Marshalltown Times Republican, IA
07-08-06
Like a moth to a flame, (make that pheromone)
By ROSE KODET
CONRAD — For the past three years Bob’s Farm Center in Conrad has been
cooperating with Iowa State University to track a new type of insect in Central
Iowa.
“The insect isn’t new but it’s new to this area,” explained Rick Eckerman, a
certified crop adviser with Bob’s Farm Center, about the western bean cutworm
moth. “It has been in the western part of the state but has been working it’s way
east,” added Eckerman.
According to Eckerman, the moths lay eggs on corn and when they hatch, the
worms feed on corn silks and eventually ears of corn.
“They are kind of party animals, so the moths attract other moths,” said the crop
adviser.
According to Eckerman, ISU provides Bob’s Farm Center with a pheromone,
which gives off the moth scent. Eckerman places the sample in the lid of an
empty milk jug at the farm center’s show/test plot north of Conrad.
“Starting July 1 we take counts daily and e-mail the results to Iowa State,” he
said. “Two years ago we found more (moths) than we did last year but that was
to be expected because we had 10 inches of rain in June last year and rain
washes the eggs off the corn,” said Eckerman. “Even though we have only had
1.9 inches of rain in June this year, the insect count has been down,” he added.
Eckerman said a variety of corn has already been developed that is resistant to
the western bean cutworm.
“The corn planted today has the potential to get 400 plus bushels to the acre but
then the weather conditions and insects start chipping away at that potential from
the time it’s planted to the time it’s harvested,” explained Eckerman.