Menu

The movement of armyworm larvae from wheat fields into adjacent corn fields may become a concern as they continue their march to food. The armyworm population is still appearing in wheat fields with reports of occasional head clipping and some leaf feeding.

The severity of the wheat leaf feeding is not as important now as it was several weeks ago because of the wheat’s maturity. "Once the wheat is past the bloom stage the armyworms eating the leaves should not have much of an impact on the plant or its yield," said Bruce Eisley, research associate for OSU Extension Entomology.

After wheat, armyworms move onto grasses, small-grain cover crops and corn because corn is often planted next to wheat fields.

Farmers also should be on the lookout for feeding in other grassy areas, including lawns, pastures and ditch banks.

"The best solution for treatment in corn would be spraying a strip along the border of the corn/wheat interface. Doing this should stop the movement of the larvae into the fields," Eisley said.

"If you do find the pests have moved into your corn field, they will typically not move all the way across. They will only feed on the first 10 to 20 rows because that section provides enough food for them to complete their life cycle," he said.

For diagnosis assistance or more information, contact your local Ohio State University Extension office.