–by Dr. Jeff Whitworth — Field Crops
The pest situation, so far anyway, looks really encouraging throughout most of northcentral Kansas. Very few pests in sorghum, including chinch bugs, have been noted or reported at least as of 22 July. Sorghum seems to be all over the place, however, as far as developmental stages are concerned. There is some double-cropped sorghum that has just recently germinated (also some that was just planted late due to the weather) all the way to some that is just reaching the boot stage. So there is a long ways to go yet–but so far, the pest situation looks good.
Soybeans also seem to have relatively few pests so far this year. There are a few stink bugs (which will be depositing eggs soon) and Dectes stem borers (see fig 1 -adult green stinkbug and Dectes stem borer) neither of which are causing any problems yet–but may in the future before harvest. There are a few bean leaf beetle adults just emerging (see fig 2-bean leaf beetle adult eating hole in leaf) so these populations need to be monitored throughout pod set. There also seem to be relatively more spined soldier bugs (see fig 3) than usual this year. These are often confused with phytophagous stinkbugs but these” look alikes” are predators on other insects.
Figure 1. Adult green stinkbug and Dectes stem borer (pic by Cody Wyckoff)
Figure 2. Bean leaf beetle adult eating hole in leaf (pic by Cody Wyckoff)
Figure 3. Spined soldier bug (pic by Cody Wyckoff)