While the name suggests it’s a pest of bean crops, the western bean cutworm isn’t the most discerning of pests — corn will do just fine, thank you very much. Since 2008, western bean cutworm has been on Ontario’s radar, as pest numbers are building and farmers may need to spray to control this pest if economic thresholds are reached.
In this Corn School episode, Tracey Baute, field crop entomologist with Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food/Minister of Rural Affairs, shows us what crop height and stage is preferred by the pest (it’s a bit early yet, but be prepared), where to look for egg masses, how to tell if it’s western bean cutworm and at what point to spray. There’s a very specific spray window for the pest, so be sure to catch Baute’s explanation of how to tell when the eggs are about to hatch.
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