The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) has received reports of increasing cereal aphid populations. “Cereal aphids” refers to a group of aphid species that are particularly common in cereal crops, such as wheat. The group includes bird cherry-oat aphids and corn leaf aphids, as well as English grain aphids and greenbugs less commonly.
Tracey Baute, an OMAFRA field crop entomologist and co-developer of the Aphid Advisor app, wrote a report in 2012 on cereal aphids and the problem they pose. At the time, Baute offered advice on scouting and spraying if necessary. However, she noted that cereal aphids reaching economic threshold is rare.
With the reported increase in cereal aphids in Ontario, Baute has updated her recommendations and suggests farmers use Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Cereal Aphid Manager app.
Visit the OMAFRA Field Crop News website for the 2012 article, “Cereal aphids found in wheat – should you be concerned?“, and today’s update.
