Western Bean Cutworm damage in Ontarios corn crop is becoming more and more evident.These shots taken just south of the town of Exeter Ontario give an indication of the kind of damage these ravaging pests can cause.As you can see above entire chunks of ears can be eaten away.How much yield loss incurred will be directly proportional to the amount of western bean cutworm damage one experiences.

Western bean cutworm larvae are very aggressive in their devouring of the corn kernel.They burrough into the cob and chew on the kernels in such a manner that they literally grind the kernel starch into a mealy flour.Not only is there a loss of yield but grain quality can be drastically affected due to the increased potential for gib ear mould infection and subsequent vomitoxin development.

This shot shows a Western Bean Cutworm larvae on an ear of corn.WBC larvae can be very ravaging pests.Outside of scouting and spraying the only sure fired method of control for this
insect is HERCULEX1 and HXX corn hybrids.All other forms of BT will not control Western Bean Cutworm.

A very distinctive characteristic of Western Bean Cutworm Laravae is how they will often burrough through the husks and into the cob of an ear much like the entry of a 22 calibre rifle shot.Given that Herculex hybrids will control Western Bean Cutworm it would be advised for growers to scout their fields of other competitive BT brand products to determine if they have any damage.