Western Bean Cutworm eggs have been found Northwest of Fowler in a corn field. This insect is an occasional problem in Western Kansas. Careful scouting and timing of sprays are necessary to obtain adequate control.
The larvae feed on the reproductive parts of the plant – tassels, pollen, silks, and developing ears in corn and flowers, leaves and developing pods in dry beans. Infestations can cause considerable losses in both quantity and quality of the crop produced. Damage from the larval feeding can also lead to secondary fungal infections in corn ears and can open up pods to pathogens and other insects in dry beans.
