All entries for Thursday 09 March 2017

Brassica and Potato Aphid forecasts 2017

Although we are several weeks away from any substantial pest activity in field vegetable or salad crops, the forecasting season has begun with predictions from the Rothamsted Insect Survey of the timing of aphid activity and abundance later in the year – released on 8^th March. This winter has been colder than 2015/2016, with more frosts, especially during January. However, the temperatures in January and February 2017 were still 0.5^oC higher than the long-term average throughout much of southern and eastern England, leading to expected first aphid flights about a week earlier than average. The temperatures in the north and west were nearer 1.0°C above the long term average. The general message from the Rothamsted Insect Survey is that: ‘if spring does not throw any wildly abnormal conditions at us, aphids will be flying a little earlier than normal, especially in the north and west’. The forecasts are specifically for peach–potato aphid (Myzus persicae), potato aphid (Macrosiphum euphorbiae) and cabbage aphid (Brevicoryne brassicae) and further details can be found on the AHDB web site: https://cereals.ahdb.org.uk/aphidnews.

Rosemary Collier : 09 Mar 2017 13:55 |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem