I am still receiving reports of problems with corn earworm and fall armyworm in mid-south soybean.

While we have had a few reports of fall armyworm in corn, we have not seen widespread problems with these insects in either corn or soybean. However, we do have considerable acreages of late-planted corn and soybeans in Kentucky this year and these are still at risk for an outbreak of these pests.

Our UK-IPM pheromone-baited traps in Princeton have not reflected an abnormal increase in either of these pests. However, the corn earworm trap in Lexington has produced a decidedly large increase in captured moths this week (253 compared to 28 last week). Given the limited data set we have for Lexington, it is not possible to say whether or not this increase is important. In previous years we have certainly caught much larger numbers without a known outbreak. See:http://www.uky.edu/Ag/IPMPrinceton/counts/cew/cewgraph.htm However, this is the largest capture we have seen this year. Trap captures in Princeton have not produced unusually large numbers of moths thus far.

The significant damage caused by corn earworm and fall armyworm in Arkansas, and to some extent in Tennessee, could be caused in part by the difference in crop mix. Primarily, this would cotton in Tennessee and Arkansas. (Note: the corn earworm will be called the boll worm when speaking of cotton pests.) Both of these insects are often found as pests in cotton and the combination of crops could be producing larger than average populations in those states. Since we do not have any cotton to speak of in Kentucky, we may escape this problem. However, unlike corn earworm, fall armyworm is a migratory pest and this could produce additional risks for us.

Fall armyworm is in Kentucky every year but rarely produces economically important populations. The two key items that counter this situation are late-planted crops, especially corn, and a large influx of fall armyworm moths. Late-planted corn should be examined closely for fall armyworm. While it is relatively easily controlled in soybean, it is very difficult to control in corn once the worms move down into the whorl.

Corn and soybean should be monitored regularly for both of these pests. The greatest chance for economic infestations are in: late planting / maturing corn and soybean (fall armyworm); immature soybeans located near maturing corn (corn earworm); and soybeans that have an open canopy (corn earworm). The geographic areas most likely to have problems are the Purchase and Pennyrile counties that border Tennessee. Those with field crop interests in this geographic area may want to check the University of Tennessee IPM Newsletter: as well as the Kentucky Pest News.