Potato leafhopper (Empoasca fabae)

Potato leafhopper has been found in alfalfa in NYS. They are at lower levels but most likely will increase as the weather gets warm to hot. Potato leafhopper also migrates on the storms from the south. We will likely get more leafhoppers as we get more storms. Make sure to monitor fields every 7 to 10 days with your trusty 15-inch sweep net. The following is more information on potato leafhopper in alfalfa.

A Video on IPM for Potato Leafhopper in Alfalfa:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BIZYTq7Zec&list=PLE19BD8A62BE7D671&index=14&t=9s

Publication on Potato Leafhopper in Alfalfa:

https://cals.cornell.edu/field-crops/forages/insects-forage-crops/potato-leafhopper

Potato Leafhopper Adult

Potato Leafhopper Nymphs

Black cutworm (Agrotis ipsilon)

We are still catching black cutworm in pheromone traps. Most of the corn is beyond the

Black Cutworm Damage to field corn

V6 stage of growth. At this point black cutworm larvae really do not cause much of an issue for corn that is not protected with insecticide seed treatments or triple stacked hybrids.  If your corn is between V1 and V6 you should be scouting. Once the plant reaches V6 they do not cut the plants. Check the degree days for intense catches by location across the state below.

Information on Black Cutworm

https://cals.cornell.edu/field-crops/corn/insects-corn/cutworms

Field Crops Pheromone Trapping Interactive Map

Cereal Leaf Beetle (Oulema melanopus)

We are still finding cereal Leaf beetle in small grains in western and central NY. It is very important to use your economic threshold for this pest. It will save you money if the pest is below the threshold. By not spraying a population that does not need to be controlled also protects the parasitoid that helps control the pest

Cereal Leaf Beetle Larvae

. The parasitoid lays its eggs in the insect and kills it after it pupates. Over time it keeps cereal leaf beetle at low levels. When the pest is sprayed it also reduces the population of the parasitoid.

For more information on Cereal Leaf Beetle:

https://cals.cornell.edu/field-crops/small-grains/insects-small-grains

Western Bean Cutworm (Striacosta albicosta) and Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda)

We will be stating to monitor the western bean cutworm and fall armyworm with pheromone traps across the state soon. The interactive pheromone trapping map above will have the local trapping locations and weekly counts when this starts.

Western Bean Cutworm Larvae- Photo taken my Aaron Gabriel

Fall Armyworm Larvae