Later Planting Sets Stage for Possible Black Cutworm Injury
While planting has been slow in 2022, moth flights have been steady across much of the state. Regular flights have been observed through much of the northern two-thirds of the state. Several counties have reported significant moth flights (9 or more moths over a 2-night span). We can use the date of the significant flight to predict potential cutting dates based on degree day predictions.
A few key things to note:
Black cutworm moths are strong migratory insects with northward flights commonly observed from Gulf States into the Midwest from March through May.…