Pacific Northwest Insect Management Handbook

Field and silage corn-Cutworm

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Image related to Field and silage corn-Cutworm
Western bean cutworm
Loxagrotis albicosta Smith
Female adult
© Ken Gray Insect Image Collection
Image related to Field and silage corn-Cutworm
Western bean cutworm
Loxagrotis albicosta Smith
Showing damage
© Ken Gray Insect Image Collection
Image related to Field and silage corn-Cutworm
Western bean cutworm
Loxagrotis albicosta Smith
Newly hatched
© Ken Gray Insect Image Collection
Image related to Field and silage corn-Cutworm
Black cutworm
Agrotis ipsilon Hugnagel
Adult
© Ken Gray Insect Image Collection

Includes

Black cutworm (Agrotis ipsilon)
Western bean cutworm (Loxagrotis albicosta)

Pest description and crop damage Brown to black larvae up to 1.5 inches at maturity. They clip seedlings and tunnel into the bases of older plants. Larvae are usually in soil at planting.

Management-chemical control

  • alpha-cypermethrin (Fastac CS) at 0.008 to 0.018 lb ai/a or 0.001 lb ai/1,000 row ft as in furrow, band or T-band. REI 12 hr. PHI 30 days grain and stover; 60 days forage. Retreatment interval 3 days. Do not exceed 0.075 lb ai/a per season.
  • azadirachtin (Neemix 4.5)-PHI 0 days. REI 12 hr. See label for rates. Slow acting. Apply early. Thorough coverage and repeat applications are necessary. Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • beta-cyfluthrin (Baythroid XL) at 0.007 to 0.013 lb ai/a. PHI 0 days for green forage and 21 days for grain or fodder. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.088 lb ai/a per season.
  • bifenthrin (Brigade 2EC, Sniper, Capture LFR) at 0.033 to 0.1 lb ai/a foliar, 0.0023 to 0.0046 lb ai/1,000 row ft at plant, 0.047 to 0.062 lb ai/a preplant incorporated, or 0.04 lb ai/a preemergence. PHI 30 days for harvest, grazing, or cutting for feed. REI 12 hr. Do not apply more than 0.3 lb ai/a per season. Do not apply Capture LFR as foliar treatment.
  • bifenthrin/indol butyric acid (Empower 2) at 0.002 to 0.006 lb ai/1,000 row ft. PHI 30 days. REI 24 hr. Do not exceed 0.3 lb ai/a foliar and at planting.
  • bifenthrin/zeta-cypermethrin (Hero EW) at 0.025 to 0.06 lb ai/a foliar or at plant at 0.04 to 0.1 lb ai/a. PHI 30 days grain and stover; 60 days forage. REI 12 hr. Do not graze for 30 days after treatment. Do not exceed 0.4 lb ai/a per season.
  • carbaryl (Sevin 4F, Sevin 5 Bait) bait or spray at 2 lb ai/a. PHI 14 days for harvest or grazing forage or silage, and 48 days for grain or fodder harvest. REI 24 hr. Do not exceed four applications per season. Early season applications when plants are 6 to 12 inches high should be directed to the lower stalk portions and soil around the plant bases. Do not use if bees are foraging actively in the field.
  • chlorantraniliprole/lambda-cyhalothrin (Besiege) at 0.045 to 0.098 lb ai/a. PHI 21 days. REI 24 hr. Do not exceed 0.12 lb ai of lambda-cyhalothrin or 0.2 lb ai of chlorantraniliprole per acre per growing season. Retreatment interval 7 days.
  • chlorethoxyfos/bifenthrin (Smart Choice 5G) at 0.15 to 0.175 oz ai/1,000 row ft. REI 2 days or 3 days where annual rainfall is less than 25 inches. T-band over the row or apply in-furrow. Apply with Smartbox system. Do not exceed one application per year.
  • chlorpyrifos-
    • Lorsban 15G at 0.075 lb ai/1,000 row ft banded at planting or in-furrow. PHI 21 days. REI 24 hr. Do not exceed 0.15 lb ai/1,000 row ft or 3 lb ai/a per season.
    • Lorsban Advanced at 0.47 to 0.94 lb ai/a pre and post emergence broadcast. Shallow incorporation improves control Chemigation permitted. PHI 21 days grain, ears, forage or fodder. REI 24 hr. Limit 3 treatments. Do not exceed 3 lb ai/a per season. RESTRICTED USE IN OREGON.
  • cyantraniliprole (Fortenza) at 0.125 to 0.5 lb ai/seed. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.4 lb ai/a of cyantraniliprole products per year.
  • cyfluthrin (Tombstone) at 0.013 to 0.025 lb ai/a. PHI 0 days for green forage and 21 days for grain or fodder. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed four applications or 0.175 lb ai/a per season.
  • deltamethrin (Delta Gold) at 0.012 to 0.018 lb ai/a. PHI 21 days for grain or fodder or 12 days for forage or grazing. REI 12 hr. Re-treatment interval is 21 days. Do not exceed 0.095 lb ai/a per season. Retreatment interval 21 days. Limit 5 treatments per year.
