People, Projects and Progress
Inside the Research: Informal updates on research at ENREEC
In the Field: Tracking Pests, Protecting Crops
Fields infested with damaging insects are obviously not something growers want. But if you are involved in insect pest management research, studying insects and damage in-field translates to useful information for growers. The fields at the Eastern Nebraska Research and Extension Center (ENREEC) often face similar challenges to those encountered by Nebraska growers—such as insects, pests, disease, and weather difficulties. With ENREEC's operational scale comparable to many farms, the facility serves as a real-world laboratory environment for conducting agricultural research. Researchers can gather in-field data as they work towards practical solutions to agricultural challenges.
Silvana Paula-Moraes, PhD, Associate Professor with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln School of Plant Health and Insect Sciences is a Row Crop Entomology Specialist and is conducting various insect pest studies at ENREEC. Paula-Moraes is studying insect pests that threaten Nebraska crops. By monitoring pest populations and investigating their behavior and impact in the field, she and the entomology research team are working to provide growers with the information they need to detect potential problems early and make informed management decisions.
Fall Armyworm
Fall armyworm is amongst several of the crop pest species that Silvana Paula-Moraes is studying at the Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension and Education Center (ENREEC). The fall armyworm moths are migratory, so they don't over-winter in Nebraska fields. But they are strong fliers - coming from southern regions. Paula-Moraes' research considers the influence of hurricanes and storms in the southern United States, on the movement of fall armyworm and how these weather events impact the insects' northward migration.
Population levels vary from year to year. In some years, when they arrive in large numbers, they can cause significant damage quickly, particularly in alfalfa fields in Nebraska. Infestations were notably problematic in Eastern Nebraska in 2025, affecting alfalfa and pastures. Paula-Moraes' research stresses the importance of early detection. She says, "The larvae are miniscule and hard to see, but once they are a larger size, fall armyworm can decimate an alfalfa field in one night."
Fall armyworm typically begin to appear in Nebraska around mid-summer and can continue to be present until mid-fall, around October. Paula-Moraes and her team used pheromone traps to monitor and track moth populations weekly, gathering crucial data for farmers. This information helps determine when the moths begin flying and when to look for egg mass infestations, aiding in timely management decisions. The same trapping at ENREEC has also been conducted for this pest in large fields in Clay County, in collaboration with Extension Educators Matheus Ribeiro and David Wagila. In addition, the team sampled the fields for larvae using a sweep net and counting the number of larvae. This also helps track infestations of other caterpillars that can damage alfalfa.
Since fall armyworm do not complete their life cycle this far North, nor can they survive the winter, some populations return South as the seasons change. This understanding is important for developing effective monitoring and management strategies. Paula-Moraes noted that as the weather gets cooler, the research team is wrapping up the study to document the occurrence using pheromone trapping. She says, "This year was not a big problem for this pest in Nebraska, but we gathered information about the flight and other moths that are cross-attracted in the pheromone trapping."
Learn more about fall armyworm in Nebraska, scouting and research trapping:
Silvana Paula-Moraes shows a pheromone trap used at ENREEC to monitor and track fall armyworm moth populations weekly, gathering crucial data for farmers.
The team sampled the fields for larvae using a sweep net and counting the number of larvae.
Pheromone traps are used to monitor and track moth populations weekly.
Matheus Ribeiro, Silvana Paula-Moraes and David Wagila monitored and tracked fall armyworm moth populations in large fields in Clay County, as well.
If you plant corn into wheat or rye cover crops, take part in research - help Nebraska growers!
It's easy and here's how...
- The University of Nebraska is seeking fields to sample in 2027. If you have corn fields planted into wheat or rye cover crops, Paula-Moraes and the entomology research team will be sampling fields for occurrence of wheat stem maggot - a research project funded by the Nebraska Corn Board.
- Paula-Moraes says, "Our objective is to study the presence of certain insects, particularly the adult wheat stem maggot fly, to assess the risks they pose. The mere presence of these insects doesn't automatically indicate a corn infestation, but it does provide valuable information for farmers. It can guide in making informed decisions about where to plant corn and aid in planning crop rotations."
Silvana Paula-Moraes uses a sweep net to collect insects in a research plot.
Wheat Stem Maggot
Utilizing cover crops in conjunction with standard row crops can provide benefits such as improved soil and nutrient health, water retention, and grazing. But like anything in farming, enter the challenge - the wheat stem maggot. Wheat stem maggot is an insect pest that can damage corn planted into living wheat or rye cover crops. The larvae move from dying cover crops into corn plants and tunnel into the stalk, damaging the growing point and potentially killing the plant.
Paula-Moraes and the entomology research team are examining the effects of the wheat stem maggot, particularly in cover crops such as rye and wheat. Studies aim to assess the risks posed by the pest and devise effective management strategies. Trapping and studies were conducted in commercial size fields at ENREEC, South Central Ag Lab, and Haskell Ag Lab in 2026, as well as in cover crops in the Crop Management Diagnostic plots. Nebraska Extension also monitors commercial fields in various locations across Nebraska.
In conjunction with this research, Nebraska Extension established a monitoring network to track adult and larval populations, identify high-risk fields, improve management strategies, and provide hands-on scouting opportunities for farmers. The ongoing research and monitoring updates help farmers identify risk.
Learn more about current research and Extension efforts at:
Data collection and field sampling is integral to the research projects. A dedicated team collects in-field, project data.
Western Bean Cutworm
Western bean cutworm damage can reduce corn yields and contribute to mold growth. Trapping for western bean cutworm begins at the end of May through mid-June and continues and until mid of August. Moth flight is monitored using blacklight traps and pheromone traps at the following University research facilities: Haskell Ag Lab, South Central Agricultural Lab, Eastern Nebraska Research and Extension Center, and West Central Research and Extension Center.
Nebraska Extension educators also trapped the insects on farms across the state. Farmers and crop advisers can use that information, along with forecasting tools, to decide when to inspect fields. Paula-Moraes says to look for egg clusters and young caterpillars while the corn is in its late-whorl stage, before the pests move into the ears. She says, "The goal is to treat fields only when pest numbers are high enough to justify it. Timely scouting can help protect crops while avoiding insecticide applications that aren’t needed."
Learn more about western bean cutworm in Nebraska, scouting and research trapping:
By Deloris Pittman | Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension & Education Center