Cloudy weather without any rainfall is highly favourable for
their development cautioned RS Gill, head, Department of Entomology, Punjab Agriculture University.
“Aphids are the most important insect pests of wheat and
their damage is witnessed 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 and due to heavy feeding by
aphids, the grains fail to develop or remain shriveled "he said.
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,
he added.
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