Aphids in thousands on my wheat ears and sticky leaves, big problem?

Clusters of small green to brown soft insects on the ears and upper leaves with a sticky feel from their honeydew are aphids, which tend to build up in warm, dry late season weather and feed on the sap, sometimes leading to a black sooty mould on the sticky surface. Before deciding on a spray, look for natural enemies like ladybird beetles and their larvae, lacewings and tiny parasitised brown aphid mummies, because these often control aphids on their own if you do not disturb them. Send a photo to your KVK or agri officer if you want help judging the numbers. The crop usually tolerates low to moderate aphids without yield loss, so base any action on how heavily the ears are infested rather than panic. If numbers are very high on the ears near grain filling and control is justified, recommended actives include thiamethoxam or a recommended option, but follow the label dose, the pre-harvest interval and your local KVK recommendation and rotate the mode of action to protect the helpful insects. Avoid spraying if ladybirds are already busy on the crop.