Nebraska Growers’ and Crop Consultants’ Knowledge and Implementation of Integrated Pest Management of Western Bean Cutworm

Abstract

Western bean cutworm (WBC), Striacosta albicosta (Smith; Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is a native noctuid pest of corn and dry beans in North America. While this pest has expanded its range greatly in recent years, historically it has consistently caused high yield losses in western Nebraska. A survey was distributed to growers, crop consultants and other agricultural professionals to obtain information about current management practices used for WBC. Questions covered multiple topics including: demographics, scouting practices, degree-day model use, confidence in management knowledge, Bt corn use, insecticide use, and considerations for biological control. There were 95 completed responses received by email. Respondents self-reported a significantly higher yield loss due to WBC in 2016 than in 2015 and 2014. Growers demonstrated less knowledge of WBC identification and management than crop consultants. There were frequent (58.45%) reports of Cry1F Bt corn providing decreased control against WBC. This survey identified major concerns for growers and agricultural professionals in Nebraska for WBC management. An improved understanding of WBC biology and education on management would be most beneficial for growers. Crop consultants would benefit from using more diverse management tactics including: biological control, rotation of insecticide mode-of-action, and diversifying Bt corn types.

Life-History Parameters of Striacosta albicosta (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Under Laboratory Conditions

“…Since 1999, S. albicosta has undergone a range expansion from the western Great Plains eastward in the U.S. Corn Belt and into Ontario, Canada (Smith et al 2018). It is now a regionally critical pest and since 2018 is under consideration to be a primary pest of maize in the United States (Archibald et al 2017, Smith et al 2018, US EPA 2018).…”

Field efficacy of soil insecticides on pyrethroid‐resistant western corn rootworms (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte)

“…From 2002 to 2014, there was a 40% increase in bifenthrin use on maize in Nebraska . This included soil and foliar applications for WCR control, and foliar applications targeting spider mites Tetranychus urticae Koch and western bean cutworm Striacosta albicosta Smith . The selection pressure imposed on maize pests from one or more aerial applications of bifenthrin per crop season led to field‐evolved resistance of WCR to bifenthrin in some populations by 2015 .…”

Perspective: service‐based business models to incentivize the efficient use of pesticides in crop protection

“…Currently, two aspects of the commercial agricultural setting limit the ability of the system to self‐correct intensive use and resistance development. The first is that pest management decisions by agricultural producers (hereafter ‘producers’) or in many cases by crop consultants are naturally optimized to maximize yield. Adverse impacts of pesticide use such as environmental costs and resistance development occur at spatial scales beyond that of the farm and do not substantially factor into decisions.…”