Chinch Bugs on the move?

If so, let us know! It’s the time of year where chinch bugs, when present, are on the move, leaving maturing wheat and colonizing newly planted sorghum. Although populations have been low this year, we need your help identifying potential fields to conduct research to improve management strategies. These small, sap-feeding insects can quickly build damaging populations, stressing young sorghum plants and reducing stands and yield potential. We are seeking cooperators to participate in field studies evaluating border treatments, new insecticide chemistries, and innovative application methods, including drone-based delivery. If you have sorghum fields that are next to wheat that are drought stressed and low quality stand, these conditions often yield high chinch bug pressure and are especially prioritized for our potential research sites.

Your involvement can help generate practical, research-based recommendations tailored to real-world field conditions. Not sure if you have chinch bugs? Read our recent article on identifying chinch bug. If you are interested in participating, please contact us at entomology@ksu.edu.