1. Insect
  2. Agronomic Crops
  3. Field and Silage Corn Pests

Field and silage corn-Seedcorn maggot

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Image related to Field and silage corn-Seedcorn maggot
Seedcorn maggot
Delia platura Meigen
Female adult
© Ken Gray Insect Image Collection
Image related to Field and silage corn-Seedcorn maggot
Seedcorn maggot
Delia platura Meigen
Immature showing damage
© Ken Gray Insect Image Collection
Image related to Field and silage corn-Seedcorn maggot
Seedcorn maggot
Delia platura Meigen
Egg(s) on host
© Ken Gray Insect Image Collection

Delia platura

Pest description and crop damage A small white maggot that attacks germinating seeds. Kills seedlings and reduces stands, occasionally so severely that they need replanting. Damage is most severe when corn is planted early in the season, and germination and seedling emergence are delayed.

Management-chemical control

Typically, best and most economic control is achieved with insecticide-treated seed.

  • beta-cyfluthrin (Baythroid XL) Group 3 insecticide at 0.12 to 0.16 oz ai/1,000 row ft (2.0 to 2.8 fl oz/A). PHI 0 days for forage and 21 days for grain or fodder. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.088 lb ai/A per season.
  • bifenthrin (Brigade 2EC, Sniper, Capture LFR) Group 3A insecticide/miticide at 0.0023 to 0.0046 lb ai/1,000 row ft over open seed furrow (0.15 to 0.30 fl oz/ 1,000 linear ft row); 0.047 to 0.062 lb ai/A pre-plant incorporated. PHI 30 days for harvest, grazing, or cutting for feed. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.1 lb ai/A per season as an at-plant application. Do not apply Capture LFR as foliar treatment.
  • bifenthrin/indole-3-butyric acid (Empower2) Granular insecticide at 0.002 to 0.006 lb ai/1,000 row ft in furrow. PHI 30 days. REI 24 hr. Do not exceed 0.3 lb ai/A foliar and at planting.bifenthrin/chlorethoxyfos Group 1B insecticide
  • SmartChoice 5G at 3.0 to 3.5 oz/100 ft. REI 2 days or 3 days where annual rainfall is less than 25 inches. T-band over the row or apply in furrow. Apply with Smartbox system. Do not exceed one application per year.
  • SmartChoice HC at 1.15 to 1.67 oz/1,000 row ft. See spacing charts in label for actual application rates per acre. REI 2 days or 3 days where annual rainfall is less than 25 inches. T-band over the row or apply in furrow. Apply with Smartbox system. Do not exceed one application per year.
  • chlorethoxyfos/bifenthrin (SmartChoice 5G, SmartChoice HC)-SmartChoice 5G application at 3.0 to 3.5 oz 1,000 row ft; SmartChoice HC application rate of 1.0 to 1.67 oz /100 ft of row. Row spacing rates according to chart in label. REI 2 days, or 3 days where annual rainfall is less than 25 inches. T-band over the row or apply in furrow. Apply with Smartbox system. Do not exceed one application per year.
  • cyantraniliprole (Fortenza) at 0.125 to 0.5 lb ai/seed. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.4 lb ai/A of cyantraniliprole products per year.
  • cyfluthrin (Tombstone) insecticide at 2.0 to 2.8 fl oz/A based on 30-inch row spacing (0.12 to 0.16 fl oz/1,000 row ft). PHI 0 days for green forage and 21 days for grain or fodder. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.175 lb ai/A per season.
  • gamma-cyhalothrin (Declare) Group 3 insecticide at 0.0025 lb ai/1,000 row ft at planting. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.06 lb ai/A from at-plant and foliar treatments.
  • lambda-cyhalothrin (Warrior II) Group 3 insecticide at 0.005 lb/1,000 row ft. 21 days. REI 24 hr. Do not apply more than 0.12 lb ai/A per season at plant or foliar applications.
  • permethrin (Loveland Permethrin) Group 3 insecticide at 0.1 to 0.15 lb ai/A pre-plant incorporated, pre-emergence or at planting. PHI 0 days for forage, 30 days for grain harvest or fodder (stover). REI 12 hr. As preemergent, apply from 5 days before planting up to crop emergence. Apply in furrow or as band at planting.
  • phorate (Thimet 20G) 0.056 to 0.075 lb ai/1,000 row ft at planting or cultivation, broadcast or banded but not in-furrow. REI 48 hr. Limit one application.
  • tefluthrin (Force 3G) Group 3 insecticide at 0.0075 to 0.0094 lb ai/1,000 row ft. T-band or in-furrow at planting. REI 0 hr. Do not exceed 0.327 lb ai/A per year. Use only once per season.
  • terbufos (Counter 15G) at 0.056 to 0.075 lb ai/1,000 row ft. REI 48 hr or 72 hr if annual rainfall is less than 25 inches. Band or furrow at planting.

Seed treatments

  • abamectin/thiamethoxam (Avicta Duo Corn)-Apply as slurry to corn seed. Consult label.
  • abamectin/thiamethoxam/Azoxystrobin (Avicta Complete)-Refer to label for instructions.
  • clothianidin (Poncho 600) at 0.25 to 0.5 mg ai/kernel. Commercial treaters only.
  • clothianidin/Bacillus firmus (Poncho Votivo) at 0.5 mg ai/seed. Do not exceed 0.5 mg ai/seed.
  • imidacloprid/carboxin/metalaxyl (Latitude Seed Treatment) at 1.5 oz product per 42 lb of seed. Use as a dry mixture in the planter box as a seed treatment prior to planting. See label for complete instructions. REI 24 hr.
  • imidacloprid (Gaucho 600)-Refer to label. REI 24 hr.
  • permethrin/carboxin (Kernel Guard Supreme) at 1.5 oz canister per 42 lb seed. Apply to seed at planting time with canister applicator tube system. REI 12 hr. Do not graze or feed livestock on treated areas for six weeks after planting.
  • thiamethoxam (Cruiser 5FS). Commercial treaters only. See label instructions.