Stay alert for cereal leaf beetle in small grains and potato leafhopper in alfalfa.
While black cutworm should be garnering some of your scouting attention, do not overlook cereal leaf beetle. Our scouting has revealed larvae feeding in many wheat fields, but many others appear to have none; thus, populations are quite variable across the region, and scouting will be necessary to identify wheat and oats fields where populations may be developing. Recall if economically significant populations are present, this pest species is most easily controlled when larvae are young and before they start feeding on the flag leaf. For images and details on this pest’s life cycle and management options, see our recently revised fact sheet.
One other pest to consider is potato leafhopper. While we have yet to find leafhoppers in fields in central Pennsylvania, our colleagues at the University of Delaware have reported that adults and nymphs active in their alfalfa fields; therefore, leafhoppers are likely to also be in Pennsylvania now, just at low populations levels. In the coming weeks, Pennsylvania growers would be wise to scout their alfalfa fields for arrival of this migratory pest species. Our fact sheet provides more information about this pest.
Source : psu.edu