SCOTTSBLUFF -- Western bean cutworm can be a serious pest in corn and dry beans.

When their populations or infestations exceed certain thresholds, insecticide treatment is warranted, and timely treatment is crucial for successful management. 

For corn, a match between moth flight and the late whorl to early tassel stage of corn can result in high levels of infestation. For beans, if the cumulative moth catch at the peak moth flight (50 percent emergence) per green bucket trap is < 1200, between 1200 and 1700, and > 1700, the risk of significant damage is low, moderate, and high, respectively.

It is noted that a risk assessment is necessary, as actual bean damage and economic risk from larval feeding require scouting. More information on scouting, treatment recommendations, and insecticide options https://cropwatch.unl.edu/2020/scouting-and-treatment-recommendations-western-bean-cutworm/. 

Cumulative moth catch numbers will be updated weekly. The trapping network is supported by North Central IPM Center. Green bucket traps are monitored by UNL PREEC Entomology Lab (Scotts Bluff and Sioux Counties), John Thomas (Nebraska Extension Educator; Box Butte County), Samantha Daniel (Nebraska Extension Educator; Chase, Dundy, Perkins Counties), and Dr. Vinicius Zuppa (Nebraska Extension Educator; Cheyenne County). Weekly trap data are compiled by UNL PREEC Entomology Lab.

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Nebraska Extension is a Division of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln cooperating with the Counties and the United States Department of Agriculture. Nebraska Extension educational programs abide with the nondiscrimination policies of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and the United States Department of Agriculture.