We are once again reaching out to see if anyone is interested in monitoring corn rootworm (CRW) through the CRW Trap Network this year. Monitoring with sticky traps can help you determine if you have a Bt resistant corn rootworm problem and it helps us keep track of where these problem fields are. It can also help make decisions as to whether this years CRW pressure is high enough to make next year’s corn crop require protection.
Thanks to GFO and ABSTC, we have some free corn rootworm sticky traps to give away this year to any interested trap participants, new or experienced. Fields with a history of corn on corn and repeated CRW Bt hybrid use are the preferred target sites. We are also looking to increase our trap sites in central and eastern Ontario as we expect CRW resistance to continue to expand and we tend to have fewer trap sites in those areas.
Anyone can join, as long as they are willing to check and change the traps approximately once every seven days for 6 or more weeks in July and August. Data must be entered into the CRW Trap Network after each week so we can map how many beetles are caught in each trap, each day. It will also make it easier for us to recognize adult peak activity.
Trapping is expected to begin in July. If you would like to participate, please contact Tracey Baute (tracey.baute@ontario.ca) with the number of sites you plan to monitor. Traps are available while supplies last.
More details about what the CRW trap monitoring involves can be found in this document: Adult Corn Rootworm Trapping Instructions