Soil Temperatures and Insect Captures Remain Low in Southwest New York
Joshua Putman, Field Crops and Forage Specialist
Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Program
Despite the cooler than usual weather, significant numbers of BCW and CAW have been recorded in our region. So what is a significant number of BCW? Many universities determine a significant flight of BCW as 9 moths over a two-day period. We do not look at our traps daily, only weekly, so we cannot be as accurate. Now that we have some traps that have hit this number, we should monitor the number of degree-days accumulated (base 50°F). It takes roughly 300 degree-days for BCW larvae to be big enough to cut corn plants (4th instar). This is not a scientific process but it gives us a good idea of when we should be out there monitoring for damage. There is no real degree-day thresholds for monitoring Common Armyworm. It will be roughly 100 degree-days to egg hatch. Grass hay fields and winter grains such as wheat and barley are favored egg-laying sites. Corn planted into a green cover crop will also need to be monitored carefully.
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March 6, 2026
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