Wheat Insects

All Wheat Insects Content

brown straw itch mite on a green background

Straw Itch Mites

Factsheet on the lifecycle, identification, human impact, veterinary significance and management of straw itch mites.

Parasitoid wasp with an orange abdomen and dark brown head and thorax.

Wheat Stem Sawfly Parasitoid: Bracon cephi

This fact sheet covers the identification and lifecycle of a parasitoid wasp species in South Dakota that attacks Wheat Stem Sawfly larvae.

aerial view of South Dakota farm and surrounding land

Crops

During the growing season, SDSU Extension provides weekly production recommendations.

a brown bug with wings on a wood stick with a black background

Wheat Stem Sawfly Parasitoid: Bracon lissogaster

Factsheet on indentification and lifecycle of Wheat Stem Sawfly Parasitoid.

wheat field

Wheat

The SDSU Extension team provides unbiased, research-based information to help wheat growers make decisions to improve yields and profits.

Aerial view of test plots at the Volga Research Farm.
Jul 29

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Field School

SDSU Extension will host an IPM Field School at the SDSU Volga Research Farm (21200-, 21298 464th Ave., Volga, SD 57071) on Wednesday, July 29, from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Numerous nymph grasshoppers feeding on corn.

Large Grasshopper Nymph Populations Detected in Southeast South Dakota

This week we received several reports of large grasshopper populations originating from southeast South Dakota. The populations were well above threshold and actively defoliating crops.

Dark green and tan curled caterpillars with an orange stripe along their sides.

Keep an Eye on Your Wheat: True Armyworm caterpillars may be present

Every year, true armyworm caterpillars pose a threat to South Dakota wheat fields, and they most frequently show up during the end of June and early July. However, strong southerly winds during the spring can cause populations to show up earlier.

Green wheat with small mites present near the tips of the leaves.

Drought Stress in Wheat Leads to Increased Banks Grass Mite Activity

There have been reports of large populations of Banks grass mites in South Dakota wheat fields. Banks grass mite populations are more successful during hot, dry weather that also increases the susceptibility of wheat due to it being drought stressed.

Redlegged, differential, and twostriped grasshopper nymphs.

Various Grasshopper Species Are Active Across South Dakota

While scouting, we have noticed increased grasshopper nymph activity and in some areas these populations are close to threshold levels. Crops in areas that have had high populations should be regularly scouted to ensure that extensive defoliation doesn’t go unnoticed.