Doug Johnson, Extension Entomologist, University of Kentucky
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (US-EPA)
has granted the use of Transform™ WG for control of the sugarcane aphid, (Melanaphis saccahri) on sorghum.
Showing posts with label insects. Show all posts
Showing posts with label insects. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 25, 2015
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
2015 IPM Training Rescheduled for March 24
The IPM Training canceled on March 3 has been rescheduled for Tuesday, March 24. Program will be held from 9 am till 3 pm CDST at the University of Kentucky Research & Education Center at 1205 Hopkinsville Street in Princeton Kentucky. Program topics include update on weed resistance and new herbicide technology, invasive insect pests, using biosolids, 2015 state apiarist report and UAVs for scouting and monitoring crops.
Program is approved for 5.0 CEUs for CCAs (3.0 Integrated Pest Management, 1.0 Nutrient Management and 1.0 Professional Development) and 3 pesticide education hours (2 general and 1 specific) for pesticide applicators in categories 1A, 4, 10 and 12. For more information email plucas@uky.edu or call (270) 365-7541 ext 218.
Program is approved for 5.0 CEUs for CCAs (3.0 Integrated Pest Management, 1.0 Nutrient Management and 1.0 Professional Development) and 3 pesticide education hours (2 general and 1 specific) for pesticide applicators in categories 1A, 4, 10 and 12. For more information email plucas@uky.edu or call (270) 365-7541 ext 218.
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
The Inevitable Questions About Insects Surviving the Winter.
Doug Johnson, Extension Entomologist, University of Kentucky
The onset of colder than normal weather always brings up the question of how the cold will affect insect populations in the upcoming growing season. Though the answer to this question seems simple it is actually very complex.
The onset of colder than normal weather always brings up the question of how the cold will affect insect populations in the upcoming growing season. Though the answer to this question seems simple it is actually very complex.
Friday, June 13, 2014
Prepare Bins for Wheat Storage.
Doug Johnson, Extension Entomologist, University of Kentucky
In just a few weeks a major portion of our 2013-14 winter wheat
crop will go into storage of some type.
In fact, if this message is prompting you to prepare your bins, you are
probably behind the curve. Nevertheless, there is perhaps no more important
pest control strategy in successful storage of wheat than bin preparation. Certainly there is no less dangerous and
expensive alternative. The following is a suggested check list to insure you
have done all you can do to prevent an insect problem in your bins.
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Insect Considerations for Wheat Planting Decisions
Doug Johnson, Extension Entomologist
As I travel around the countryside, I see plenty of emerging corn in fields that will likely be planted in wheat. This “Green Bridge” could lead to problems with certain insects important to wheat Production. The insect pests we need to consider have not changed from previous years, but their relative importance may have changed from last year. Fall armyworm (FAW), Hessian Fly (HF), cereal aphid complex (CAC), and wheat curl mite (WCM) are annual threats. In most years, only the CAC is of major concern. In 2012 the FAW was a considerable problem in west Kentucky, not only in wheat,but also in many forage grasses.
As I travel around the countryside, I see plenty of emerging corn in fields that will likely be planted in wheat. This “Green Bridge” could lead to problems with certain insects important to wheat Production. The insect pests we need to consider have not changed from previous years, but their relative importance may have changed from last year. Fall armyworm (FAW), Hessian Fly (HF), cereal aphid complex (CAC), and wheat curl mite (WCM) are annual threats. In most years, only the CAC is of major concern. In 2012 the FAW was a considerable problem in west Kentucky, not only in wheat,but also in many forage grasses.
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
White Grub Damage Evident on Corn.
Doug Johnson, Extension Entomologist
Early white grub damage typically appears as stunted, wilted, discolored, or dead seedlings and/or as gaps in rows where plants fail to emerge. White grubs prune roots and can feed on the mesocotyl causing plant death. Obviously we are far past this early damage stage. In larger corn, grub feeding simply prunes the roots resulting in the reduced ability to move water and thus nutrients. The plants simply have an unthrifty look.
