Corn rootworm larvae are hungry

Today, I put out an ICM News article on predicted corn rootworm egg hatch in Iowa. It has a map of the soil  degree day accumulation for the year. Entomologists can predict most insect development based on temperature and we estimate about 50% of corn rootworm eggs should hatch between 684-767 soil degree days (base 52F). The Muscatine area is approaching that important benchmark and many other areas in southern Iowa will in the next week. If we continue to have warm days, expect all insect development to speed up quickly.

Soil degree day accumulation as of 14 June 2013. 

This egg hatch prediction is behind the average date of 6 June and way behind numbers for 2012. People that track egg hatch in Indiana and Illinois also reported delayed egg hatch, due in part to the extreme drought in 2012. Mike Gray, Illinois extension entomologist, said sometimes females will lay eggs deeper into the soil profile in drought conditions. The delayed corn planting throughout much of Iowa means larvae will have a smaller root system to feed on and potentially damage. I've also had people ask me about saturated soils killing rootworms this year. It is possible to suffocate the larvae, but the eggs probably survived water-logged soil. 

I encourage all you scouts and farmers to check your corn roots mid July to assess any corn rootworm injury. It will help determine the ongoing strategies for this unruly beast. Unexpected corn rootworm is possible with all Bt traits in continuous corn production. To read more about corn rootworm management, read this short ISU publication Aaron Gassmann and I wrote over the winter.