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Corn Rootworm IPM

Regional Working Group

It's time to check whether corn rootworm management worked

Corn rootworm egg hatch in Iowa typically occurs from late May to the middle of June, with an average peak hatching date of June 6 in central Iowa. Development is driven by soil temperature and measured by growing degree days (GDDs). Research suggests about 50% of egg hatch occurs between 684-767 accumulated GDDs (since January 1; base 52°F, soil). Most areas within Iowa have reached peak egg hatch for corn rootworm, and we have heard several reports of folks finding larvae by digging roots in cornfields.