— by Dr. Jeff Whitworth and Dr. Holly Schwarting
The situation seems about the same throughout north central Kansas with regard to insect pests. Still finding mixed populations of aphids (greenbugs, corn leaf, yellow sugarcane, and sugarcane) but beneficial insect populations (mainly green lacewings, lady beetles, parasitic wasps, and occasionally syrphid fly larvae) still remain plentiful. Headworms are also plentiful in just about every field that is not yet at soft dough. Remember, expect 5% loss/worm/head between flowering and soft dough. Chinch bugs, both adults and nymphs, are also plentiful at the base of most plants but can also be found feeding on young developing berries in the heads.