Wisconsin Insect Survey Results 2009 and Outlook for 2010
2010
- Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
Project Media
The annual survey in August documented a decrease in the state average number of beetles per plant for the first time in five years. Population declines were charted in every district, with the largest reductions occurring in the southeast, east-central and north-central areas. The state average of 0.6 beetle per plant compares to 1.0 last season and a 5-year average of 1.1 per plant. District counts were as follows: northwest 0.4, north-central 0.4, northeast 0.5, west-central 0.5, central 0.4, east-central 0.6, southwest 0.7, south-central 1.1, and southeast 0.3. Populations in 77% of surveyed fields were below the 0.75 beetle per plant level which indicates root injury potential in 2010 if some form of control is not used.
The causes of the decline in beetle numbers are not certain. It is presumed that widespread use of stacked Bt hybrids is a major contributing factor, both in Wisconsin and across the Midwest where populations of the western species were greatly reduced this season. Wet soil conditions last spring also may have caused some degree of larval mortality, thus lowering adult numbers. The map below shows the locations of 229 fields sampled in August. Areas with an elevated risk of root injury to non-Bt, continuous corn are represented by red and yellow circles.