New York Western Bean Cutworm Field Corn Monitoring Program Progress Report (2010-2018)

Abstract

Western bean cutworm (Striacosta albicosta [Smith]) attacks corn (Zea mays L.; including field, sweet and popcorn) and dry beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), feeding on developing kernels or beans inside husks and pods, respectively. Western bean cutworm (WBC) infestations can cause significant yield losses and may facilitate subsequent colonization by pathogens, furthering damage and impacts. This pest has become an economic issue for many growers ranging from the Midwest through the Northeast US and Southern Ontario and Quebec. Loses from this insect can be as high as 8-10% in dry beans and 40% or more in field corn grain yields. WBC was first found in New York in 2009. This pest has expanded and has steadily increased across the state since first discovered. A trapping network was established in 2010 to monitor WBC populations as they invade NYS. In the last 3 years we have had economic damage in Northern and Western NY. This last year we also documented economic damage in the upper part of the Hudson Valley.