  • esfenvalerate (Asana XL) at 0.03 to 0.05 lb ai/a foliar or 0.0023 lb per 1,000 row ft at plant. PHI 21 days. REI 12 hr.
  • ethoprop (Mocap 15G) at 3.0 lb ai/a broadcast three days before planting to planting time. REI 48 hr or 72 hr where annual rain is less than 25 inches. One application per season. Mix with the top two inches of soil.
  • gamma-cyhalothrin (Declare) at 0.0025 lb ai/1,000 row ft at plant; 0.0075 to 0.0125 lb ai/a foliar application. PHI 1 day for grazing and forage, or 21 days for fodder or silage. REI 24 hr. Do not exceed 0.06 lb ai/a per season.
  • lambda-cyhalothrin (Warrior II) at 0.015 to 0.025 lb ai/a foliar or 0.005 lb ai/1,000 row ft at planting. PHI 21 days. REI 24 hr. Do not apply more than 0.12 lb ai/a at plant and foliar applications per season, 0.06 lb ai/a after silk initiation, or 0.03 lb ai/a after milk stage.
  • methomyl (Lannate SP) at 0.45 lb ai/a. PHI 21 days for ears, 3 days for forage, 21 days for fodder. Do not exceed 2.25 lb ai/a or 5 treatments per season. Retreatment interval 5 to 7 days.
  • methoxyfenozide (Intrepid 2F) at 0.06 to 0.25 lb ai/a. PHI 21 days. REI 4 hr. Do not exceed 1 lb ai/a per season. Western bean cutworm only.
  • permethrin-
    • Ambush 25W at 0.1 to 0.2 lb ai/a foliar or as preemergent. PHI 0 days for forage harvest or 30 days for grain harvest or fodder. REI 12 hr. Allow 6 days between applications. Do not apply more than 0.6 lb ai/a per season.
    • Loveland Permethrin Cutworm Bait at 0.1 to 0.15 lb ai/a. REI 12 hr. PHI 0 days for forage; 30 days for grain harvest or fodder. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.45 lb ai/a per season.
    • Pounce 1.5G at 0.0075 to 0.015 lb ai/1,000 row ft soil or 0.1 to 0.15 lb ai/a broadcast. Apply in furrow or as band at planting. PHI 0 days for forage harvest or 30 days for grain harvest or fodder. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.45 lb ai/a per season.
  • spinetoram (Radiant SC) at 0.023 to 0.047 lb ai/a. PHI 3 days forage or fodder; 28 days grain. REI 4 hr. Do not exceed 0.125 lb ai/a per year. Do not exceed 3 treatments. Retreatment interval 4 days. Western bean cutworm only.
  • spinosad (Success) at 0.047 to 0.094 lb ai/a. PHI 28 days grain or fodder; 7 days forage. REI 4 hr. Do not exceed 0.188 lb ai/a per season. OMRI-listed for organic use. Western bean cutworm only.
  • tebuconazole/lambda-cyhalothrin (Crossover) at 0.14 to 0.16 lb ai/a. PHI 21 days fodder and silage. REI 24 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.48 lb ai/a tebuconazole or 0.12 lb ai/a lambda-cyhalothrin per season.
  • tefluthrin (Force 3G) at 0.0056 to 0.075 lb ai/1,000 row ft. T-band or in-furrow at planting. REI 0.
  • terbufos (Counter 15G) at 0.056 to 0.075 lb ai/1,000 row ft. REI 48 hr or 72 hr if annual rainfall is less than 25 inches. Do not exceed 1.3 lb ai/a per season. Band or furrow at planting.
  • zeta-cypermethrin (Mustang) at 0.016 to 0.035 lb ai/a foliar. PHI 7 days for grain, stover and forage. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.2 lb ai/a per season.

Seed treatments

  • abamectin/thiamethoxam (Avicta Duo Corn)-Apply as slurry to corn seed. Consult label.
  • clothianidin (Poncho)-Commercial treaters only. See label instructions.
  • clothianidin/Bacillus firmus (Poncho Votivo) at 0.5 mg ai/seed. Do not exceed 0.5 mg ai/seed.
  • thiamethoxam/abamectin/azoxystrobin (Avicta Complete). Refer to label instructions.

Related Links

Kaur, N. (Ed.). 2023 Pacific Northwest Insect Management Handbook.
© Oregon State University.

Use pesticides safely!

  • Wear protective clothing and safety devices as recommended on the label. Bathe or shower after each use.
  • Read the pesticide label—even if you’ve used the pesticide before. Follow closely the instructions on the label (and any other directions you have).
  • Be cautious when you apply pesticides. Know your legal responsibility as a pesticide applicator. You may be liable for injury or damage resulting from pesticide use.

Trade-name products and services are mentioned as illustrations only. This does not mean that the participating Extension Services endorse these products and services or that they intend to discriminate against products and services not mentioned.