Winter Temperatures, Corn Flea Beetle Survival, and Potential for Stewart’s Wilt

• Corn flea beetle winter survival is expected to be low in northern and central Indiana.
• Moderate survival is expected for southern Indiana, higher in the Ohio River valley.
• Corn flea beetle is a vector of Stewart’s bacterial wilt and leaf blight of corn.
• Seed applied insecticides generally prevent early corn flea beetle feeding.

 

Corn flea beetle is a sporadic corn pest in Indiana and has had little impact of recent years. Still, winter temperatures in regions where beetles were abundant last season will determine if there is cause to be concerned this spring for susceptible inbreds and hybrids. This is especially important since this insect transmits the bacterium that causes Stewart’s disease in corn. The severity of the disease correlates with last season’s beetle abundance and this winter’s temperatures. This is because the Stewart’s wilt bacterium survives in the gut of the overwintering beetles and depends upon the beetle to infect corn. Warmer temperatures result in higher beetle survival, and therefore a greater potential for Stewart’s disease. <Read More>