Dingy cutworms, a type of caterpillar, can cause extensive damage to corn crops by feeding on the stems and leaves of young plants. Reducing yield and compromising quality, dingy cutworm presence in fields can lead to defoliation, stunting and potentially even plant death — but treating with a few commonly used insecticides intended for cutworm control in corn can help.
How Do Dingy Cutworms Affect Corn?
Dingy cutworm feeding habits result in severe defoliation and stunting, disrupting the crucial process of photosynthesis and hindering the plant's ability to produce energy and vital nutrients. This negatively impacts the overall vigor of corn plants, leading to delayed growth and compromised ear development.
How to Identify Dingy Cutworms
Dingy cutworms measure 1-1.5 inches in length when fully grown and have a dull gray or brown coloration. They have a smooth and shiny exterior, a distinct "C" shape when at rest, and a dark head capsule, which sets them apart from other pests.
Regular field scouting can allow for timely action, helping to more proactively control these pests and protect the corn crop from damage. Several indicators can help farmers identify the presence of dingy cutworms in their corn fields, including:
Cut or chewed leaves
Wilting or stunted plants
Presence of dingy cutworms, especially on lower leaves and stems
(Image Credit: Hanna Royals, Screening Aids, USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org)
Regions Affected by Dingy Cutworms
Dingy cutworms are a persistent threat in corn-growing regions throughout North America, especially in areas with moderate to heavy rainfall like the Midwest and Great Plains. However, they can also pose a significant concern in other regions where corn is cultivated.
Timing of Dingy Cutworm Infestations
Dingy cutworms pose a significant threat to corn crops during the early season, specifically from planting to the V6 growth stage. This critical period is when young corn plants are most vulnerable to the feeding damage caused by these pests.
(Image Credit: Canadian National Collection, The Canadian National Collection (CNC) of Insects, Arachnids and Nematodes, Bugwood.org)
Products to Manage Dingy Cutworms
Corn hybrids that contain above-ground Bt traits may be used to help manage dingy cutworm infestations.
Regular scouting, monitoring and timely intervention are key to minimizing damage caused by dingy cutworms and ensuring healthy and productive corn crops. When deciding whether to employ chemical products to control dingy cutworms, farmers should first assess the severity of the infestation. Unlike black cutworms, dingy cutworms aren't usually an economic threat in corn.
Once fields have reached a level of infestation at which chemical products are needed, there are a few commonly used insecticides intended for cutworm control in corn, including:
At planting: Apply 0.45 fl oz/1000 linear ft of row in-furrow using a t-band or band treatment with a minimum 4-in band
Pre- or postemergence: To protect emerging or emerged seedlings, apply 5.8-9.6 fl oz/A
Pre-plant incorporated: Apply 3-4 fl oz/acre
At planting: Apply 0.15-0.30 fl oz/1000 linear ft of row
Preemergence: Apply 2.56 fl oz/acre
Postemergence: Apply 2.1-6.4 fl oz/acre
At planting: Apply banded or in-furrow at a rate of 0.66 fl oz/1000 linear ft of row
Postemergence: Apply 1.92-3.20 fl oz/acre
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