Paulding County OSU Extension will be monitoring for Western Bean Cutworm (WBC) moths again during the 2021 growing season. We currently have two farmer cooperators for 2021, with the goal of having five throughout Paulding County. We are especially looking for fields near Paulding, Junction, Grover Hill, and Oakwood.

Moths are trapped by placing pheromone traps (see picture) at the edge of cornfields throughout the county and checked on a weekly basis beginning late June and proceeding through August.

The WBC monitoring program is a state-led initiative to better understand insect populations, and develop management recommendations for growers. Each week, WBC numbers will be published in the C.O.R.N. newsletter. Paulding County WBC numbers will also be published on this blog on a weekly basis.

If you are interested in hosting a trap in one of your cornfields in 2021, please call ANR Educator Sarah Noggle at 419-399-8225 by March 29.

Western bean cutworm (WBC) trap counts for the week of August 10 – 16 decreased over the past week putting all monitoring counties below the scouting threshold. The low numbers indicate we are officially past peak flights.  Overall, a total of 27 counties monitored 90 traps, resulting in 38 WBC adults (a statewide average of 0.4 moths per trap) (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Average Western bean cutworm adult per trap followed by the total number of traps in the county in parentheses for the week ending August 16, 2020.

Figure 1. Average Western bean cutworm adult per trap followed by the total number of traps in the county in parentheses for the week ending August 9, 2020.

Western bean cutworm (WBC) trap counts for the week of August 3 – August 9 continue to decrease in the majority of monitoring counties. Trap counts indicated only one county, Lake, had an average of 7 or more moths, suggesting scouting is necessary. Overall, a total of 26 counties monitored 89 traps, resulting in 111 WBC adults (a statewide average of 1.2 moths per trap) (Figure 1). Monitoring for WBC moths will continue in many counties until the end of August.