Late season pest activity

September 6, 2019 8:21 AM
Blog Post

This week was my last field day of the summer – it’s always is a signal the season is ending. I noted plants are senescing fairly quickly on my drive to Kanawha. However, there are still a few insects active on field crops, and worth scouting for this weekend.

Corn aphids.
Corn aphids are problematic in some cornfields this week. Their honeydew is promoting a black sooty mold that can interfere with photosynthesis. The sugar excrement can also cause issues with combines at harvest. Photo by Brian Lang, ISU.

Bean leaf beetle.
In addition to grasshoppers, bean leaf beetles can cause direct injury to soybean pods and seeds this month. Photo by Brian Lang, ISU.

Author: 

Erin Hodgson Professor

Dr. Erin Hodgson started working in the Department of Entomology, now the Department of Plant Pathology, Entomology, and Microbiology, at Iowa State University in 2009. She is a professor with extension and research responsibilities in corn and soybeans. She has a general background in integrated...