Bean 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 […]
First 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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Authored 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 […]
Co-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 […]
Author: Julia Mlynarek, Research Scientist – Field Entomology, AAFC-Harrow The Trochanter mealybugs Pseudococcus sorghiellus (Forbes) are small (at most 2mm), whitish, wax-covered insects that feed on plant roots (Fig. 1). Because of their size and life history, they are often overlooked but have been found in Southwestern Ontario. Trochanter mealybugs are part of a family […]
Despite it being the middle of August, some pests are not showing signs of wrapping this season up. Bean leaf beetle are a particular concern in food grade IP and seed soybeans and edible beans across Ontario. As are pod piercing pests like stink bugs and tarnished plant bugs. Soybean aphids are also increasing in […]
We are still seeing WBC trap counts going up in most counties north and east of Perth. That means that WBC moth flight has not yet peaked in those counties. This is important because this also means that we haven’t reached peak egg laying in those counties and that there are a wack of moths […]
I’m seeing a lot of pics on Twitter of recent WBC moth catches in traps, which I think is great. The more people that are trapping, the more data we have to work with to determine when peak flight takes place and when scouting is required. But trap counts do not indicate if a spray […]
Despite the wet weather, potato leafhoppers (PLH) are thriving in many areas of the province. Hopperburn is evident in the second crop of alfalfa, though dry bean fields are also at risk, especially once insecticide seed treatments are no longer present in the plants. Unfortunately, once hopperburn is noticed, yield and quality has already been […]
It has been a few years since soybean aphids have been noticed in fields this early in the season. This is in part, because many fields were treated with insecticide seed treatments and were assumed to be protecting the crop early in the season. However, very recently published research across several US states has shown […]
True armyworm have been found in a few fields this weekend. Cereals, corn (especially, though not exclusive those fields planted into rye) and mixed forages are at risk and should be scouted every three or four days over the next three weeks. True armyworm identification was covered in a previous blog this spring (here). Scouting […]
With delayed planting, slower crop emergence and frequent rain events, early season pests get a longer period of time to feed on the seed and seedlings. There are a number of pests causing problems right now. Seedcorn maggots are causing injury in both corn and soybean fields. Although higher risk fields include those that have […]