Tag Archives: Corn Leaf Aphid

Corn Leaf Aphids in Corn

Today, I received a report of corn leaf aphids being found in some corn that is beginning  to tassel. There is little research that has been conducted on management of corn leaf aphid in corn. Often we find the aphid in low numbers pre-tassel and consider them to be beneficial because they serve as a food source for predacious and parasitoid insects. If I had to choose a treatment threshold, I would probably treat a field if more than 30% of the plants had over 50-100 aphids per… Read More →

Aphids in Young Sorghum

  Young sorghum fields should be inspected for aphids. We typically see two kinds of aphids in young sorghum; the yellow sugarcane aphid and the corn leaf aphid.  This week, I have been finding corn leaf aphids in sorghum fields. Corn leaf aphids are oval and dark bluish-green and have black antennae, cornicles, and legs. There are winged and wingless forms. These aphids are usually found deep in the whorl of preboot sorghum, but they also occur on the underside of leaves, on stems, or in grain heads. … Read More →

IPM in Fall Corn Production

There are several growers who have planted corn crops for fall production. Much of the fall corn is sweet corn crops but other purposes exist as well including tourism. Insect issues can be more severe for fall planted corn and the crops should be monitored for pest insects. The three more likely insect pests that may develop into problems include fall armyworms, corn leaf aphids and corn leafhoppers. The corn leafhopper is the insect of greatest concern; not just because of what it can do to the current… Read More →

Corn Leaf Aphids in Corn

A couple of weeks ago, Corn Leaf Aphids were found in corn fields in Calhoun and Jackson counties.  Field populations ranged from 1-3% infested plants to 40% infested plants and infested plants had 1,000-3,000 aphids per leaf in the top three leaves on the plant. Most fields were already tasseling and silking but some were pre-tassel. By the time I saw them in the field (May 2), there was already 10-20% parasitized aphid mummies and large lady beetle larvae of at least two lady beetle species. A research… Read More →

Fall Armyworms in Sorghum

Fall armyworms are being found in sorghum fields across the area this week.  While the feeding can be alarming, I have yet to find a field in need of treatment. Insecticide application may be justified if larval feeding reduces leaf area by more than 30 percent or is damaging the developing grain head or growing point within the whorl. The fields where I have found the armyworms had less than 5% infested plants and the feeding damage was below the economic threshold. Often, I was finding two or… Read More →