A trio of pests could make early spring difficult for wheat and alfalfa growers.

Kansas State University crop entomologist Jeff Whitworth says while wheat and alfalfa are dormant, there’s not much that farmers can do about army cutworms, winter grain mites and the Hessian fly.

“They’re not going to cause a problem when the wheat or alfalfa is in dormancy,” Whitworth says. “Once the crop starts to grow, that’s when you need to get out and start looking.”

Army cutworm

Army cutworms last caused big problems in Kansas wheat and alfalfa fields in 2018 and 2019. The insect carries a very important distinction from armyworms and fall armyworms, two pests that created headaches for many growers last fall.

“The army cutworm will overwinter as a worm,” Whitworth says. “So, they’re out there feeding on wheat and alfalfa anytime the temperature gets above 55 degrees F.

“Right now, that really doesn’t matter, because the crops are dormant. But when it warms up, and the crops break dormancy, that’s when you’ll notice the army cutworms feeding. If you had army cutworms last year, they’re still going to be there in the spring.”

Scout for birds hovering over the field and looking for meals; there’s a good chance the army cutworm is their target.

“It won’t be the fall armyworms; they don’t come back into Kansas until mid-July,” Whitworth says. “If you have feeding early on, it’s army cutworms, and they are there as a result of the moth flying around last fall, depositing eggs.”

Winter grain mite

Winter grain mites often capitalize on dry conditions in wheat fields. As their name suggests, the little critters are most active in cold weather — typically 30 to 50 degrees, according to Whitworth.

“Generally, if we have good growing conditions, the wheat has no problem outgrowing a hefty winter grain mite infestation,” he says. “But if the wheat is struggling from a lack of moisture, and you have winter grain mites sucking the juice out of each cell, that can really add to the stress of the wheat plant.”

A good rain is the best protection for wheat and alfalfa from winter grain mites. Whitworth, with more than four decades of experience, says he rarely recommends treating for mites with insecticides, “because usually we get rain in some form or fashion.”

Hessian fly

The Hessian fly — a dark-colored insect about an eighth of an inch long — prefers wheat as a winter home, but it is in the spring that its damage becomes most apparent. Females lay eggs in the fall, and the larvae gradually build a protective capsule often referred to as a flaxseed.

“What I’m recommending right now is to wait until … plants start breaking dormancy,” Whitworth says. “If any place in the field seems to be going backwards — as the growers like to say, or it’s not keeping up with the rest of the field — then check that area to determine what the problem is.”

Growers can contact their local Extension office for assistance in identifying insect pests in their fields.

Source: Kansas State Research and Extension is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.