Midge emergence forecast for beginning of June

UK - May 26, 2006

Orange Wheat Blossom midge (OWBM) are forecast to emerge for the beginning of June, but check wheat ears are emerged and thresholds are reached before spraying, says Dow AgroSciences. 

Dow’s PestWatch service warns growers and advisors that emergence of adult OWBM is expected over the next seven to ten days following reports of pupation at eight of the 13 sampling sites.  Soil moisture and temperature conditions are ideal for OWBM pupation and warmer and more settled weather is forecast.   

“Some wheat crops are now at, or rapidly approaching, the susceptible ear-emerged growth stage (GS53-59),” says Dow’s Jim Butchart.  “Crops at risk must be closely monitored, but again our advice is to be patient and time sprays carefully.”   

If the threshold levels of one midge on six ears in seed or milling crops, or one midge on three ears in feed wheat is reached in high risk crops Dow advises applying Dursban WG (chlorpyrifos) at 0.6 kg/ha in 200-1,000 litres of water, leaving an unsprayed headland of at least 12 metres.