Western Bean Cutworm Short Course

A Distance Education Short Course - February 28, 2007

9:00 a.m to 12:00 noon (CST)

Eileen Cullen, Extension Entomologist

Until 2000, the western bean cutworm occurred no farther east than western Iowa. From 2000 through 2006, the range of this corn ear-attacking pest expanded rapidly to the east. From 2000 through 2004, western bean cutworms were found farther east in Iowa annually. Moths were found in pheromone traps for the first time in Illinois and Missouri in 2004. In 2005 and 2006, an extensive pheromone trap network coordinated by specialists at Iowa State University provided ample evidence that the range of the western bean cutworm had expanded as far east as Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. Reports of significant damage caused by western bean cutworms to corn ears have been common in Iowa for a few years, and noticeable injury was documented in some areas of Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin in 2006. As the distribution of the western bean cutworm continues to expand and the insect becomes an established pest in new areas, corn growers will have to include this pest in their corn insect management plans.

So, what is known about this pest, and what do we need to know? On February 28, 2007, entomologists from Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, and Wisconsin will present a short course focused on western bean cutworms. The short course will be delivered via distance education technology to sites in at least four states. Extension personnel and other individuals interested in hosting the short course should register at http://ncipmc.org/teleconference/

A followup E-mail will be mailed in the next couple of weeks with local sites offering the Distance Education Course.

The general content of the program will be:

8:30 – 9:00 AM –   Check in

9:00 – 9:30 AM –   Review of the Situation 2000 – 2006 Iowa, Illinois Wisconsin, elsewhere

                        Dr. Marlin Rice, Iowa State
                        Dr. Kevin Steffey, University of Illinois
                        Dr. Eileen Cullen, University of Wisconsin

 9:30 – 10:00 AM – History and Biology of the Western Bean Cutworm

                         Dr. Gary Hein, University of Nebraska (tentative)

10:00 – 10:15 AM – Break

10:15 – 10:45 AM – Look Alikes – Moths and Larvae…
                                 How to Differentiate WBC Moths and   Larvae From Look-Alikes

                         Dr. Marlin Rice, Iowa State

10:45 – 11:00 AM – Discussion of Economic Impact

                         All Speakers

11:00 – Noon – Managing Western Bean Cutworms – Trapping, Degree Days, Scouting, 
                         Making Management Decisions and Options for Control

                         All Speakers

As the western bean cutworm becomes more firmly established as an economically important pest, corn producers will want to know how to manage it. Join the discussion on February 28th covering western bean cutworm biology and its economic impact, as well as management strategies and control options.

CCA Continuing Education Units Applied for

This short course is funded by the North Central IPM Center.

Sign-in for the short course will begin at 8:30 a.m., and the program will begin promptly at 9:00 a.m. The program will conclude at 12:00 noon, and a question-and-answer session will occur from 12:00 noon to 12:30 p.m.

The anticipated audience for this short course will be corn growers, members of state corn associations, agribusiness professionals (CCA CEUs will be applied for), Extension personnel, and other interested groups. Look for promotional information from state Extension groups and other organizations.