Black Cutworm Crop Bulletin

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Mark Jeschke, Agronomy Manager

PEST FACTS AND IMPACT ON CROP

Latin name: Agrotis ipsilon
The black cutworm is the major cutworm of the Corn Belt – similar species are found worldwide
Black cutworms eat many plants, including corn, cotton, tobacco, vegetables, weeds and turf grasses

PEST SYMPTOMS

Small larvae chew holes in leaves
Fourth stage or olderlarvae exceed the widthof a dime in length, andcan begin cutting V1 toV5 stage plants
Drilling into V6-V8 stage plants can kill growing point
Cutting mostly above ground in wet soil, mostly below ground in dry soil

Figure 1. Black cutworm damage to a corn plant.

Figure 2. Recovery after being cut above the growing point

PEST ID

Key characteristics

Adult forewings with dagger-shaped marking and kidney- shaped spot
Larvae are black/gray and grow to 1 5/8 inches

Figure 3. Black cutworm

Figure 4. Black cutworm moth and wing close-up

Favorable conditions for pest occurrence would be spring storms prior to tillage and planting delivering moths to the area
- Monitor moth flight reports
- Kill existing vegetation nine or more days prior to planting to reduce larval survival
- Natural enemies are generally birds and other predators, though they’re not usually effective
IPM practices
- Pheromone trapping is used to determine when the pest is present
- Intensively scout fields that are at risk
- Reduced tillage or other practices that leave a food source for the young larvae increase risk
- Insecticide seed treatments at high rates may give some control, but lower rates are not as effective
- Broadcast pesticide or bait application may be used as a rescue treatment

MANAGEMENT WITH TRAITED PRODUCTS

Corn products with the Herculex^® I trait have very good protection against black cutworm.

Figure 5. A corn hybrid with the Herculex^® I trait (right), compared to a susceptible hybrid (left) under black cutworm pressure. Orange stakes indicate cut plants.

Herculex^® Insect Protection technology by Dow AgroSciences and Pioneer Hi-Bred. Herculex^® and the HX logo are registered trademarks of Dow AgroSciences LLC.

The foregoing is provided for informational use only. Please contact your sales professional for information and suggestions specific to your operation. Product performance is variable and depends on many factors such as moisture and heat stress, soil type, management practices and environmental stress as well as disease and pest pressures. Individual results may vary.

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