Similar to the black cutworm network, pheromone traps for true armyworm are set in Wisconsin in the spring. These are to monitor the arrival of moths into the state and to track local flights during the summer months. The migratory behavior of true armyworm makes it difficult to forecast where infestations will emerge in the state from year to year. Determining when moth flights are occurring in an area can help growers anticipate when the larvae might appear in their crops and inform targeted scouting windows.
Based on this month’s trap data, true armyworm moths have been arriving in the state since early April. It also shows that counts are rapidly increasing. Trap counts rose noticeably last week (April 11-16) when the network’s 48 traps collected a total of 330 moths. Another 2,168 moths were recorded this week (April 17-24), with seven of the traps capturing 100 or more moths. The site near Juda in Green County reported the week’s highest catch of 474 moths. As of April 24, the cumulative total true armyworm moth count is 2,517 moths in 48 traps. This is equal to an average of 52 moths per trap.
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