Thorough scouting for pod damage ensures an insecticide is required and limits injury to off-target insects. If you see pod feeding (Figure 3), an insecticide application is recommended. Spraying during vegetative stages will not control WBC. Larvae also feed on flowers and may feed on leaves when they first hatch, but leaf feeding is very minor. Maximizing spray coverage on pods provides a greater chance for larvae to ingest the insecticide while feeding. Larvae hide in soil during the day and feed on pods at night. Pods are the main tissue that needs to be protected from WBC feeding.

Spraying prior to peak flight will leave the field unprotected from larvae that emerge later.

Spraying insecticide 10-20 days after peak flight targets the highest number of larvae emerged from these eggs. Peak flight describes the period when the highest numbers of moths are active in an area and are likely laying eggs. Low activity (150) – although not an insecticide action threshold – indicates that other criteria need to be investigated and met for insecticide application to be justified. The total number of moths caught in trap indicates activity (Figure 2).

Peak moth flight has passed, and the number of moths caught in traps is starting to decline.Īlthough many dry bean fields are in regions with high WBC pressure, pheromone traps are critical to understanding the timing and abundance of WBC moth arrival (Figure 1).

At least 150 moths have been captured in a trap at the field.Spraying insecticide for western bean cutworm (WBC) control in Ontario dry bean fields is warranted only if ALL of the following criteria are met. Below are best practices for minimizing this insect’s impact to your bottom line. Western bean cutworm can significantly reduce the quality and yield of your dry bean crop.

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