Wisconsin Insect Survey Results 2007 and Outlook for 2008
2008
- Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
Project Media
Analysis of the annual corn rootworm beetle survey revealed a state average population of 1.0 beetle per plant. This represents a decrease from 1.4 per plant in 2006 and 1.6 per plant in 2005. Averages by agricultural reporting district were as follows: northwest 0.4 per plant; north central 0.7 per plant; northeast 0.5 per plant; west central 0.4 per plant; central 0.8 per plant; east central 1.4 per plant; southwest 0.4 per plant; south central 2.2 per plant; southeast 1.0 per plant. The western species was dominant on a statewide basis, while populations of the northern species were higher in the cooler and more northern counties, including Barron, Chippewa, Door, Dunn, Clark, Green Lake, Juneau, Lincoln, Marathon, Marinette, Oconto, Pepin, Polk, Portage, Rusk, Shawano, Taylor, Vernon, Waupaca, Winnebago, and Wood. About 39% of the 222 corn fields surveyed had economic populations of 0.75 or more beetle per plant. The largest increase from 1.7 to 2.2 beetles per plant was documented in the south central district, while the largest decreases from 2006 to 2007 were noted in the southwest (2.2 to 0.4 per plant), northeast (1.8 to 0.5 per plant), and east central districts (2.2 to 1.4 per plant). An average of 0.75 or more beetle per plant indicates the potential for feeding injury by corn rootworm larvae in multi-year corn.