Thomas Hunt - Extension Entomologist

Tom Hunt

volunteer, emeriti
  • Emeritus Professor University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Work
57905 866 Rd Concord NE 68728-2828
US

Faculty Bio

Soybean aphid
Soybean aphid

Decision Making for Soybean Defoliating Insects

July 15, 2016
July is when growers start to see a variety of defoliators in Nebraska soybean fields. It's easy to overestimate the amount of defoliation and soybean plants can compensate for some leaf area loss. This article describes how to assess defoliation and provides basic treatment thresholds.

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Soybean defoliation levels
Figure 1. Levels of soybean defoliation. Impact of losing leaf area depends on growth stage.

Soybean Defoliation Worksheet

July 13, 2016

While soybean defoliation, the most common injury to soybeans from insects, can look devastating, soybean plants can often compensate for the leaf loss. When making pest-management decisions, crucial considerations are the size of the remaining leaf canopy and the soybeans' growth stage.

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Western bean cutworm feeding in corn
Western bean cutworm feeding in corn

Begin Scouting for Western Bean Cutworm Eggs in Corn

July 8, 2016
The first western bean cutworm moths were captured in University of Nebraska-Lincoln black light traps June 23 at Clay Center, June 27 at North Platte, and June 30 at Scottsbluff. Flights are currently increasing, particularly in North Platte. Scouting should be underway across much of the state.

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Young grasshoppers in corn
Immature grasshoppers are being reported feeding in crop fields in eastern Nebraska. Treatment at early growth stages is most effective.

Scout Field Borders for Grasshoppers

June 30, 2016
Populations of immature grasshoppers are being reported in areas bordering crop fields in several parts of eastern Nebraska. If these grasshopper species are one of the four major species that are likely to infest cropland, control may be warranted. Check here are scouting guide and treatment thresholds and recommendations.

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alfalfa weevil
Alfalfa weevils can cause serious yield loss in first cutting alfalfa

Scout for Alfalfa and Clover Leaf Weevils

May 5, 2016
Guide to identifying and managing alfalfa and clover leaf weevils in alfalfa. While research in northeast Nebraska has shown that clover leaf weevil larva feeding does not cause yield reduction to first cutting alfalfa, alfalfa weevil feeding can cause severe losses to yield and quality of the first cutting. This is why it's important to correctly identify the type of weevil feeding causing damage.

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