The Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has advised the farmers to remain vigilant and regularly monitor their wheat crop for aphid damage.
Cloudy weather without any rainfall is highly favourable for their development cautioned RS Gill, head, Department of Entomology, PAU.
“Aphids are the most important insect pests of wheat and their damage is observed in March. These are small, soft bodied, green to blackish green louse like insects found in colonies on leaves and earheads.Aphids suck sap from the leaves and maturing grains, "he said.
Due to heavy feeding by aphids, the grains fail to develop or remain shriveled, he told.
Aphids also excrete honeydew on which black sooty mould develops that affects the yield, he added. The high population of aphids at the earhead stage can cause substantial losses in yield, he warned.
Dr Gill said the damage starts from the periphery of the field, particularly from the side on which trees are present. By spraying on the borders of wheat fields, its further spread can be checked, he observed. Some natural enemies (like coccinellids, syrphids and chrysopids) prey upon the aphids in the field and keep their population below economic threshold level (ETL), he added.
Cloudy weather without any rainfall is highly favourable for their development cautioned RS Gill, head, Department of Entomology, PAU.
“Aphids are the most important insect pests of wheat and their damage is observed in March. These are small, soft bodied, green to blackish green louse like insects found in colonies on leaves and earheads.Aphids suck sap from the leaves and maturing grains, "he said.
Due to heavy feeding by aphids, the grains fail to develop or remain shriveled, he told.
Aphids also excrete honeydew on which black sooty mould develops that affects the yield, he added. The high population of aphids at the earhead stage can cause substantial losses in yield, he warned.
Dr Gill said the damage starts from the periphery of the field, particularly from the side on which trees are present. By spraying on the borders of wheat fields, its further spread can be checked, he observed. Some natural enemies (like coccinellids, syrphids and chrysopids) prey upon the aphids in the field and keep their population below economic threshold level (ETL), he added.