While there are some soil insecticides labeled for grub control, their control is somewhat erratic. These products must be applied before or at planting. No insecticides are recommended for rescue treatments. Even if soil applied rescues were available, we would likely need some rainfall to move the insecticide into the soil, especially in no-till. If we got the rain needed for that, we would have the rain we need for vigorous growth in the corn crop; which would likely outgrow the problem.
Consequently, even though one might be looking for a pesticide remedy for this problem, what we really need is rain. In the presence of rain the problem is likely to go away. In the absence of rain…… well the damage just will not matter.
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| White grubs; photo courtesy of Iowa State University. |
Questions concerning corn root pruning by white grubs have surfaced across the state. A number of Ag. & Natural Resources agents have noticed typical damage and found white grubs in place, along with typically pruned roots. Certainly, given the drought status of most of our corn production area, it is within reason to believe that these grubs are placing an unusual stress on an already stressed crop.
Early white grub damage typically appears as stunted, wilted, discolored, or dead seedlings and/or as gaps in rows where plants fail to emerge. White grubs prune roots and can feed on the mesocotyl causing plant death. Obviously we are far past this early damage stage. In larger corn, grub feeding simply prunes the roots resulting in the reduced ability to move water and thus nutrients. The plants simply have an unthrifty look.
While there are some soil insecticides labeled for grub control, their control is somewhat erratic. These products must be applied before or at planting. No insecticides are recommended for rescue treatments. Even if soil applied rescues were available, we would likely need some rainfall to move the insecticide into the soil, especially in no-till. If we got the rain needed for that, we would have the rain we need for vigorous growth in the corn crop; which would likely outgrow the problem.
Consequently, even though one might be looking for a pesticide remedy for this problem, what we really need is rain. In the presence of rain the problem is likely to go away. In the absence of rain…… well the damage just will not matter.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Armyworms Active in Corn
Armyworm larvae have been reported feeding in corn. Although armyworm can damage wheat, that very rarely occurs and when it does is usually much later in the season. Certainly this entire season is much earlier than normal because of the warm January – March temperatures. Nonetheless, the general sequence of events is likely to remain the same.
Captures of armyworm moths in the UK-IPM pheromone baited traps have not been very large. Captures did begin very early this year and the first several weeks appeared to be greater than the rolling 5-year average. However, recent counts have dropped below the 5-year average. At this point I don’t expect an unusually large population for 2012. That means that one should probably concentrate their scouting efforts on those situations that are at greatest risk.
Watch for Cereal Leaf Beetle in Wheat.
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.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Late Season Pests in Corn and Soybean
Many late season pests are showing up in corn and soybean fields. The latest Kentucky Pest News contains articles on the following topics:
CORN
SOYBEAN
Click here to see the August 18, 2009 version of the Kentucky Pest News.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Late Breaking--- Fall armyworm on soybean making impressive appearance in nearby southern states!
Reports from Extension Entomologists in Tennessee and Arkansas indicate that fall armyworm (FAW) populations in soybean are building up earlier and in larger numbers than normal. In Arkansas fields are being treated for a combination of FAWs and Corn earworm (CEW). In Tennessee the populations do not appear to be as widespread but some fields were in need of treatment. We can have this combination of insects in Kentucky soybeans. It is unusual, but it does occasionally happen. Likely places to check are late planted beans and fields in which the canopy has never closed. Historically, when this problem has occurred it is usually found in the Purchase area and the southern tier of counties in the Pennyrile area. No problems have yet been reported in Kentucky. Nevertheless, producers, consultants and scouts should be scouting regularly for these pests. They are in Kentucky; that is not the question. The question remains as always; are populations large enough to warrant a control?
See Kentucky Pest News at: http://www.uky.edu/Ag/kpn/kpnhome.htm for more detail on late season soybean insect pests.
See Kentucky Pest News at: http://www.uky.edu/Ag/kpn/kpnhome.htm for more detail on late season soybean insect pests.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Soybean Aphid: Numbers are on the rise in Central Kentucky… At least a little!
