The black cutworm moth is an occasional pest of corn that is particularly attracted to no-till fields. The larva causes 5 to 80% losses of plant stands in infested fields. If no protection against this pest is in place at planting, extensive scouting is required to assess the need for rescue treatments. Effectiveness of the clothianidin seed treatment Poncho and the Cry 1F Bt corn hybrid Herculex in protecting seedlings from black cutworm attack was investigated through a series of field and micro-plot experiments, as well as laboratory bioassays. Corn establishment, spacing and yield were improved by the use of a Herculex I hybrid in a field heavily infested with cutworm in 2003, results for 2004 will be available this fall. In 2003 there was no evidence that PONCHO 250 was beneficial to early corn establishment or grain yields when applied to the seed of either the hybrid containing the Herculex I or to the isoline. Corn establishment and grain yields were improved for the non-Bt varieties at the high rate of application of PONCHO when compared to the same hybrid with no insecticide seed treatment. No-choice bioassay results indicate increased consumption of leaf tissue of seedlings treated with the low rate of Clothianidin. Control is much improved and weight gain reduced at the high dose.