Other Field Crop Insect Concerns.

We are now getting reports on the presence of many pest problems other than slugs, including armyworm and cereal leaf beetle on wheat, black cutworm and flea beetles in corn, and bean leaf beetle in soybean.

Although not yet wide spread problems, growers should at least begin their scouting and monitoring to make sure they are not caught off-guard because of the presence of these pests while crops are at early stages of growth.  By nature of less leaf area, small plants are much more susceptible to insect injury than larger plants.

Even wheat, although already in the field from having been planted last fall, is at an earlier stage growth-wise than when these insects usually begin their feeding.

Remember if alfalfa weevil larvae were present at first cutting, to monitor regrowth in case of continued feeding on the newer growth.  Another concern if armyworms become problems in wheat will be with corn planted into rye cover crops.

See our field crops insect web page at http://entomology.osu.edu/ag/ for more information on all these insects.

By: Andy Michel