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2021 South Dakota Pest Management Guides Now Available

February 04, 2021

SDSU Extension has released the 2021 South Dakota Pest Management Guides.

Numerous small black beetles feeding on a green leaf.

Flea Beetles Already Active In Gardens

It may seem early, but flea beetles are already active in gardens in South Dakota. Adult beetles feed on leaves and stems, and their feeding will leave behind a multitude of small, irregular holes or pits.

A grub that has an orange colored head and legs and a white body with a dark grey tip at the end. The grub is laying on top of the soil.

Do You Have Grubs in Your Lawn?

We’ve had quite a few calls about dead patches in lawns this spring, which could be a sign of grub activity. If areas of your lawn are not greening up or appear to be dying, it is important to scout to determine if grubs are present.

Variety of cool-season, flowering plants, including: African Daisies, Petunias, Lobelia and Alyssum.

Cool-Season Flowering Annuals for the Garden

Flowering annuals that thrive in the cool weather can bring a gorgeous array of colors, shapes and sizes to your garden for early-season enjoyment! Learn about some great selections for South Dakota gardens.

Vareity of garden plants arranged on a four-wheeled garden cart.

Harden Your Transplants Prior To Planting Your Garden

Hardening plants is an important step that gardeners should not skip. Take the time to harden your plants properly and reap the benefits of sturdy, well-established plants throughout the gardening season!

A picture of a lawn showing a ring of dark green grass in the middle of the lawn due to fungi in the soil.

Fairy Rings in Lawns

Seeing greener grass in circular pattern in your lawn? This is not due to uneven fertilizer application, but rather due to a fungi feeding on decomposing matter and releasing nitrogen in the affected areas.

Green beetle larvae with a white stripe running down its body.

Alfalfa Weevil Activity Prediction Update: May 13, 2021

Although last week was warmer, we still didn’t accumulate a lot of degree days for alfalfa weevils. However, the upcoming forecast looks more favorable for alfalfa growth and alfalfa weevil development.

Purple-brown caterpillar with orange head on a green corn leaf.

Common Stalk Borer Activity Estimate: May 13, 2021

The upcoming weather forecast looks warmer than the last few weeks, and that means we will begin to accumulate degree days for the common stalk borer at an increased rate.

Two photos of alfalfa weevils during different lifecycle stages. The left is the larva stage and has a longate, green larvae that looks like a caterpillar with white stripe running down the body and brown h

Alfalfa Weevils Are Active, and It’s Time to Scout

Scouting and managing alfalfa weevils when they reach the determined thresholds can prevent yield loss and encourage healthy regrowth of infested alfalfa stands.

Two, dark green aphids on a bright green leaf.

Small Aphid Populations Observed in Wheat

This week we received the first report of aphids in wheat for the 2021 season. The populations won’t be increasing rapidly until the daily temperatures warm up, but it is still a good idea to scout fields and determine if aphids are present.