With the number of Bt corn hybrids commercially available, it can be confusing to decide which product best fits one’s needs.

During 2015 we observed several fields of corn following soybean with isolated areas of corn v10a.jpgthat had root lodged. Upon investigation, rootworm feeding was evident on the roots and there was an abundance of corn rootworm beetles present in those areas. These incidents were not trait failures since the hybrids were simply double stacked glyphosate and corn borer resistant.

Both adult and larval forms of corn rootworm can cause significant crop damage. Larvae feed on corn root hairs and roots, and develop through three instars phases before pupating into adult beetles. Larvae rob the plant of valuable water and nutrient flow and put the corn under yield-reducing physiological stress.