–by Dr. Jeff Whitworth and Dr. Holly Schwarting
Chinch bugs are really common in sorghum fields throughout north central Kansas. Their feeding will weaken stalks if dry conditions are prevalent.
Green lacewing eggs were present, indicating the presence of future beneficials to help with control of potential future aphid populations.
–by Dr. Jeff Whitworth and Dr. Holly Schwarting
We are still not finding any pests at threatening levels in soybeans, yet. Dectes stem borer adults are actively ovipositing in petioles and larvae are/will be hatching and tunneling into stems for the next 4-6 weeks. For more information please see the KSRE publication Dectes Stem Borer: https://www.bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/MF2581.pdf.
There has been some concern about white flies in soybeans. They do seem to be plentiful but they will not cause any problems relative to yield.
–by Dr. Jeff Whitworth and Dr. Holly Schwarting
Swathing seems to have interrupted the potato leafhopper increases that were seen prior to cutting. All the fields sampled prior to swathing in north central Kansas exceeded the treatment thresholds. Conversely, all the fields sampled post-swathing had potato leafhopper population well below economic injury levels, i.e. 20 potato leafhoppers per 20 sweeps pre-swathing vs. two per 20 sweeps post-swathing. Continued monitoring would be prudent as these pests may stray around until October and continue to produce offspring.
Spotted alfalfa aphids are still present in alfalfa fields but at relatively insignificant infestation levels. These aphids seem to do very well in mid-summer’s hot, dry conditions but usually don’t reach densities heavy enough to cause yield-reducing stress.
–by Eva Zurek
Insect Diagnostic Laboratory Report
http://entomology.k-state.edu/extension/diagnostician/recent-samples.html
–by Dr. Jeff Whitworth and Dr. Holly Schwarting
Soybeans continue to be relatively pest free in north central and south central Kansas.
–by Dr. Jeff Whitworth and Dr. Holly Schwarting
Fields sampled three weeks ago had relatively large numbers of potato leafhoppers, i.e. 20+/20 sweeps. These fields were swathed approximately two weeks ago and averaged 2 potato leafhoppers/20 sweeps, below the treatment threshold. Thus, timely swathing can be very beneficial in managing potato leafhoppers, without use of an insecticide application.
–by Dr. Jeff Whitworth and Dr. Holly Schwarting
Most corn pests have come and gone throughout north central and south central Kansas, with a few exceptions. Japanese beetle adults have been causing concern in north eastern KS, from about Topeka to the Nebraska border and east to the Missouri border.
These beetles are attracted to green silks and can feed so voraciously that they eat into the husks and damage some of the kernels on the tip. These populations usually do not occur in such numbers to affect pollination over a large area of many fields. However, in small areas they can cause concern but are relatively well controlled if a foliar insecticide is justified. Some adult green June beetles are also feeding on corn silks and/or ‘naked ears’ and have been mistaken for Japanese beetles. Japanese beetles usually migrate to soybean fields to feed on pollen when fields start pollinating but probably not to the extent that they affect yield.
–by Eva Zurek
Insect Diagnostic Laboratory Report
http://entomology.k-state.edu/extension/diagnostician/recent-samples.html
–by Dr. Jeff Whitworth and Dr. Holly Schwarting
Wheat harvest is completed, or at least real close, across the State. So, it is time to start thinking volunteer wheat control. As wheat producers know, volunteer wheat is very persistent. Every time it rains or the fields are irrigated, another flush or crop of volunteer wheat germinates. Thus, control needs to be just as persistent. Volunteer wheat can be a harborage for most wheat pests, especially bird cherry-oat aphids, Brown wheat mites, English grain aphids, greenbugs, Hessian flies, wheat curl mites, and many of the more common pathogens. Season-long control is always best, but rarely practical. So, volunteer wheat eradication at least 2 weeks prior to planting is the next best management practice.
–by Dr. Raymond Cloyd
There are two new extension publications available: one on squash bug and one on squash vine borer. Both publications contain up-dated information on management, and clear images of the different life stages of the insect pests and subsequent plant damage. The links for both are provided below:
Squash Bug PDF: http://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/MF3308.pdf
Squash Vine Borer PDF: http://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/MF3309.pdf