–by Dr. Jeff Whitworth
Pea aphids (see pic) are and have been returning, or at least increasing in numbers, to many alfalfa fields throughout north central Kansas. These are primarily cool weather aphids and are usually the last ones still feeding in the fall on alfalfa and the 1st ones in the spring. However, with the advent of cool/cold weather this late fall feeding should be negligible. Potato leafhoppers (see pic), for the most part, have emigrated, or at least are not present in easily detectable numbers, so “hopper burn” (see pic) and its consequences, should not be problematic this fall/winter.
Pea aphids
Potato leafhopper
Hopper burn