Annually, we conduct a survey to estimate corn earworm infestation levels in field corn in late July. Earworms develop in corn, then move to other crops such as soybean, cotton, and peanut in August. We determined the number of corn earworms found in 50 ears of corn from 5 randomly selected corn fields in each of 24 counties, totaling 5,800 ears and 116 fields sampled. Statewide, 42% of ears were infested with earworms. This is up from 36% in 2009. Regional averages were 12% infested in Northern, 28% in the Northern Neck, 39% in Mid-Eastern, 58% in the Southeast, and 46% on the Eastern Shore. See the attachment with results from each county and many more details. From the survey, it looks like the areas of greatest risk to heavy infestations of earworms are the southeastern ‘cotton/peanut’ counties, and the Eastern Shore. However, as large as this effort is, it is not a complete picture. We always recommend scouting individual fields to determine exactly what is happening in terms of corn earworm as well as other pests and crop problems. We will continue posting moth catch numbers and other information regarding the 2010 insect pest situation.
Additional information: cew-survey-table10-2-docx