Time to Think About Billbug Management in 2016 Corn

— Written By and last updated by Carol Hicks
en Español / em Português
Español

El inglés es el idioma de control de esta página. En la medida en que haya algún conflicto entre la traducción al inglés y la traducción, el inglés prevalece.

Al hacer clic en el enlace de traducción se activa un servicio de traducción gratuito para convertir la página al español. Al igual que con cualquier traducción por Internet, la conversión no es sensible al contexto y puede que no traduzca el texto en su significado original. NC State Extension no garantiza la exactitud del texto traducido. Por favor, tenga en cuenta que algunas aplicaciones y/o servicios pueden no funcionar como se espera cuando se traducen.


Português

Inglês é o idioma de controle desta página. Na medida que haja algum conflito entre o texto original em Inglês e a tradução, o Inglês prevalece.

Ao clicar no link de tradução, um serviço gratuito de tradução será ativado para converter a página para o Português. Como em qualquer tradução pela internet, a conversão não é sensivel ao contexto e pode não ocorrer a tradução para o significado orginal. O serviço de Extensão da Carolina do Norte (NC State Extension) não garante a exatidão do texto traduzido. Por favor, observe que algumas funções ou serviços podem não funcionar como esperado após a tradução.


English

English is the controlling language of this page. To the extent there is any conflict between the English text and the translation, English controls.

Clicking on the translation link activates a free translation service to convert the page to Spanish. As with any Internet translation, the conversion is not context-sensitive and may not translate the text to its original meaning. NC State Extension does not guarantee the accuracy of the translated text. Please note that some applications and/or services may not function as expected when translated.

Collapse ▲

Now that corn is coming off it is time to think about billbug management in next year’s crop. The “old” recommendations still apply today. Here are some things to consider:

1) Location.  Billbugs undergo a single generation a year. They overwinter in field litter, ditches, and hedgerows. Non-rotated corn, corn fields planted adjacent to corn from last year, or field edges are the most problematic. Keep in mind this is a “swamp insect”. The worst problems are associated with fields in high-organic soils.

2) Planting date. Billbug adults move from overwintering into corn in April and May. In general, the earliest planted fields will be most heavily injured and infested by billbugs. After feeding, billbug females chew holes in the bottom of the plant and lay eggs. Larvae then develop in the stem. During wet years, these larvae will tunnel up the stalk and can cause corn to lodge.

3) Weed control.  Billbugs will feed on many other plants besides corn, including cattails and will feed and reproduce on nutsedge. Good weed control within the field and in areas surrounding the field are critical to reduce feeding and reproductive hosts for the insect.

4) Optimize pH, fertility, tillage and drainage.  Rapid germination and growth is critical. Things that slow seedling growth will exacerbate billbug injury. Starter is a must for corn in areas with historical billbug pressure.

5) Hybrid selection. Hybrids with good early season vigor and good cool germ are a must for effective billbug management.

6) Seed treatments.  John Van Duyn demonstrated the necessity for neonicotinoid seed treatments in billbug-intensive areas. Poncho 1250 is still the insecticidal seed treatment of choice for effective management. From 2013-2015, eight trials with significant results using Poncho 1250 as a standard have confirmed this treatment as among the best. Only one seed treatment, Lumivia, in combination with Cruiser 250, can provide equivalent control. Representative examples are included below.

Billbug-injured plants per foot of row. Hyde Co. 2014.

Billbug-injured plants per foot of row. Hyde Co. 2014.

Billbug-injured plants per foot of row. Hyde Co. 2015.

Economically-injured billbug plants per foot of row. Hyde Co. 2015.

Billbug larvae per plant. Hyde Co. 2015.

Billbug larvae per plant. Hyde Co. 2015.

7) Insecticidal sprays. Over-the-top rescue treatments are generally ineffective since infestations are generally identified once the damage is done and since billbugs are most active at night, harboring underneath litter and soil during the day.