There have been reports of cereal leaf beetle (CLB) larvae actively feeding in wheat. This is not unexpected for this time of year. Generally this pest is not of great importance, but can always be problematic and should be monitored. This pest’s unpredictability is usually what gets producers in trouble. Often the first indication of the pest’s presence is “white” flag leaves waving in the air. This is NOT a good scouting procedure as one cannot put the leaf material back on the flag leaf!
Cereal leaf beetle can be active anytime from April to maturity. This year populations are likely to be out early, though not necessarily in larger numbers. The reports that I have received are all larval feeding, indicating that the emerging overwintering adults have already been out for some time.
