Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Cereal Leaf Beetle

Growers should scout their wheat fields for cereal leaf beetle larvae activity. I identified cereal leaf beetle larvae feeding on wheat in Southwestern Ross County yesterday. Larvae were present at economic threshold levels of 2-3 larvae per stem. Larvae were feeding on the flag leaf creating the classic window pane affect. This is a critical time for wheat during flowering. Any damage to the flag leaf can cause significant yield losses.