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  3. Field and Silage Corn Pests

Field and silage corn-Wireworm

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Image related to Field and silage corn-Wireworm
Pacific coast wireworm
Limonius canus LeConte
Immature
© Ken Gray Insect Image Collection
Image related to Field and silage corn-Wireworm
Pacific coast wireworm
Limonius canus LeConte
Adult
© Ken Gray Insect Image Collection

Ctenicera and Limonius spp.

Pest description and crop damage Brown, jointed larvae of click beetles. Wireworms cause problems most often when a corn crop follows turf or pasture. Larvae attack seed, weaken and kill seedlings, and reduce stands.

Management-cultural control

Plowing deeply and using treated seed and insecticides are important management tools for these pests.

Management-chemical control

Seed treatments

  • abamectin/thiamethoxam (Avicta Duo Corn)-Apply as slurry to corn seed. Consult label.
  • abamectin/thiamethoxam/azoxystrobin (Avicta Complete)-Refer to label for instructions.
  • clothianidin (Poncho 600) at 0.25 to 0.5 mg ai/kernel or 0.22 lb ai/80,000 seed unit. Commercial treaters only.
  • clothianidin/Bacillus firmus (Poncho Votivo) at 0.5 mg ai/seed. Do not exceed 0.5 mg ai/seed.
  • imidacloprid/carboxin/metalaxyl (Latitude Seed Treatment) at 1.5 oz product per 42 lb of seed. Use as a dry mixture in the planter box as a seed treatment prior to planting. See label for complete instructions. REI 24 hr.
  • imidacloprid (Gaucho 600)-Refer to label for planter box treatment. REI 24 hr.
  • permethrin/carboxin (Kernel Guard Supreme) at 1.5 oz canister per 42 lb seed. Apply to seed at planting time with canister applicator tube system. REI 12 hr. Do not graze or feed livestock on treated areas for six weeks after planting.
  • thiamethoxam (Cruiser 5FS)-Commercial seed treaters only. See label instructions.

Larvae treatments

  • beta-cyfluthrin (Baythroid XL) Group 3 insecticide at 0.12 to 0.16 oz ai/1,000 row ft (2.0 to 2.8 fl oz/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, Capture LFR) Group 3A insecticide/miticide at 0.0023 to 0.0046 lb ai/1,000 row ft at plant; or 0.047 to 0.062 lb ai/A preplant incorporated. PHI 30 days for harvest, grazing, or cutting for feed. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.1 lb ai/A at planting or 0.3 lb ai/A per season. Do not apply Capture LFR as foliar treatment.
  • bifenthrin/chlorethoxyfos (SmartChoice HC) at 1.15 to 1.67 oz/1,000 row ft. See spacing charts in label for actual application rates per A. 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. IRAC Group 1B insecticide
  • bifenthrin/zeta-cypermethrin (Hero) at 0.04 to 0.1 lb ai/A in furrow (4.5 to 11.2 fl oz/A). See label for specific fl oz per 100 linear ft based on row spacing. PHI 30 days grain and stover; 60 days forage. REI 12 hr. Do not graze for 30 days after treatment. 0.099 lb/A zeta-cypermethrin and 0.398 lb/A bifenthrin per year. IRAC Group 3A insecticide.
  • 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. IRAC Group 28.
  • cyfluthrin (Tombstone) at 0.12 to 0.16 fl oz 1,000 row ft (2.0 to 2.8 fl oz/A based on 30 in row spacing). PHI 0 days for green forage and 21 days for grain or fodder. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.175 lb ai/A per season. IRAC group 3A.
  • ethoprop (Mocap 15G) Nematicide/insecticide at 1.2 oz ai/1,000 row ft. REI 48 hr or 72 hr where annual rainfall is less than 25 inches. One application per season. Incorporate in band above seed row. Restricted use pesticide.
  • gamma-cyhalothrin (Declare) at 0.0004 lb ai/1,000 row ft at plant. PHI 21 days. REI 24 hr. Do not exceed 0.06 lb ai/A from at plant and foliar treatments. IRAC Group 3 insecticide.
  • lambda-cyhalothrin (Warrior II) at 0.005 lb ai/1,000 row ft (planting). PHI 21 days. REI 24 hr. Do not exceed 0.12 lb ai/A from at plant and foliar applications. IRAC Group 3 insecticide.
  • permethrin (Loveland Permethrin) at 0.1 to 0.15 lb ai/A pre-plant or at-plant. PHI 0 days for forage, 30 days for grain harvest or fodder (stover). REI 12 hr. As preemergent, apply from 5 days before planting up to crop emergence. Apply in furrow or as band at planting. IRAC Group 3 insecticide.
  • phorate (Thimet 20G) 0.056 to 0.075 lb ai/1,000 row ft at planting or cultivation, broadcast or banded but not in-furrow. REI 48 hr. Limit one application. Restricted use pesticide. IRAC group 1B.
  • tefluthrin (Force 3G) - at 0.0075 to 0.0094 lb ai/1,000 row ft. T-band or in-furrow at planting. REI 0 hr. Do not exceed 0.327 lb ai/A per year. Use only once per season. IRAC Group 3 insecticide.

See also:

Potato, Irish-Wireworm