The spring flight of European corn borer moths is under way in southern Illinois. Ron Hines, senior research specialist at Dixon Springs Agricultural Center in Simpson, Illinois (Pope County), monitors flights of several insect pests with pheromone traps at this location. I encourage you to visit his Web site at http://www.ipm.uiuc.edu/pubs/hines_report/. For the trapping week that ended on May 20, Ron reported the following captures of European corn borer moths: Massac County, 47 moths; Pope County, 65 and 30 moths (two separate locations); and Pulaski County, 95 moths.

Early-planted corn is most at risk to economic infestations of first-generation European corn borers. We'll keep you posted on the first flight of European corn borers as it progresses northward throughout the state.--Mike Gray