MN Fruit & Vegetable IPM News - Vol. 4, No. 5

Western bean cutworm (WBC) (and other moths in pheromone traps?): Given the recent and rapid expansion of WBC throughout the Midwest, there is considerable interest in expanding the pheromone trap network for this pest. Since our first observation of WBC at Lamberton, MN, in 1998 (larvae in sweet corn), we have used pheromone and light traps for monitoring the adult flights. To generate data similar to the WBC network, coordinated by Iowa State University (Pope and Rice, 2006 ISU article; cited below), we are evaluating the “milk jug” and “sticky card” pheromone traps (both with same pheromone lure), as well as light traps at Rosemount. We typically don’t expect to catch WBC this early, as the univoltine flight occurs during late June to early Aug. in southern MN. However, we currently have traps out for research purposes.

With this article, we want to alert those checking WBC traps, that at least one “non-target” moth can be caught using either of these pheromone traps. During the past week, we have been catching one additional species you should be aware of (and not count it as WBC). The moth has been caught in both the jug trap as well as a sticky trap, both using the same WBC pheromone lure (see photos). As you can see by the pictures (below), it is not always easy to identify moths in traps especially if they’ve lost many of their wing scales. This moth has been tentatively identified as the yellowstriped armyworm (Spodoptera ornithogalli), which is not a significant pest in Minnesota. These moths are clearly not WBC (see WBC photo’s for comparison). These photographs should be useful for assisting in proper identification as the season progresses, and be sure to check the moths for the clear WBC markings, to ensure proper identification and data collection (click on each image to expand photo).

For additional Information on the WBC Trapping Network, Trap Photo’s & 2006 Summary, see:
Pope, R., and M. Rice. 2006. Western bean cutworm in 2006. Integrated Crop Management Newsletter: http://www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/icm/2006/7-10/wbc.html

Directions for Setting up WBC Pheromone Traps: http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/insect/05538.html (CSU Fact Sheet)

Western bean cutworm moths in a black light trap	Possible yellowstriped armyworm moths in a jug trap	Possible yellowstriped armyworm moth on a sticky trap

Western bean cutworm moth (courtesty of M. Rice, IA State Univ.)	Yellowstriped armyworm moth (courtesy of John Capinera, University of Florida)	Dingy cutworm moth: another non-target sometimes caught in traps (courtesy NDSU )
Army cutworm moth

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Co-Editors: Bill Hutchison (hutch002@umn.edu), Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota, Jeanne Ciborowski, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Ag. Resources Management and Development Division, and Suzanne Wold-Burkness (woldx018@umn.edu), Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota

The Newsletter is published weekly from May through August, cooperatively, by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) and the University of Minnesota (U of MN). Reports are posted on the U of MN and MDA web sites on Fridays. If you have suggestions and/or comments, please send your contributions by 4 p.m., Wednesday to Jeanne Ciborowski, 651-201-6217, jeanne.ciborowski@state.mn.us , MDA, 625 Robert St. North, St. Paul, MN 55155. You can access the Newsletter at the U of MN web site in htm format at: www.vegedge.umn.edu/MNFruit&VegNews/mnindex.htm and at the MDA web site in pdf format at: www.mda.state.mn.us/plants/pestmanagement/ipm/ipmnews.htm

Partial funding for this publication is provided through partnership agreements with the Minnesota Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (MFVGA) and the United States Department of Agriculture – Risk Management Agency (RMA). These institutions are equal opportunity providers.

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Last Revised June, 2007 by woldx018@umn.edu
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