Sweet Corn
European corn borer (ECB) catches have been largely contained to Hunterdon and Somerset counties this past week (see ECB map at left).  This flight has been very sporadic.  ECB feeding in NJ sweet corn plantings is very low, and has been largely obscured by fall armyworm (FAW) feeding.  Check 5 plants each in 10 random locations for a 50 plant sample.  Look  for “shot-hole” injury, and  consider treating when the number of infested (from ECB or FAW) plants in a 50 plant sample exceeds 12%.  As infested plants proceed to the pre-tassel stage, live larvae and damage may be found in the emerging tassels.  Once plants hit full tassel, ECB larvae will move downward on the stalk and re-enter the plant near the area where ears are forming.  This can result in direct injury to the ear.  Growers should consider an insecticide application at the full tassel stage to target ECB larvae as they migrate downward.  This application can eliminate larvae that have escaped any earlier insecticide applications. [Read more…]

Sweet Corn
European corn borer (ECB) catches remain low, but are occurring in some locations with greater intensity (see ECB map at left).  This is the early part of the second flight.  In recent years, this flight has been very sporadic.  ECB feeding in NJ sweet corn plantings is still nearly non-existent at this time, but should appear again within a week, although it may be obscured by fall armyworm (FAW) feeding.  Check 5 plants each in 10 random locations for a 50 plant sample.  Look  for “shot-hole” injury, and  consider treating when the number of infested (from ECB or FAW) plants in a 50 plant sample exceeds 12%.  As infested plants proceed to the pre-tassel stage, live larvae and damage may be found in the emerging tassels.  Once plants hit full tassel, ECB larvae will move downward on the stalk and re-enter the plant near the area where ears are forming.  This can result in direct injury to the ear.  Growers should consider an insecticide application at the full tassel stage to target ECB larvae as they migrate downward.  This application can eliminate larvae that have escaped any earlier insecticide applications. [Read more…]

Sweet Corn
European corn borer (ECB) catches are still low, but catches are beginning to occur in more locations now (see ECB map at left).  This is an indication that the second flight is beginning.  ECB feeding in NJ sweet corn plantings is nearly non-existent at this time, but will appear again within 1-2 weeks.  Check 5 plants each in 10 random locations for a 50 plant sample.  Look  for “shot-hole” injury, and  consider treating when the number of infested plants in a 50 plant sample exceeds 12%.  As infested plants proceed to the pre-tassel stage, live larvae and damage may be found in the emerging tassels.  Once plants hit full tassel, ECB larvae will move downward on the stalk and re-enter the plant near the area where ears are forming.  This can result in direct injury to the ear.  Growers should consider an insecticide application at the full tassel stage to target ECB larvae as they migrate downward.  This application can eliminate larvae that have escaped any earlier insecticide applications. [Read more…]

Sweet Corn
European corn borer (ECB) catches continue to be very low, and no map will appear in this edition.  There have been a few traps that have begun to record minor increases, however.  ECB feeding in NJ sweet corn plantings is also low.  Check 5 plants each in 10 random locations for a 50 plant sample.  Look  for “shot-hole” injury, and  consider treating when the number of infested plants in a 50 plant sample exceeds 12%.  As infested plants proceed to the pre-tassel stage, live larvae and damage may be found in the emerging tassels.  Once plants hit full tassel, ECB larvae will move downward on the stalk and re-enter the plant near the area where ears are forming.  This can result in direct injury to the ear.  Growers should consider an insecticide application at the full tassel stage to target ECB larvae as they migrate downward.  This application can eliminate larvae that have escaped any earlier insecticide applications. [Read more…]

Sweet Corn
European corn borer (ECB) catches remain very low, and no map will appear in this edition.  Feeding in NJ sweet corn plantings is also low, with remaining larval infestations only on pre-tassel stage corn in the northern counties.  Check 5 plants each in 10 random locations for a 50 plant sample.  Look  for “shot-hole” injury, and  consider treating when the number of infested plants in a 50 plant sample exceeds 12%.  As infested plants proceed to the pre-tassel stage, live larvae and damage may be found in the emerging tassels.  Once plants hit full tassel, ECB larvae will move downward on the stalk and re-enter the plant near the area where ears are forming.  This can result in direct injury to the ear.  Growers should consider an insecticide application at the full tassel stage to target ECB larvae as they migrate downward.  This application can eliminate larvae that have escaped any earlier insecticide applications. [Read more…]

Sweet Corn
European corn borer (ECB) catches continue to be extremely low, and no map will appear in this edition.  Feeding in NJ sweet corn plantings is highly variable, but with second and third plantings now reaching the silk stage, we find that later plantings have much less damage.  Check 5 plants each in 10 random locations for a 50 plant sample.  Look  for “shot-hole” injury, and  consider treating when the number of infested plants in a 50 plant sample exceeds 12%.  As infested plants proceed to the pre-tassel stage, live larvae and damage may be found in the emerging tassels.  Once plants hit full tassel, ECB larvae will move downward on the stalk and re-enter the plant near the area where ears are forming.  This can result in direct injury to the ear.  Growers should consider an insecticide application at the full tassel stage to target ECB larvae as they migrate downward.  This application can eliminate larvae that have escaped any earlier insecticide applications. [Read more…]