Corn Rootworm Management Starts Here

Your go-to resource for planning, scouting and managing corn rootworm. Explore proven strategies, practical tools, expert articles and more to help protect yield.

Evaluate Corn Rootworm Risk Every Season

What worked last season may not be enough this season. Evaluate corn rootworm pressure every year and adapt your management strategy to help protect your fields and yield potential.

Stay up-to-date on pressure in your area with our Insect Forecast tool.

See Insect Forecast

Best Practices for Corn Rootworm Management

From crop rotation to pest scouting, here are recommendations for managing corn rootworm.

Crop Rotation for Corn Rootworm

Rotating to a nonhost crop, such as soybeans, can help break up the life cycle of corn rootworms by removing their food source. Read more about the benefits of crop rotation here.

Scouting for Corn Rootworm

Setting up and monitoring sticky traps is a great way to evaluate beetle pressure in your fields so you can make better management and trait decisions. Check out this article.

Root Digs for Corn Rootworm

Inspecting the roots of your corn plants is another important method for assessing corn rootworm damage. See below for five simple steps on how to perform a root dig, and watch this video to see a root dig in action.

Trait Selection for Corn Rootworm

Choosing the right corn trait based on the level of pest pressure is a key decision to help protect fields and yield potential from corn rootworm. Find out what trait could be a fit for you based on pest pressure here.

Root Digs: Assessing Corn Rootworm Damage

1. Select Your SampleChoose five or more consecutive plants from at least four random areas of the field. Sampling multiple locations gives you a more accurate picture of rootworm pressure across the field.

2. Dig CarefullyUsing a shovel, dig 4 to 6 inches away from the base of each plant and lift the entire root mass with as much soil intact as possible. Avoid cutting or breaking roots during removal.

3. Clean the RootsShake off loose soil, then soak the roots in a bucket of water before rinsing them with a hose or pressure washer. Clean roots make it easier to spot feeding damage, and larvae may float to the surface during soaking.

4. Evaluate Root DamageInspect the roots for pruning, scarring and tunneling caused by corn rootworm feeding. Rate the damage using the Iowa State 0 to 3 Node Injury Scale to consistently assess roots.

5. Plan for Next SeasonUse your findings to evaluate the effectiveness of your current management program and determine whether changes are needed to better protect yield in future seasons.

Expert Insights on Corn Rootworm Management

Explore videos covering corn rootworm damage, scouting techniques and management technologies designed to help you stay ahead of this costly pest.

The Risks of Corn Rootworm Damage

There is no known treatment once corn rootworm damage has been done. Dr. Joseph Spencer from the University of Illinois explains the types of damage done by this costly pest.

The Industry’s Source for RNAi Technology

We didn’t just bring RNAi Technology to market — we made it possible for the corn industry. By complementing Bt traits with another mode of action, we’re helping farmers stay a step ahead of corn rootworm. Learn more from Technical Agronomist Lance Tarochione in this video.

How To Scout with FieldView™

Scouting fields and collecting data in-season is a key step to help monitor and control corn rootworm. Learn how with FieldView.