Corn Pest Issues, Thoughts?

Dam that looks bad, I think I’d go with the Jap millet. I don’t think your corn is going to make it even if you sprayed and killed the bugs.

 

I agree with Clayton, looks like army worms. I'm assuming you didn't plant BT traited corn seed? It's a must when planting late or the bugs will eat it up. It's more expensive but you are throwing your time and money away if you plant late corn that doesn't have the BT trait. You might make a little corn there if you can kill what's eating it, if not, it won't make anything. If you do plant Jap millet, the armyworms love it too, so keep a close watch on your plot and spray for them if you see sign of them.

 

Too little too late for the corn. The worms do their damage in the whorl (the rolled up leaf before it emerges) and are protected from spray inside that leaf. If you look, it wouldn't be surprised to see some holes in the stalk with frass (worm poo) coming out. That would be corn borers.

The beetles might also signal a bad case of root worms, there are three species of Diabrotica beetles, the cucumber beetle is one (also known as southern corn root worm), the western corn root worm, and the northern corn rootworm. All have larvae that destroy corn roots.

Like others have said - maybe time for some jap millet and some proactive pesticide

 

I would leave the corn you have planted and just broadcast millet in between rows. Dirty corn as they call it. I would not spend a pile on nitrogen but it might help the corn finish a little and won’t hurt the millet you broadcast in the rows.

Good luck

PS never heard of the trait referred to above but will put that in my back pocket for future reference.

 

By the way these army worms must be much more common south of the mason dixon line? Never hear about them up here or i may have just missed it???