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Articles by Kelly Estes
Spring Moth Trapping Update
This post originally appeared on farmdoc. Spring moth trapping is one month in and we thank all of the volunteer cooperators for diligently sending in trap counts each week. The stormy weather pattern continues to bring north lots of black cutworm moths. Several counties have had significant moth flights. We expect more over the coming weeks. While black cutworm flights have been steady these past few weeks, the same cannot be said for true armyworm. Trap catches have been low across the state.
Black cutworm feeding possible in coming weeks
Recommended citation format: Estes, K. "Black cutworm feeding possible in coming weeks." Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois, May 17, 2023. Permalink Black cutworms have been observed in traps across the state for the past couple of weeks. 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.
Illinois: Soybean Gall Midge - Learn to Identify This Potential Invader
Soybean gall midge larva. Photo: Iowa State University Farmers in several states to our west (particularly in eastern Nebraska) have been dealing with the soybean gall midge for several years. We have been fortunate to avoid this new soybean pest so far in Illinois (a current distribution map, scouting instructions, and additional information are available here). We want to stay on top of soybean gall midge if it does arrive here, and proper identification is critical to that effort.
Soybean Gall Midge: An Insect We Happily Did Not Find in Illinois During 2020
By Joseph Spencer and Kelly Estes Illinois Natural History Survey University of Illinois By Nicholas Seiter Department of Crop Sciences University of Illinois It’s not here yet, but there’s a new soybean pest approaching on the distant western horizon. Illinois entomologists were part of a project to survey for it in Illinois during the 2020 growing season.
Illinois Corn, Soybeans: 2020 Insect Numbers Low in Many Areas
Despite the chaos that 2020 has brought us, the Illinois statewide corn and soybean insect survey was completed this past summer. With the goal of estimating densities of common insect pests in corn and soybean cropping systems throughout the 9 crop reporting districts in Illinois, this is the 9th year the survey has been done (2011, 2013-2020). Like previous years, 4-5 counties are surveyed in each crop reporting district, with 5 corn and 5 soybean fields sampled in each county.
Illinois: Managing Corn Rootworm - Outlook for 2020
Corn rootworm remains the greatest insect pest threat to corn in Illinois, despite low populations in recent years compared with historical averages. Resistance to Bt traits and crop rotation throughout much of Illinois complicates the management decisions faced by corn growers. Corn rootworms overwinter as eggs in the soil that generally hatch in late May to early June, well after corn has been planted in most years (2019 notwithstanding).
Illinois Corn, Soybeans: Survey Ranks the Most Problematic Pests of 2018
As field and research season winds down, we’re able to finish collecting and summarizing data. One of our biggest summer projects is the annual corn and soybean survey. While some of that information was shared at Agronomy Day, the complete results are summarized below. As a recap, this survey has been carried out across the state for several years (2011, 2013–2018).
Western Corn Rootworm: Adult sampling and economic thresholds
Source: University of Illinois Extension Based on degree day accumulations, western corn rootworm egg hatch should be underway in much of Illinois (roughly south of Peoria as of May 29; you can view your specific location using the degree day calculator here:. We are probably just over a month away from seeing the emergence of the first adult beetles. With low rootworm populations for the last several years, there has been a renewed interest in adult sampling.
Illinois: Western Corn Rootworm - Adult Sampling and Economic Thresholds
Based on degree day accumulations, western corn rootworm egg hatch should be underway in much of Illinois (roughly south of Peoria as of May 29; you can view your specific location using the degree day calculator here). We are probably just over a month away from seeing the emergence of the first adult beetles. With low rootworm populations for the last several years, there has been a renewed interest in adult sampling.
Managing Corn Rootworm populations in Illinois: Considerations for 2018
Source: University of Illinois Extension Rootworm management is a yearly consideration for most corn producers in central and northern Illinois. Western corn rootworm (Fig. 1) is the primary pest species throughout most of the state, but areas in northern IL can experience pest pressure from the northern corn rootworm (Fig. 2) as well. Adult population densities have been low in recent years compared with historical averages, although they did creep up a bit in 2017.
Increased Insect Densities Reflected in Annual Corn and Soybean Survey
By Kelly Estes Thirty-six counties representing the nine crop reporting districts were surveyed at the end of July/beginning of August as part of our annual statewide corn and soybean survey. The surveys were performed by sampling five corn and five soybean fields per county. For the past several years (2011, 2013–2017), surveys in corn and soybean fields have been conducted with the goal of estimating densities of common insect pests.
Increased Insect Densities Reflected in Annual Corn and Soybean Survey
Thirty-six counties representing the nine crop reporting districts were surveyed at the end of July/beginning of August as part of our annual statewide corn and soybean survey. The surveys were performed by sampling five corn and five soybean fields per county. For the past several years (2011, 2013–2017), surveys in corn and soybean fields have been conducted with the goal of estimating densities of common insect pests.
Insect snapshots from the field
Here is a gallery of insect problems found in fields in Illinois but could be found in your field as well.
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