The phone has begun to ring now that Japanese beetles are out and about and we also have corn beginning to tassel. Japanese beetles will feed on corn leaves but are particularly attracted to silks. Leaf feeding is of little concern, but silk feeding draws a lot of attention. It is not uncommon to see a covey of 4-10 beetles on one ear, particularly on field edges. Naturally, this causes worries about whether this feeding reduces pollination. The answer is … it depends. Continue reading
Category Archives: Insects
Are You Spraying Insecticides at Tassel Just Because?
It is a common practice to spray an insecticide on field corn during early tasseling when making a fungicide application. I often get no answer when I ask a grower what pest he is spraying. Just as commonly I’m told they are trying to control corn earworm, Japanese beetles or corn borers. This application is often made Continue reading
Can Snails Really Cause Damage?
I have seen snails, primarily on cotton, many times is my career. My standard line has been that “snails do not cause economic damage”. However, I’ve seen Continue reading
Preparing for Plant Bugs
With the early planted cotton beginning to square, it is time to be thinking about your plans for managing plant bugs in 2013. Continue reading
Thrips in Cotton Generating Calls
The thrips calls have begun now that some cotton is starting to put out a true leaf. There are reports of multiple thrips per plant from several individuals, and I am expecting a spike in the action that often comes near the end of May. Continue reading
A Watchful Eye for Slugs
Looking at one of my corn trials today was a reminder that slugs may be a bigger issue than usual this year. Cold damp weather coupled with slow seedling growth is a recipe for slug problems. Below are some things to keep in mind when thinking about slugs. Continue reading
A picture is worth a thousand words
I’m writing this article a little in jest, making fun of insect pictures that are texted or emailed to me for identification. However, with the good cameras available on many phones, a picture can really help. Continue reading
Corn Leaf Aphid in Seedling Corn
I’ve had several calls or comments about corn leaf aphids in corn (pictured below). This is the most common aphid found in corn, but treatment is rarely needed. A number of people have noticed that many aphids appear to be dead Continue reading