FuturCrop Application for Control Coordination:
Effective control of the black cutworm depends on intervening at the most vulnerable stages and before the larvae cause irreparable damage. FuturCrop enables precise predictive management, providing 7 days’ advance notice of key events in the pest’s life cycle. This allows monitoring and interventions to be synchronized with its biology.

• Alert 1: «First egg laying» and «First egg hatching .» These alerts mark the beginning of the risk in the field. They trigger the need to  intensify monitoring  to confirm the presence of newborn larvae and assess the emerging population density.

• Alert 2: «Small larvae» (Early larval stages) . This is the first optimal intervention window. Young larvae are more sensitive to treatments and have not yet caused significant damage. This is the time to plan the application of specific insecticides, such as Bacillus thuringiensis , which act by ingestion and are most effective on small larvae.

• Alert 3: «Start of fourth larval stage» and «Large larvae .» These alerts indicate that the larvae are entering their most damaging phase, with those in the fourth stage and beyond being the ones that cut the plants. This alert serves as a final warning for curative treatments. If no action has been taken before, it is time to assess the need for targeted measures, such as poisoned baits or soil treatments.

• Alerts 4 and 5: «First pupae» and «Last large larvae .» These signal the end of the damaging cycle of one generation. They allow for the evaluation of the effectiveness of applied controls and the preparation of monitoring for the next generation. This is the time to coordinate cultural practices, such as the removal of plant debris and soil tillage to expose and destroy pupae.

• Alerts 6 and 7: «First adults .» These indicate the start of flight and the new phase of reproduction and migration. This alert is crucial for  activating or intensifying pheromone trapping  to capture adult males and monitor the size of the new generation.

In summary, FuturCrop transforms the management of this migratory pest from reactive to predictive. By accurately anticipating the timing of  small larvae  and  early adult emergence, the system allows for the synchronization of chemical and monitoring interventions during the pest’s most vulnerable biological windows, optimizing control effectiveness and reducing unnecessary applications.