Over the previous week we have seen an increase in the number of locations reporting the presence of soybean aphid (SA), and in one case a substantial increase in the number of reported aphids per plant. Neither of these finds is unexpected, nor do they indicate an immediate problem but they do illustrate that pest numbers are increasing slowly.
This is typical for SA in Kentucky. Experience has shown me that when soybean aphid populations are detected they will most likely be found in the counties between I-65 and I-75. Also, this area generally has larger populations than found in the western production area. In addition the only SA populations that have approached threshold levels have occurred in these counties. Nevertheless, we do know that this pest is active state wide so no one should dismiss it out of hand.
Our history with this insect tells us that we are unlikely to need a treatment but insects are very adaptive, and local populations can vary from the norm. Keep an eye on them!
See Kentucky Pest News at: http://www.uky.edu/Ag/kpn/kpnhome.htm for the complete story.
This is typical for SA in Kentucky. Experience has shown me that when soybean aphid populations are detected they will most likely be found in the counties between I-65 and I-75. Also, this area generally has larger populations than found in the western production area. In addition the only SA populations that have approached threshold levels have occurred in these counties. Nevertheless, we do know that this pest is active state wide so no one should dismiss it out of hand.
Our history with this insect tells us that we are unlikely to need a treatment but insects are very adaptive, and local populations can vary from the norm. Keep an eye on them!
See Kentucky Pest News at: http://www.uky.edu/Ag/kpn/kpnhome.htm for the complete story.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Storing Wheat
Proper prior planning! This is the essence. Let there be no doubt that preventing a problem in stored wheat is by far more effective and economically sound than solving a problem that could have been prevented.
Prepare bins two weeks ahead of time.
Insure your bins are in good repair. Even small holes will allow insect entry. Be sure the roof does not leak!
Do not store with carryover grain.
Thoroughly clean all equipment from the combine to the bin to avoid seeding the newly harvested grain with insect pests.
Consider fumigation of areas below perforated floors and in aeration ducts. Get a professional fumigator to do this dangerous task, correctly. Save your life and money in that order.
Treat the insides and around the outsides of bins with an approved insecticide.
Bin dry wheat if possible at 12 to 12 ½ % moisture.
Move air through the grain to reduce temperature any time that is possible until the grain temperature is below 50 F. Consider installing automatic fan controllers.
If you use an insecticide applied to the grain, make sure it is labeled for that purpose. If you use a grain dryer do not apply insecticide before the grain moves through the dryer and until the grain has cooled after exiting the dryer.
Check your grain regularly. At a minimum look in the hatch and use your nose to perform a “sniff test” to detect out of condition grain. Insect traps can be a good indicator of problems if you will learn to use them. Do not wait until delivery time to look for insects. That is often too late for any remediation.
For the full story check Kentucky Pest News #1198 at:http://www.uky.edu/Ag/kpn/kpnhome.htm
Prepare bins two weeks ahead of time.
Insure your bins are in good repair. Even small holes will allow insect entry. Be sure the roof does not leak!
Do not store with carryover grain.
Thoroughly clean all equipment from the combine to the bin to avoid seeding the newly harvested grain with insect pests.
Consider fumigation of areas below perforated floors and in aeration ducts. Get a professional fumigator to do this dangerous task, correctly. Save your life and money in that order.
Treat the insides and around the outsides of bins with an approved insecticide.
Bin dry wheat if possible at 12 to 12 ½ % moisture.
Move air through the grain to reduce temperature any time that is possible until the grain temperature is below 50 F. Consider installing automatic fan controllers.
If you use an insecticide applied to the grain, make sure it is labeled for that purpose. If you use a grain dryer do not apply insecticide before the grain moves through the dryer and until the grain has cooled after exiting the dryer.
Check your grain regularly. At a minimum look in the hatch and use your nose to perform a “sniff test” to detect out of condition grain. Insect traps can be a good indicator of problems if you will learn to use them. Do not wait until delivery time to look for insects. That is often too late for any remediation.
