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Pest expert says scout fields early for slugs, cutworms

An Extension expert says the cool and wet spring has him concerned about certain field pests.
Bryan Jensen with the University of Wisconsin says, “One would be slugs. Another possibility is black cutworms based on trap catches, and then armyworms as well.”

Jensen tells Brownfield farmers should scout fields a lot, and he recommends getting out at emergence to see what they’re up against, especially if a field has a history of slugs. “The cloudy weather makes for a better slug habitat. You know, they survive well (but) they don’t do good in hot, dry weather, and then also the cool slows the crop growth down, and it’s seedling corn and bean stages that are most susceptible to slugs.”

And, Jensen says Wisconsin’s Department of Agriculture has had some high numbers of black cutworms in their pheromone traps this year. “Where I would go for black cutworm scouting is fields that have some early season broadleaf weed emergence problems. The adult moth which migrates up here in the spring is really attracted to those areas.”

Jensen says adult egg laying cutworm moths also like cornfields with last season’s soybean residue.

Jensen says scouting helps farmers know what their pest populations are, so they can make better decisions about managing pests.