Pheromone Trap Updates – Cutworm and Armyworm
We continue to get some good flights of black cutworm with four traps with significant flights this past week. I was able to find some cut plants in fields, and I am hearing of a few fields that were sprayed. There is still quite a bit of corn that needs to be planted. The USDA NASS NY report says that only 63% of the corn acres were planted as of June 2. This is behind our 5-year average. All emerged corn fields should be scouted if they haven’t already. Corn should be watched until the V6 (six leaves with collars showing). I did run into a few early corn fields that were at V5 this week.
I saw my first armyworm in wheat late last week and I heard of a significant infestation in triticale stubble out in Caledonia this week. We need to really watch our winter grain and grass fields this week. Larvae are now big enough that their damage to lower leaves should be visible. Look in the residue at the base of plants during the day. They will be hiding there and will curl up when disturbed.
Cereal Leaf Beetles in Oats
I’m now starting to see Cereal Leaf Beetle (CLB) larvae in oat fields this week. Adults were busy in the wheat and now have made the move to spring grains. Look for the black larvae up on the top leaves and the associated feeding injury. Same thresholds as wheat, three or more eggs and larvae per plant or one larva per flag leaf. Most early planted fields have already been sprayed for weeds. If not, it’s a great opportunity to tank mix an insecticide and make one pass. I have also had two situations in spelt that had heavy CLB pressure.
Winter Wheat Update
Wheat fields look really good! Earlier planted wheat is starting to mature, and the grain is filling fast. We should be prepared to start harvesting earlier than normal and be ready to go by July 1. We are not out of the woods yet. Cereal leaf beetle larvae are still hanging around and there is the threat of armyworms in the region. One thing I am noticing is the amount of roughstalk bluegrass in many fields. Some of it is quite heavy and will be dropping a lot of seed in the seed bank. If you’re seeing more of this grass, you might want to think about adding Osprey to your wheat herbicide program.
Second Cut Alfalfa
Second cut alfalfa is coming on strong. However, we are still seeing lots of alfalfa weevil injury. This was expected due to the high population in first cut. Again, look for the shot-hole feeding in the new leaves on top. Injury threshold is 50% of the stems with feeding injury. I am seeing a couple of pea aphids and potato leaf hoppers but nothing of concern yet. Now is the time to be monitoring for them. I’ll write more about management if they start to increase.
Next report will be June 12.
