David Owens, Extension Entomologist, owensd@udel.edu
Sweet Corn
Traps were checked on Tuesday of this week and thus represent 5 days in the below table. Traps are being checked today (Sept 5) and counts will be accessible by 5PM (if all goes well) on the IPM hotline, 302 831 8851. My apologies for not updating the hotline last week.
Trap counts have moderated, although blacklight rap counts are still fairly high. With warm weather yesterday through Sunday, consider tightening spray intervals by 1 day, at least until temperatures cool below 82 again. Trap counts from Tuesday are as follows:
| Location | Blacklight Trap | Pheromone Trap |
| Dover | 22 | 56 |
| Wyoming | 6 | 73 |
| Magnolia | 34 | 87 |
| Milford | 31 | 34 |
| Harrington | 11 | 28 |
| Woodenhawk | 10 | 52 |
| Lewes (4 nights) | 125 | |
| Bridgeville | — | 37 |
| Concord | 24 | 11 |
| Georgetown | 0 | 15 |
| Laurel | 26 | 29 |
Cole Crops
Scout small plants for worms. In addition to our usual suspects (imported cabbageworm, cabbage looper, and diamondback moth), you may encounter fall armyworm, corn earworm, beet armyworm, and yellow striped armyworm. As plants get a little bigger, you may come across cross-striped worms. Pay attention to the species present, as earworm, beet armyworm, and diamondback moth are resistant to pyrethroids (pyrethroids should only ever bee used if targeting harlequin bugs). Some populations of beet armyworm may be resistant to diamides in the region (Coragen, Besiege, Exirel, Harvanta)
Tomatoes
Continue protecting late tomatoes from worm pests. For the second year in a row, our tomatoes have mostly loopers. Without pulling the jaws apart, it is impossible to determine if the species in question is cabbage looper or soybean looper. Last year’s tomato trial at the research station, we had mostly soybean looper.