We’ve seen a jump in corn earworm moth activity this week in many sweet corn fields around Virginia with high levels being reported all around the state, specifically Virginia Beach, Accomack, Northampton, Amelia, Frederick, Page, Montgomery, and Carroll Counties. Fall armyworm moths are also being monitored with bucket traps and very little activity has been observed throughout Virginia.
A catch of >1 or >13 corn earworm moths per night means moderate and high pest pressure, respectively, and a more frequent spray interval is justified.

A big thank you to the 14 VCE agents that are monitoring these pests on sweet corn farms in 17 different counties in Virginia: Phil Blevins (Washington Co.); Chris Brown (Franklin Co.); Jason Cooper (Rockingham Co.); Ursula Deitch (Northampton Co.); Helene Doughty (Accomack Co.); Roy Flanagan (VA Beach); Bob Jones (Charlotte Co.); Kenner Love (Page and Rappahannock Co.); Laura Maxey Nay (Hanover Co.); Steve Pottorff (Carrol Co.); Stephanie Romelczyk (Westmoreland Co.); Beth Sastre-Flores (Loudoun Co.); Laura Siegle (Amelia Co.); Rebekah Slabach (Halifax Co.); and Mark Sutphin (Frederick Co.). Here are some trap catch results (moths per night) for some of the locations around Virginia for this week (note we do not have data for all locations yet):

Corn earworm moth catch in VA for week ending – July 27, 2018.