Do predicted cutting dates indicate a cutworm problem?
No. Pheromone traps only catch moths and they cannot predict the amount of cutting that will occur, nor can they predict where cutting will occur. Each year, one of our concerns is that radio advertisements may predict a cutworm “outbreak” in your county just because moths were trapped there several weeks ago. Neither the trap catches nor anyone’s interpretation (including our own) of the trap catches can accurately predict the amount or magnitude of cutworm injury. Scouting of seedling corn near the first cutting date is the only reliable method to determine whether a problem exists. Then, insecticides can be applied if needed.
