Figure 1. Squash vine borer adult (Photo by John Obermeyer).
Squash Vine Borer
https://extension.entm.purdue.edu/veg/squash-vine-borer/
The number of participants reporting trap catches has declined dramatically. Clinton, Allen, and Henry Counties are consistently reporting 1-4 moths per night. It seems that these populations didn’t get the memo that they are supposed to coordinate their mating during one concentrated time point in the summer. Regardless, at this point, most cucurbits should be large enough to withstand a small number of caterpillars, unless you have a small planting. Remain diligent.
Figure 2. Corn earworm larva in an ear of sweet corn (Photo by John Obermeyer).
Corn Earworm
https://extension.entm.purdue.edu/veg/cornearworm/
Much of the state should be near the peak pollination of our dent corn crops. This is a relief for sweetcorn growers, who now have a threshold of 10 moths per night to trigger an insecticide application. In the past 1.5 weeks, we have seen numbers below these thresholds. Trust the traps and take a break from spraying corn earworms. The ladybeetles will thank you and keep those pesky aphids at bay.