More locations across Virginia have been added to the corn earworm moth pheromone trapping network. Thanks to the many Virginia Cooperative Extension Agents and Interns (and others) who are monitoring these traps. Here is the Table (it is a pdf file; you’ll need to zoom in). Reporting Virginia counties now include: Augusta, Caroline, Dinwiddie, Essex, Greensville, Isle of Wight, King George, Lancaster, Northampton, Northumberland, Rockbridge, Rockingham, Southampton, Stafford/King George, Suffolk, Surry, Virginia Beach, and Westmoreland. Some high numbers were reported in Stafford/King George (one trap averaging 25 per night) and Virginia Beach (one trap averaging 17 per night).

With funding support by the Virginia Soybean Board, the Tidewater AREC entomology program (led by Dr. Tim Bryant), along with collaborating Virginia Cooperative Extension Agents and Interns, has expanded our Helicoverpa zea (corn earworm/bollworm) pheromone trap monitoring network. Because corn earworm populations vary across the state, knowledge of local moth flights can better inform growers when to scout fields, use insect thresholds, and make the best management decisions for their crops. Here is the Table Numbers in the table represent variable numbers of days between trap checks (most are 3 or 4 nights).

In Dr. Tom Kuhar’s Advisory from May 28, 2025, he discusses high catches of corn earworm moths in Halifax and Northampton Counties, and in Delaware. We saw high catch numbers from Stafford and Caroline Counties this week. We’ll continue to keep you up to date on corn earworm flights across Virginia and expect many more counties to begin issuing reports.