This is our 8th week of reporting Lep (moth) pest trap numbers, and we now begin reporting on Western bean cutworm (WBC) and corn earworm (CEW). Similar to BCW and AMW, these two pests will be monitored using green bucket traps and a lure that attracts adults. We plan to report on WBC and CEW findings through July. Please read below for more specific county information.
Corn Earworm 
The corn earworm (CEW) is a crop pest native to Ohio whose larvae feed on corn. This not only directly damages the kernels; it also can cause pollination problems from silk damage, increase the risk of mold, and open the ear to other infestations. The adults, which are starting to become active now, are a yellowish-brown color (Figure 1). Monitoring for larvae in the field is difficult and time-consuming, so to have a better understanding of CEW across Ohio, we monitor adults. Each trap has a lure that mimics the pheromones from the female moths. Traps will be checked weekly, and the numbers will be reported for each participating county.
This week, we monitored corn earworms in 11 counties, with a total of 25 traps. CEW is starting to emerge across Ohio, but is present in only small numbers. There seems to be more moths in the western half of the state at the moment, but with a state average of only 0.7 moths, it is hard to draw any meaningful conclusions. Currently, no counties have enough CEW moths to cause concern (Figure 2).
Corn Earworm Moth Map
Week 1
June 1st to June 7th, 2026 
Western Bean Cutworm
Western Bean Cutworm (WBC) is a pest that feeds on corn and dry beans; its larvae can severely damage crop quality and yield. The easiest way to monitor this pest is to trap adult moths using bucket traps with specific pheromone lures. Adult WBC tend to emerge in late June to early July and have several defining characteristics that aid in their identification:
To ensure reporting is accurate, it is important to watch out for imposter species that may be caught in bucket traps and can easily be confused with WBC moths. The most common of these is the dingy cutworm. However, a telling difference between these moths is that the dingy cutworm lacks the characteristic white stripe that is present on WBC.
This week, 10 counties monitored WBC, but we had almost no reports of WBC moths in Ohio. This is to be expected as they usually emerge in mid-late June (Figure 4). For more information on how to scout WBC, please visit: Western Bean Cutworm | Ohioline
Western Bean Cutworm Moth Map
Week 1
June 1st to June 7th, 2026 