–by Dr. Jeff Whitworth and Dr. Holly Schwarting
Lady beetles are unusually common in corn fields right now. Most corn plants in north central Kanas are from V2-V6. Checking corn rootworm plots revealed western corn rootworm larvae of various sizes and thus they are starting to feed enough to cause a little root damage.
Seems like, despite the recent cooler, wetter conditions, the rootworm development is about where it usually is at this time. Most western corn rootworms have completed the larval stage by the 1st of July, thus root damage will be completed later this month as the larvae begin to pupate in south central and north central Kansas.
