Midwest Growers Turn to Multi-Mode At-Plant Insecticides Amid Rising Corn Rootworm Pressure

Corn rootworm pressure is on the rise in the Midwest, forcing growers to reevaluate their at-plant choices. The pest's evolution around single-mode insecticides has led to significant yield losses across continuous corn and fields with a history of heavy pressure.

Growers are now turning to at-plant insecticides built on multiple modes of action to combat the issue. One such product is Duro LQ Insecticide, a liquid at-plant insecticide from AMVAC that combines bifenthrin and abamectin.

In a high-CRW-pressure trial across seven sites in 2025, yield rose from 196 bu/A untreated to 219 bu/A with Duro LQ. Across a three-year mean spanning 12 sites (2020-24), yield rose from 161 bu/A untreated to 190 bu/A with Duro LQ.

Wen Carter, Technical Agronomy and Product Manager with AMVAC, notes that the combination of bifenthrin and abamectin asks for two resistance mechanisms in a rootworm population, making it a more effective approach than single-mode insecticides. This shift towards multiple modes of action is becoming less optional and more standard practice.