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Extension Entomology

Tag: bird cherry oat aphid

Wheat Update – Aphids

Posted on by Sharon Schroll

–by Dr. Jeff Whitworth and Dr. Holly Schwarting

Wheat aphids have really started showing up in wheat fields throughout north central Kansas.  English grain and bird cherry-oat aphids are the two most commonly observed so far.

These aphids usually do not build up in sufficient populations to stress wheat or impact yield, especially when growing conditions are good, which they have been for the last couple of weeks.  These aphids can vector barley yellow dwarf virus, however at this time of year this should not impact yield.  These aphids are providing a plentiful food source for lady beetles, and all wheat fields sampled in the last seven days contained significant numbers of lady beetles.

Therefore, it is prudent not to spray for these wheat aphids unless there are 20+/tiller on a field-wide basis.  Especially do not include an insecticide in a mixture with a fungicide “just in case”.

Volunteer Wheat

Posted on by Sharon Schroll

–by Dr. Jeff Whitworth and Dr. Holly Schwarting

Frequent rain over the last few weeks has played havoc with volunteer wheat control.  Each rain seems to bring another flush of volunteer.

volunteer-wheat

 

This is an ideal situation for most wheat pests, i.e. Hessian flies, winter grain mites, wheat curl mite, and the wheat aphids (mainly greenbugs, bird cherry oat and English grain) as well as the pathogens they may vector.  Thus, please remember to destroy all volunteer at least 2 weeks prior to planting to help manage these pests.

Wheat Aphids

Posted on by Sharon Schroll

–by Dr. Jeff Whitworth and Dr. Holly Schwarting

Wheat aphids, primarily bird cherry-oat and greenbugs, continue to migrate into Kansas on southern winds.

GB adult and nymphs

BCOA nymphs

The most common question this last week then is whether to add insecticide to a fungicide application to kill the aphids.  First of all, we do not recommend pesticide applications unless justified, and the mere presence of aphids in wheat does not justify an insecticide application.  Aphids need to be at densities of 20+ aphids/tiller when wheat is in the boot to heading stages before aphids begin to impact wheat simply due to their feeding.  Even then, their feeding is more impactful on plants that are already stressed by less than ideal growing conditions and when there are few beneficials present, i.e. lady beetles, lacewings, parasitic wasps, etc.  Recent rains seem to have really helped alleviate the previous dry conditions- so growing conditions are not stressing the wheat.  When an insecticide is added to a justified fungicide application, the insecticide will kill the aphids, as well as all the beneficials.  The aphids will continue to migrate into the state but the beneficials will be gone and much slower to re-populate.  Foliar insecticide applications made to control aphids with the aim of reducing the transmission of Barley yellow dwarf viruses has not been proven and thus is not recommended.  At the present time there seem to be good populations of lady beetles and parasitic wasps in wheat fields to help mitigate aphid populations.

lady beetle larva

aphid mummy

Wheat Update

Posted on by Sharon Schroll

–by Dr. Jeff Whitworth and Dr. Holly Schwarting

Received a report from north central Kansas about a small wheat field infested with ca. 20 aphids/tiller, but the aphids weren’t identified.  All wheat fields we visited in the last week had aphids, including bird cherry-oat, English grain, and/or greenbugs.  However, we were only finding about 1/10 plants or less and beneficials (lady beetles, lacewings, and parasitic wasp activity) were present in all of these fields.  Most wheat averaged Feekes 6-8 and no other pests really have been noted.

Wheat – Aphids

Posted on by Sharon Schroll

—by Dr. Jeff Whitworth – Dr. Holly Schwarting – J.R. Ewing and Salehe Abbar & Dr. Brian McCornack

Wheat aphids, primarily greenbugs, but bird cherry oat and English grain aphids as well, continue to migrate into wheat fields all over the state. However, there are increasing numbers of lady beetles and parasitic wasps (see photo of mummy). Hopefully these beneficials will keep these aphids well below treatment thresholds.

Screen Shot 2015-05-02 at 9.46.18 AM

More information about greenbug identification,  current management recommendations, or their natural enemies can be found on the myFields.info website (www.myfields.info).

 

Wheat – Aphids

Posted on by kansasbugs

—by Dr. Jeff Whitworth and Dr. Holly Schwarting

Aphids, mainly bird cherry oat and greenbugs continue to migrate into wheat fields throughout north central and south central KS (see photos). When temperatures are warmer and winds are from the south, these aphids are migrating/blowing in, in significant numbers. However, we did note some mummies (parasitized aphids) in these fields so these little wasps are active and will probably help control these pests if insecticides are not used in these fields.

difference between aphid species