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Sp341-W-Insects In Grain Bins, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Field & Commercial Crops

One of the most common insects in stored grain is the Indian-meal moth, Plodia interpunctella (Hubner). These moths are called “flour moths” in Tennessee because they feed on flour or milled products. In farm grain bins, they prefer broken grains or grains damaged by other pests and seldom attack sound grain kernels. They cause problems by spinning webbings as immature. This causes lower quality in stored grain.

Sp290-K The Hessian Fly In Wheat, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Field & Commercial Crops

The Hessian fly is a pest of winter wheat in Tennessee and other wheat-growing states. This pest caused disastrous losses in Tennessee wheat in the mid- 1980s. Later planting of wheat and the use of wheat varieties resistant to Hessian fly minimized economic losses from this pest. In the coming years, potential economic losses from Hessian fly could increase due to the lack of resistance varieties.

In 2009, very little attention was given to Hessian fly infestations. However, there are some varieties with moderate resistance to biotype L Hessian fly. None are completely resistant. Some of the better methods to …

Pb1768 2010 Insect Control Recommendations For Field Crops –, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Field & Commercial Crops

An Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program integrates control tactics including cultural practices, variety selection, biological control and insecticides to manage insect pest populations so that economic damage and harmful environmental side effects are minimized. Insecticides should only be used on an as-needed basis; therefore, insect scouting must be conducted regularly throughout the season to determine if an insecticide application is warranted.

Sp290-N The Greenbug In Grain Sorghum, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension

Field & Commercial Crops

Greenbugs are small (1.6 mm long), soft-bodied insects that are oval in shape. Greenbugs usually feed in colonies by sucking sap from leaves. Feeding may cause mottling and discoloration of the plant. Heavily infested leaves turn red or yellow, shrivel and die. Damaging levels of greenbugs can result in the destruction of entire grain sorghum fields.

W127 Common Beneficial Arthropods Found In Field Crops, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Field & Commercial Crops

There are hundreds of species of insects and spiders that attack arthropod pests found in cotton, corn, soybean and other field crops. A few common and representative examples are presented herein. With few exceptions, these beneficial arthropods are native and common in the southern United States. The cumulative value of insect predators and parasitoids should not be underestimated, and this publication does not address important diseases that also attack insect and mite pests. Without biological control, many pest populations would routinely reach epidemic levels in field crops. Insecticide applications typically reduce populations of beneficial insects, often resulting in secondary pest …

Sp290-J Cutworms In Field Corn, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Field & Commercial Crops

Field corn is susceptible to damage from several species of cutworms that occur in Tennessee. Usually, this damage occurs in early planted corn when the temperatures are cool and the ground is moist. Cutworms are less likely to cause economic damage after corn reaches 2 feet in height.

Sp341-G Corn Earworm On Sweet Corn, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Field & Commercial Crops

The corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), is the most serious insect pest of sweet corn in Tennessee. This pest feeds directly on the market product.

Sp341-K Common Stalk Borer In Field Corn, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Field & Commercial Crops

The common stalk borer in Tennessee is reported to attack several crops in addition to field corn. However, the preferred host of the insect is giant ragweed. This preference is due to the largeness of the stem in which the larvae can mature. Fields of corn planted into a no-till situation are preferred by the moths because of the grassy weeds in those fields. The adult moth deposits eggs on grassy weeds in the early spring. Later, the larvae will migrate to any corn planted in the fields.

Sp341-Y Western Corn Rootworm, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Field & Commercial Crops

Three species of corn rootworms are found in Tennessee. The Western corn rootworm is the most destructive of the three species. This insect is now prevalent from Texas to the Dakotas, and has moved into Tennessee within the past 10 to 15 years. Until 1955, this rootworm was found in Nebraska, Colorado, Kansas, South Dakota and Iowa. The Western corn rootworm has traditionally moved into the territory of the Northern corn rootworm, which is also found in Tennessee.

Sp341-E The Chinch Bug In Grain Sorghum, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Field & Commercial Crops

The chinch bug is very widely distributed throughout the United States but is rarely abundant enough to cause serious crop losses except in certain areas. However, during an outbreak, it can completely destroy stands of corn and grain sorghum.

Sp341-V-Sampling Stored Grain For Insects, Molds And Related Problems, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Field & Commercial Crops

The periodic and timely sampling of stored grains can detect existing or potential problems before considerable damage has occurred. Proper sampling of stored grain can reveal increases in moisture or temperature and insect or mold problems in the grain.

It is important to be aware of the potential hazards of sampling inside a grain bin. Suffocation can occur in grain bins, and sampling should be done with caution.