Potato leafhopper (PLH) is the most damaging alfalfa insect pest in Ontario in most years. While the damage created is not as dramatic as an alfalfa weevil or armyworm outbreak, leafhopper damage is more chronic and widespread. Many farmers are unaware of the significance of PLH damage, which is often blamed on the hot, dry weather that frequently accompanies it….
So far, areas south of the 401 appear to be hardest hit by armyworm in southern and central Ontario. Eastern Ontario is starting to report armyworm in wheat so producers in those areas should be out scouting fields. We have been seeing quite a size variation in the armyworm larvae this year which is likely due to staggered egg laying…
Synopsis Canola is advancing rapidly with April planted canola now bolting to 70% flower stage. Some canola stands are thin and uneven in growth which has growers questioning need or timing for fungicide. The biggest risk factors for sclerotinia are adequate soil moisture, rainfall during flowering, 48-72 hours of wetness in canopy for infection to occur and a dense canopy….
I’ve had a few calls in the past few days asking about armyworm and black cutworm damage in soybeans. I had the chance to get out to a few fields and found that the damage is being caused by the variegated cutworm (Peridroma saucia). The variegated cutworm is another migrating moth that comes into Ontario in the early spring around…
Early-season leaf feeding before the 3rd trifoliate can look serious because plants are small. However, soybeans can compensate for large amounts of leaf loss with little impact on yield. Soybeans will put on new leaves quickly at the top of the plant and unaffected leaves actually grow larger to compensate. Before the plants begin to flower, up to 100% of…
They’re here early this year! We’ve been hearing reports of true armyworm numbers getting fairly high in some wheat fields and even above threshold in some cases. I think it’s a good time to post a refresher on armyworm management. In Cereals Armyworms typically feeding in the lower leaves of the wheat and work their way upwards. Feeding is done…
The weather is certainly warming up and it looks like the forecast is for more of the same. Things are getting busy and I’ve got a few things to talk about this week. The first is the start of the Western Bean Cutworm Trapping network. Traps should be set up this week and the data should start coming in soon. …
Tracey Baute May 23, 2012 4302 Comments Off on Cereal Aphids Found in Wheat – Should You Be Concerned?Updated – May 27, 2020 There are several species of aphids that are grouped together as “cereal aphids”. The most common are bird cherry oat aphids (Figure 1) and corn leaf aphids (Figure 2), though English grain aphid and greenbugs can sometimes be found. The aphids would have been present since the fall and usually are more prevalent in early…
When grubs hit hard, forage supplies dwindle fast! Stand loss in hay fields and pastures due to grub damage is becoming more common. Warm open falls and warm springs are ideal for grub feeding activity. (Figure 1) The result is a thin, weedy stand with low yields , and poor resistance to drought. Grubs prefer feeding on grass root systems…
There have been some reports of alfalfa weevil causing damage in some stands and I was out this week to have a look at some fields. The weevils are certainly out there. Considering that some alfalfa fields are hurting from frost damage, some produces may consider holding off on the first cut to let the plants build up more reserves…
Alfalfa Weevil Reports from Michigan and Iowa indicate that alfalfa weevils were activity is early this year. We’ve had some fairly warm weather earlier this spring and the weevils likely have had a bit of a head start. I was out in some fields in Oxford this week and I found some early instar larvae so the weevils are out…
As we gear up for the 2012 season we are again looking for participants in the Western Bean Cutworm Trap Network monitoring program. Of particular need is to have more traps in Elgin and Haldimand/Norfolk County. Information on the trap network can be found on the Canadian Corn Pest Coalition website. If you would like to participate e-mail wbctrapnetwork@gmail.com or contact Tom…
Co-Author: Cara McCreary, and Jocelyn Smith, University of Guelph Ridgetown Campus The Canadian Corn Refuge Hybrid Selector is a web-based tool that has been developed through collaboration of the Canadian Corn Pest Coalition, the Ontario Corn Committee, and the Canadian Seed Trade Association to provide all the information needed to follow up-to-date insect resistance management (IRM) requirements for all currently available…
Some corn fields may be at risk of extended WBC feeding this fall, particularly those that were late planted or are situated where egg laying occurred over a wider window. This year in particular, we are seeing a wide range of larval sizes because of the extended egg laying period that took place across much of the province. Fields that…
It’s time to get out and scout for WBC damage in dry beans. Based on trap counts we are now confident that some counties experienced peak flight the last week of July and others the first week of August. Though I will admit that some trap sites are still catching lots of moths, especially the bean trap sites. And the…
