A Farmer's Guide to the Corn Leaf Aphid
When you operate an agribusiness, you are constantly at the mercy of Mother Nature—which means you need crop insurance. Whether there’s flooding, droughts, hail, unseasonable temperatures, or insects, you have to face many challenges. One of the biggest concerns for Upper-Midwest farmers is the corn leaf aphid. If you are not yet familiar with this pest, below is a guide to this tiny, voracious creature that can decimate a corn crop.
What Is the Corn Leaf Aphid?
The corn leaf aphid is a tiny (1 to 2 mm), plump, blue-gray pest that affects corn (maize) and other crops. It has a purple patch on its abdomen from which several tiny cornicles (spikes) arise. It does not normally possess wings, but when populations expand, certain members may spontaneously sprout wings that allow them to spread out and colonize other plants.
Why Is It Dangerous for Crops?
This pest damages corn plants by sucking sap from the stalks and leaves, causing the corn to wither. Additionally, it excretes a sweet, sticky residue on the stems and leaves called "honeydew." Honeydew leads to mold that discolors the tops of corn plants and inhibits proper pollination.
An infestation of corn leaf aphids can leave a third or more of corn stalks barren of grain or growing ears with incomplete kernels. Therefore, an infestation can seriously affect a farmer's harvest and bottom line.
What Can You Do About the Corn Leaf Aphid?
Corn leaf aphids are most active from mid-June to late August. During this period, sample four to five plants in various sectors of your field and count the number of aphids present. The use of an insecticide is most effective three to four weeks before tasseling, after which the damage is mostly done; interference with pollination has likely already occurred.
Because infestations are unpredictable, you have to keep your crop insurance policy fully up to date so it covers losses due to insect damage. Work with your insurance agent to ensure you don’t have any gaps in your coverage.
For friendly, expert assistance designing a crop insurance policy for your agribusiness, contact Nebraska Crop Insurance Agency, Inc. in Beatrice, NE. They are a family-owned and -operated agricultural insurance provider that has served clients in Gage and Lancaster Counties since 1981. They offer hail damage and multi-peril crop insurance as well as other types of agricultural coverage. Visit their website learn more about what they do, or call (402) 223-2694 to protect your crops from the corn leaf aphid.