Aphids attack wheat ears and leaves during warm spells in late winter.
3 Answers
Aphids appear as small green or black insects clustered on leaves and ears, usually in February during warm, dry spells, and they suck sap and excrete sticky honeydew. Many years natural enemies like ladybird beetles control them on their own, so scout before spraying. Spray only if aphid numbers are high and rising and ladybirds are few. Use a recommended insecticide such as imidacloprid or thiamethoxam at the label dose in 200 litres of water per acre. Avoid unnecessary sprays that kill ladybirds and other helpful insects. Balanced nitrogen and avoiding very lush growth also reduce aphid build-up.
Before I spray I look for ladybird beetles. The years they were around in good numbers, they cleaned up the aphids without me doing anything. Spraying then would have just killed my free helpers.
I noticed aphids built up worse on the lush, over-fertilised patch of my field. Keeping nitrogen balanced and not pushing the crop too soft seems to keep the attack lighter overall.