Farmers' Perspectives on IPM Field Scouting During a Period of Insect Pest Range Expansion: A Case Study of Variant Western Corn Rootworm (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in Wisconsin

Thepositiveeffectsofintegratedpestmanagement�(IPM)� sampling,�pestpopulationassessment,�andeconomicthresholdson� farmerprofitabilityandenvironmentalsustainabilityshouldnotbe� overlooked,�particularlywhenappliedovermillionsofacreswithina� regionsuchastheU.S.�CornBelt.�Abehavioralchangeinthewestern� cornrootworm� (Diabrotica virgifera virgiferaLeConte),� enables� ovipositionbythevariantstraininsoybeans,� Glycine max� (L.)� Merr.,�resultingineconomicrootinjuryrisktocorn,�Zea maysL.,� thefollowingyear.�Usingscience-basedIPMscoutingandeconomic� thresholdsforvariantwesterncornrootwormbeetlesinsoybeans,� wedocumentedthevariant'srangeexpansionintosoutheastern� Wisconsin,� identifyingaffectedandunaffectedcountiesacrossa� nine-countyarea.� Amailsurvey� (n� =� 204;� 60.3%� responserate)� wasusedtoexaminedifferencesinawareness,�knowledge,�andper- ceptionsofthevariantamongWisconsinfarmerslivinginaffected� andunaffectedareas.�IPMforcornrootworminfirst-yearcornisa� novelconstructforfarmersinanewlyaffectedregion,�affectedand� unaffectedareasexistduringthepest'srangeexpansion,�andfarmers� haveyettoestablishhabitualmanagementpracticesforthevariant.� OurresultssuggestfarmerreadinesstoadoptcornrootwormIPMfor� first-yearcorn;�however,�farmersexpressedcaution.�Theseconcurrent� resultssignalaneedfortargetedIPMdevelopmentwithincreased� farmerincentives.�Communicationandinformationexchangewith� farmers,�asaccomplishedwiththeWisconsincasestudy,�areessen- tialtomovingforwardwithjointresearch,�extension,�policy,�and� agribusinessinitiativesduringatimeofsignificantchallengeand� opportunityinfieldcropIPM.��