Tracey Baute October 4, 2018 5114 Comments Off on Corn Earworm Presence Higher Than Expected – Check Your FieldsRecent scouting efforts and grower calls indicate that corn earworm (CEW) are present in Ontario corn fields this fall, some at pretty high levels (Figure 1). Late planted fields are the most at risk, as CEW moths typically don’t blow in from the US until later in the summer and prefer to lay their eggs directly on the fresh silks….
Tracey Baute July 27, 2018 4674 Comments Off on Western Bean Cutworm Lower Than Previous Years – Scouting is Really Paying OffIf ever there was a year to get out and scout before making a management decision, it is this year. Western bean cutworm trap catches have been much lower than previous years (Figure 1). Yes, many saw significant increase this past week, but they are still not at levels we would normally see during this time period. Based on the…
This is a year of Stranger Things. Some insect pests that are expected in these conditions haven’t shown up yet while others are much more ahead of schedule, thanks to the hot days that are resulting in significant growing degree day accumulation. Tarnished plant bug is already being found in dry beans, even though the crop is just in early…
Tracey Baute July 16, 2018 4148 Comments Off on Western Bean Cutworm Trap Catches So Far and Crop Staging and Spray TimingWestern bean cutworm trap counts this year have been very low so far. Although I would normally expect at least the far southwest to be reaching peak moth flight later this week, the traps are not indicating that yet. It might happen but there are not nearly the same number of moths flying around at this time compared to previous…
Red-headed flea beetles are enjoying a bit of feeding time in soybeans and corn this week. In corn, their feeding is most prevalent in the field border rows, though can scattered throughout the field too. The beetle strips away the leaf tissue causing window-paning, very similar to adult corn rootworm leaf feeding. This feeding is simply superficial and does not…
Tracey Baute July 3, 2018 3516 Comments Off on Hot Dry Weather Increasing Risk of Spider Mites, Thrips and AphidsWhile many fields have received rain over the last week, some areas are starting to show signs of stress from lack of moisture. A few pests take advantage of this situation. Thrips in Corn and Soybeans: A number of corn fields have had high levels of thrips. Rarely are they worthy of control, except in situations where the crop is…
Tracey Baute June 28, 2018 2526 Comments Off on Find Soybean Aphids? Download the New Aphid Advisor V2.0 for Help with Spray DecisionsSome fields are starting to see soybean aphids colonize in the last few weeks. This is their typical behaviour and of no concern until soybeans reach the R stages, specifically R1 to R5. Plants need to have at least 250 aphids per plant across 80% of the field and see that population increasing over time before a spray is warranted. …
Tracey Baute June 27, 2018 2792 Comments Off on Watch for Armyworm in Spring Cereals and Mixed ForagesArmyworm has been spotted at low levels in a few winter wheat fields, though being so close to harvest, it is really not a concern in that crop. However, it does indicate a need to keep an eye out for them in spring cereals, as well as mixed forages (as they like to feed on grasses). True armyworm larvae can…
Tracey Baute June 1, 2018 2175 Comments Off on Bean Leaf Beetle Showing up in Essex and Chatham KentBean leaf beetles (BLB) are showing up in early planted soybeans that were treated with only fungicide seed treatment. As the result of area wide use of insecticide seed treatments, this pest had much of a presence over the last decade. Thankfully, rescue treatments are still possible if threshold has been reached. BLB have a great predator response. They quickly…
Tracey Baute May 30, 2018 2508 Comments Off on Make Alfalfa Weevil and Cereal Leaf Beetle Scouting a PriorityFirst cut took place on most of the forage acres in southern Ontario. Though this is an effective way to manage alfalfa weevil, this year the larvae were quite small at the time of cutting. I’m concerned that the larvae still present will finally be entering the most damaging stages of third and fourth instars during the early stages of…
The WBC trapping season is about to begin. For those anxious to put up WBC traps this year, the WBC Trap Network is almost ready for you to set up your sites at: https://www.cornpest.ca/wbc-trap-network/ An email to past trap participants will be going out early next week. For those who have not entered trap sites before but are interested doing…
There have been many reports of cereal leaf beetle adult activity over the last few weeks. Adults do some feeding but also lay eggs that give rise to the real issue – cereal leaf beetle larvae. Eggs will be hatching within the next week or so. With daily growing degree days accumulating more quickly than usual, the populations and feeding…
With planting delayed briefly due to rain, it is the perfect time to get out and set up some wireworm bait stations. Soil temperatures are quite warm now and recent University of Guelph Ridgetown Campus research has found that spring is the better time to successfully bait for wireworms. Spring time is likely better in part because the soil is…
Tracey Baute May 1, 2018 3181 Comments Off on Resistance Prevention – Managing Western Bean Cutworm and Mycotoxins in CornAuthored by: Dr. Art Schaafsma and Dr. Jocelyn Smith, University of Guelph Ridgetown Campus and Tracey Baute, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs As the planting season begins, it is important to consider how best to manage western bean cutworm (WBC) damage this year and reduce the risk of resistance development. Western bean cutworm has become a serious…
Tracey Baute October 30, 2017 13227 Comments Off on Locating the Overwintering Brown Marmorated Stink BugCo-Authored with Karli Barton, Field Research Technician, OMAFRA-Ridgetown As colder weather approaches, we have the opportunity to identify overwintering locations for the invasive brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB). BMSB and a few other stink bugs like to move into homes and other sheltered areas for the winter. This is a great time for homeowners dealing with this nuisance to help…