 feet into… Read More →

Fall Armyworms in Sorghum

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Fall armyworms are being found in sorghum fields across the area this week.  While the feeding can be alarming, I have yet to find a field in need of treatment. Insecticide application may be justified if larval feeding reduces leaf area by more than 30 percent or is damaging the developing grain head or growing point within the whorl. The fields where I have found the armyworms had less than 5% infested plants and the feeding damage was below the economic threshold. Often, I was finding two or… Read More →