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What does this Warm Winter Mean for Insects?

March 12, 2024
Estimated total snowfall for Iowa.

Except for a few extremely cold days, Iowa has experienced a mild winter. In fact, February 2024 was the warmest February in Iowa’s weather history, and this winter is one of the warmest ever for the state. In addition to warmer temperatures, the total snowfall for our state has been low (Figure 1) and below average compared to a normal year (Figure 2). Much of the snowfall this winter was during a two-week period in January. As a result, many people are asking how a dry and mild winter might impact overwintering insects.

Join the Iowa Moth Trapping Network in 2024

February 12, 2024 2:32 PM
Blog Post

Iowa State University’s IPM Team has monitored field crop pests for a long time. The pests have changed over the years, but the goal is the same: to help inform farmers about pest activity in Iowa. Our moth trapping efforts target black cutworm, which is a migratory moth. Since timing of arrival is variable between growing seasons, trapping black cutworm helps us predict when injury will occur.

NEW Corn and Soybean Field Guide Available Now

October 18, 2023 3:14 PM
Blog Post

An updated Corn and Soybean Field Guide is now available from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

This 236-page pocket-sized guide (3-3/4" x 6") combines corn and soybean integrated pest management information in one publication for ease of use by corn and soybean farmers, agronomists, and crop scouts. It has newly updated text and images and provides tools for identifying insects, diseases, and disorders of corn and soybean in the Midwest. The guide also contains information on developmental stages, pesticide decisions, and other production-related topics.

Corn Aphids Observed in Iowa

August 7, 2023
Photo 1. Corn plant with corn leaf aphid and English grain aphids.

Since 2010, aphids have been colonizing corn later in the summer and can build up to surprising levels in Iowa. They can be found at the base of the stalk, around the ear and sometimes above the ear leaf. Aphids have been sighted in corn again this summer.

Aphids have been confirmed in corn fields for about two weeks, particularly in north central and northeastern Iowa. In some fields, the infestations are only along the edge rows, but in others, aphids may extend into the field interior. Spot checking fields for aphid activity is recommended as the growing season progresses.

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Speed Scout this Year for Soybean Aphid

August 7, 2023
Infested soybean leaflet.

Soybean aphids have been quiet the last few growing seasons in Iowa. This year there have been isolated fields in northern counties that exceeded the economic threshold, but most fields have not warranted insecticides. However, many scouting reports and our observations in northern Iowa counties for the last two weeks show soybean aphids are established. We strongly encourage sampling soybean now to gauge the pressure and make timely treatment decisions.

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Watch Alfalfa for Blister Beetles

July 14, 2023 11:51 AM
Blog Post

Blister beetles are an occasional late-summer problem in Iowa alfalfa fields. The beetles feed on alfalfa and soybean foliage, but leaf loss is not of economic importance. The bigger concern with blister beetles is their toxicity to livestock when accidentally consumed in feed. The beetles produce cantharidin, an irritant that causes painful blistering when the insects are handled. The cantharidin remains in the beetle’s body even after it dies and can cause health issues in livestock when dead blister beetles are consumed with hay.

Keep an Eye out for Soybean Defoliators

July 12, 2023
Graphic explaining soybean defoliation.

When it comes to soybean, one of the most common types of injury is defoliation from insects. This damage can be easily detected in the canopy by observing holes in the leaves or along leaf margins as insects with chewing mouthparts consume leaf tissue. The insects most responsible for defoliation are bean leaf beetles, Japanese beetles, and grasshoppers. There are numerous caterpillars that also cause soybean defoliation, including green cloverworm, soybean looper and alfalfa caterpillar.

Crop: 

Don’t jump to early treatment with grasshoppers

July 6, 2023 2:34 PM
Blog Post

Although some parts of Iowa have been catching up with moisture deficits, many areas continue to be in severe drought. Drought stress combined with high temperatures is good news for field crop pests like grasshoppers and spider mites. We’ve been getting reports of high grasshopper numbers around the state this year. If your area is hot and dry, consider scouting fields now and throughout August.

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