For the full story check Kentucky Pest News #1198 at:http://www.uky.edu/Ag/kpn/kpnhome.htm
Friday, May 1, 2009
Planting Dates Affect Corn Insect Management
Ric Bessin, Extension Entomologist
Entomology, University of Kentucky
Planting date is one of the more important factors determining the potential for insect problems in field corn. Many may not realize it, but the time at which the seed goes into the ground determines which insect pests are more likely to be encountered. Some pests are favored by early planting dates while others are more likely to show up in damaging numbers in late planted corn.
There are two reasons for differences in pest problems due to planting date. First, for many corn pests, the plant has specific vulnerable stages. For example, with cutworms, the plant is susceptible to cutworm damage anytime between emergence and when the plant reaches 12 to 18 inches in height. Second, pest population numbers tend to run in cycles. Usually a pest reaches damaging levels only during certain periods of the season. With black cutworm, because it is a migratory pest, usually it will only reach damaging levels in the late spring. Fields with early and normal planting dates usually escape significant cutworm damage because the plants have grown out of the vulnerable stage by the time the damaging populations arrive.
Wireworms and the damage they cause on the other hand are favored by early planting. The reason for this is that the cool soil slows germination, emergence and growth. Late planting into warmer soils speeds germination, emergence and growth thusly limiting wireworm damage. With treated seed and later planting dates, wireworm is less likely.
There are two generations each of European and Southwestern corn borer each year. The first generations attack in late June and early July, and the second generations begin their assaults in early to mid August. Corn borers prefer whorl-stage corn for egg laying. Studies at the UK Research Center in Princeton Kentucky have shown that corn planted after May 10 is at much greater risk to yield loss from late season European and Southwestern corn borers. Growers using Bt corn often save this seed for later plantings to protect against corn borer attack.
Fall armyworm is another pest that migrates from southern states each spring and is favored by late planting dates. This pest also tends to prefer to lay eggs on whorl-stage corn. Corn which planted after June 1 and that is still in the whorl stage in late July and early August is more likely to be damaged by fall armyworm. Not all Bt corn for corn borer provide effective control of fall armyworm. Insecticides used for fall armyworm control in whorl stage corn need to be applied before the larva forms a frass plug in the whorl of the plant, as the larva feeds under the plug and the plug limits penetration of the spray into the whorl.
Unfortunately, we often have little control of planting date and are at the mercy of the weather. But understanding what your potential problems are should help you manage your crop more effectively.
Entomology, University of Kentucky
Planting date is one of the more important factors determining the potential for insect problems in field corn. Many may not realize it, but the time at which the seed goes into the ground determines which insect pests are more likely to be encountered. Some pests are favored by early planting dates while others are more likely to show up in damaging numbers in late planted corn.
There are two reasons for differences in pest problems due to planting date. First, for many corn pests, the plant has specific vulnerable stages. For example, with cutworms, the plant is susceptible to cutworm damage anytime between emergence and when the plant reaches 12 to 18 inches in height. Second, pest population numbers tend to run in cycles. Usually a pest reaches damaging levels only during certain periods of the season. With black cutworm, because it is a migratory pest, usually it will only reach damaging levels in the late spring. Fields with early and normal planting dates usually escape significant cutworm damage because the plants have grown out of the vulnerable stage by the time the damaging populations arrive.
Wireworms and the damage they cause on the other hand are favored by early planting. The reason for this is that the cool soil slows germination, emergence and growth. Late planting into warmer soils speeds germination, emergence and growth thusly limiting wireworm damage. With treated seed and later planting dates, wireworm is less likely.
There are two generations each of European and Southwestern corn borer each year. The first generations attack in late June and early July, and the second generations begin their assaults in early to mid August. Corn borers prefer whorl-stage corn for egg laying. Studies at the UK Research Center in Princeton Kentucky have shown that corn planted after May 10 is at much greater risk to yield loss from late season European and Southwestern corn borers. Growers using Bt corn often save this seed for later plantings to protect against corn borer attack.
