Potpourri of caterpillars in Iowa

Jun 17, 2019

By Erin Hodgson

I’ve been hearing about and seeing a variety of caterpillars in seedling crops this week. In soybean, you notice thistle caterpillars feeding and making webbed cavities from the leaves. They can be easy to find in early-vegetative soybean but rarely build up to economic populations. Read more about thistle caterpillars in this ICM News article.

There can be a lot of green caterpillars in soybean, and you are likely to find some every time you sweep. One active right now is green cloverworm. These slender, pale green caterpillars tend to wriggle violently if handled (compared to other sedentary caterpillars). Defoliation can happen in the vegetative stages, but higher populations tend to happen after bloom. Read more about soybean defoliators in this ICM News article.

Green cloverworm.

There have been a few reports of various cutworms and armyworms in corn this summer. One that I don’t usually hear much about is variegated cutworm. The ash-grey larvae are relatively easy to identify because of the row of pale yellow spots running along the back. This species tends to climb up plants more than other cutworms and can be found on corn whorls.

Variegated cutworm.

Source:iastate.edu

Video: Jim Smalley: The Voice That Defined Saskatchewan Agriculture Journalism | CKRM 100th Anniversary

Our next 620 CKRM Icon is Jim Smalley. Jim reflects on his remarkable career, from his early days in Ontario and his first steps into news, to his move west and his lasting impact on Saskatchewan’s airwaves.

After joining CKRM in 1982, Jim spent more than four decades as one of the province’s most trusted and recognizable voices. Jim defined agricultural journalism — not just in Saskatchewan, but across Canada. His commitment to telling the stories of farmers, rural communities, and the people behind the headlines set the standard. Now retired from the newsroom that proudly bears his name, Jim shares memorable stories from his time on air. A broadcaster, a storyteller, and a true voice of Saskatchewan — Jim Smalley’s legacy continues to resonate at CKRM and beyond.