INFO-BUG


Crop Selected: Wheat
Crop Development: Early spring growth
Pest Selected: Cereal leaf beetle (CLB) Oulema melanopus (L.) (Say)

Biology

The cereal leaf beetle is a recently introduced pest of small grains. Soon after detection of CLB in Michigan in 1962, it caused significant foliar injury to oats and wheat as it spread to the east coast. However, the successful importation and establishment of a parasite complex has reduced CLB to a pest of minor importance.

Overwintering beetles appear in the spring and lay eggs which hatch into larvae that feed upon small grain foliage. CLB larvae appear like small black slugs due to the accumulation of fecal matter on their backs. CLB pass through 1 generation per year, with new adults appearing in late spring or early summer.

Click to see

CLB damage to wheat  CLB adult CLB larva

Assessment

The impact of CLB is generally more important on oats than wheat.

An infestation averaging 1 CLB larvae per stem may result in a loss of 3 bu. of grain per acre. Infestations having 2 or more larvae per stem warrant a chemical rescue treatment.

CLB larval activity becomes readily apparent when about only 1 larvae per 10 stems exists in the field. If a CLB population appears abundant, then a 50 stem sample should be taken by inspecting 5 stems at each of 10 randomly selected loci in a field.

If an infestation approches 2 or more CLB larvae per stem, especially during the flag leaf stage, a rescue treatment should be seriously considered immediately.

Control

Recommended treatments for CLB include the following:

Labeled on oats & wheat

Lannate* SP @ 1/4 to 1/2 #/A or
Lannate* LV @ 3/4 to 1 pt/A
Malathion @ 1 lb a.i./A
(be sure to check label)
Phaser 3 E.C. @ 1/3-2/3 qt/A and 50 WP @ 1/2-1 lb/A
Tracer @ 1 to 3 fl oz/A

(labeled only on wheat)

Sevin XLR Plus @ 1 qt/A, 4F @ 1 qt/A and 80S @ 1 1/4 lb/A
Warrior* 1CS @ 2.56 to 3.84 fl oz/A

* Use is restricted to certified applicators.


| Return to Ohio IPM Home Page. |