Dr. Jocelyn Smith and Art Schaafsma at the Ridgetown campus of the University of Guelph recently reported a new and unexpected development in the resistance to Bt saga – this time it happened all the way out in the Maritime Corn Belt (MCB), in Nova Scotia, a province in Eastern Canada.
Christian Krupke
Combines are rolling and wagons of grain are heading for dryers and storage. Already, questions have been received about soybean seed observed to be shrunken and/or discolored.
For reasons that are unclear – but likely related to two seasons of increased monitoring and spraying – the western bean cutworm damage is far lower than the past two seasons.
As some areas of Indiana are dry getting drier, there is more concern about the possibility about spider mites being a culprit for yellowing foliage.
Populations of potato leafhopper continue to plague alfalfa fields throughout the state. Undoubtedly, the extended warm temperatures have contributed to this population explosion.
The western bean cutworm (WBC) trapping season continues, and after a slow start, moth flights have surged in many northern Indiana county traps this past week.
Japanese beetle are emerging and can be seen throughout the state on corn and soybean plants.
Pheromone trapping began for western bean cutworm moths this week. Within just one day several cooperators were reporting catches. This is just the beginning of an extended moth emergence and flight, with their peak activity expected 2-3 weeks from now.
Locally, we found Japanese beetle adults on Monday, June 11, in field crops and flying around campus. This is certainly earlier than normal, as we typically think of them emerging more toward the end of June.
Grubs of the Asiatic garden beetle have been recently found damaging corn seedlings in northern Indiana counties.
Pest&Crop newsletter -
Department of Entomology
Purdue University
901 Mitch Daniels Blvd
West Lafayette, IN 47907
© 2026 Purdue University | An equal access/equal opportunity university | Copyright Complaints | Maintained by Pest&Crop newsletter
If you have trouble accessing this page because of a disability, please contact Pest&Crop newsletter at luck@purdue.edu.