Watch For Cereal Aphids In Winter Wheat And Spring Wheat

 

 

 

Field reports from Minnesota (MN) indicate that cereal aphids are becoming more common and abundant in winter wheat and spring wheat in southern areas of MN, but not the central and northern areas of MN (Source: P. Glogoza & B. Potter, UMN, pers. comm.). In North Dakota and Minnesota, IPM Scouts also report increasing populations, so continue to scout fields for cereal aphid population buildups. Recent rains last week may have decreased aphid populations by increasing the risk for fungal pathogens that infect and kill aphids, and/or strong thunderstorms could have physically washed aphids off leaves and drowned them. Fungal infected aphids do not move and appear bloated and fuzzy. The economic threshold is 85% incidence prior to the completion of heading. After heading, cereal aphids usually do not cause significant yield losses, but can reduce grain quality (protein and test weight) if populations are economic and plants are stressed from abiotic factors, such as drought.