Fall armyworm is another pest that migrates from southern states each spring and is favored by late planting dates. This pest also tends to prefer to lay eggs on whorl-stage corn. Corn which planted after June 1 and that is still in the whorl stage in late July and early August is more likely to be damaged by fall armyworm. Not all Bt corn for corn borer provide effective control of fall armyworm. Insecticides used for fall armyworm control in whorl stage corn need to be applied before the larva forms a frass plug in the whorl of the plant, as the larva feeds under the plug and the plug limits penetration of the spray into the whorl.
Unfortunately, we often have little control of planting date and are at the mercy of the weather. But understanding what your potential problems are should help you manage your crop more effectively.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
When is Enough Insect Control Enough in Seedling Corn
Ric Bessin, Extension Entomology, University of Kentucky
So you have a Bt corn hybrid and the seed is treated with a systemic insecticide, do you need to worry about insect pests? Well, the answer is … probably not, but there are some pests and / or situations that can cause some problems. Getting a uniform plant stand with uniform vigor is one of the first steps to reaching the yield potential of a hybrid this year. In this article I’ll discuss a few unusual situations where our preventive controls may not always provide the level of control that is needed.
Early in the season we worry about uniform stand establishment and use seed treatments to protect against seedling losses to seedcorn maggot, white grubs, wireworms, and cutworms. The seed treatments do a fine job to protect seeds and seedlings in nearly all fields, but excessive pest levels, cold soils and slow germination, and some hybrids with weak vigor can contribute to increases losses to seedling pests. These problems are often associated with a history of problems in the same field in the previous year or two. As an example, we have seen serious stand losses to wireworms that required replanting when treated seed was used, but the field had a history of serious wireworm losses, was planted very early into cold soils (it took 21 days to spike through), and was a hybrid with low to moderate seedling vigor. Replanting with the same treated hybrid seed into warmer soils enabled rapid germination and growth provided an excellent stand. Seed treatments with higher levels of the insecticide active ingredient will provide higher levels of protection, and protection for longer periods of time, than that provided by the low rates.
This year we are likely to have fewer fields planted very early due to the prolonged wet cool weather across much of the commonwealth, with a few growers feeling that there are getting corn planted later than usual. This is likely to potentials reduce risk with wireworms. While planting corn in mid to late April doesn’t increase risk to corn borers, plantings in May are at greater risk to both European and southwestern corn borers late in the season (second and third generations).
Growers using Bt corn for corn borer control or stalk corn borer/rootworm hybrids should consider using these with their later plantings. Growers not using Bt hybrids will need to scout their fields to monitor for corn borer larvae feeding in whorls, leaf axils, and leaf midribs beginning mid July. Foliar treatments for corn borers are only effective when applied before the larvae begin to tunnel into the stalk. Generally, the larvae will begin stalk tunneling when they reach the 4th instar stage.
Bt Techologies for Corn Insect Management
There is now a wide variety of Bt technologies to manage many of our more difficult to control corn insect pests. These different technologies may use different proteins developed from gene belonging to various Bacillus thuringiensis strains. There are many differences between these different technologies that are sold under different trade names. Generally, in Kentucky, these products provide very good control of the insect pests that they indicate they will control. They perform as advertised in our state. However, with the Bt technologies for Lepidoptera (corn borer and its allies) control, there are significant differences in the spectrum of pests that are listed for the different technologies. While they all target and provide very good control of both corn borer species, some will also control additional Lepidopteran pests which are more common in the southern cornbelt including corn earworm, black cutworm, fall armyworm, true armyworm, and lesser corn stalk borer. The list below includes the technologies currently available:
| Corn Borer BT | Rootworm BT | CB+RW BT (Stalked) |
|---|---|---|
| YieldGard CB | YieldGard RW | YieldGard Plus |
| Herculex 1 | Herculex RW | Herculex Xtra |
| Agrisure CB | Agrisure RW | Agrisure CB/RW |
| YieldGard VT Pro | YieldGard VT RW | YieldGard VT3 YieldGard VT3 Pro |
Syngenta recently had a new Bt technology approved by the EPA (although USDA approval is still pending) for its VIP3A (vegetative insecticide protein for Bacillus thuringiensis). This will target several Lepidopteran insect pests of corn.
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