Reports of two spotted spider mite in some corn fields have been coming in. This pest is not normally a problem in corn but due to the hot, dry weather this year spider mites are showing up in numbers high enough to cause visible damage. Spider mite infestations start at the field edge and move […]
Since we’ve been getting a bit of rain across the province in the last week I’ve been asked about how the rain will affect spider mite populations in soybeans. Rains are very beneficial to help keep populations of spider mites down but don’t assume that because it rained our spider mite problems are over. If […]
There is a lot happening out there. I am sure I am not aware of half of the infestations that are going on but at least I will report on what I do know. Western bean cutworm – Hot spot egg mass locations continue to be in the Bothwell area with now fields in the […]
Chris DiFonzo from MSU and I both have this pest on our radar. I was hoping to see more areas get some of the rain that touched Ontario yesterday but sadly that didn’t happen. It is typically a little early for mites given the stage of the soybean crop but with this heat and dry […]
Travelling the country side yesterday, I saw too much spider mite damage going out of control in soybean fields that were easy to spot from my car. Too many fields that still have some time to mature are seeing sure signs of spider mite activity. Some are already too late to control, as the mites […]
It hasn’t been since 2002 that we have experienced this low of levels of soybean aphids. Cross my fingers and knock on wood but I think we are going to get through the season without a problem. That said, spidermites are starting to pop up in fields, particularly where it is starting to get a […]
With this kind of heat AND wheat harvest just around the corner, we should keep an eye out for spidermite activity in both seed corn and soybeans. I put together a pretty detailed article last year in the CropPest Ontario Newsletter. Visit it to familiarize yourself with what signs to look for. It is very […]
SPIDERMITES: I have a sneaking suspicion that spidermites are making their way into those fields that haven’t had rain in a while. We have had situations in the past where not only have they popped up in soybeans and were being disregarded as “drought stress” symptoms but also in seed corn, especially around or just after […]