Video: Black Cutworm 2: High Risk Corn And Management Considerations

Black cutworm (Agrotis ipsilon), a long-time corn pest in the Midwest, is generally a problem today only in late-planted corn. Timing of winter-annual weed control, e.g., chickweed, is important concerning black cutworm egg-laying and larval development. Some traited corn and seed-applied insecticides have suppressive activity against small cutworm but not larger larvae. Scouting the field is the only way to know if problems exist, especially catching the damage early before plants are killed or delayed in growth. Needed rescue foliar insecticides, if applied in a timely manner, are very effective in controlling black cutworm.