If you are planning on growing corn on corn in 2010 you need to be seriously considering growing a rootworm resistant hybrid.If left controlled rootworm larvae can do serious nodal root pruning that can cause significant yield loss as well as reduced harvestability from root lodging.The above photo is a shot of adult Rootworm Beetle feeding on the silk of a corn plant.
The silks on these ears have been pruned by adult beetles.
If silk pruning by beetles occurs before pollen shed it can lead to a serious reduction in kernel set like that shown in the above photo.
<These are the larvae that prune roots below ground between June 20 and July 25th.Depending on the year they can wreak a lot of havoc with the roots of corn.
Double click on the above photo and you'll see how much root pruning has been done by larvae and the rootworm larvae pressure at this site was not all that high.