Field Crop Insects Overview

Flashcards covering the different insects relevant to field crops, including descriptions of both their larval and adult stages.

Alfalfa Weevil (L)

Larvae are pale green with black heads and a distinct white stripe running the length of the body.

Alfalfa Weevil (A)

Adults are brown with a darker brown stripe on the back and have a prominent 'snout'.

Armyworm (L)

Full-grown larvae are dull green to brown with alternating light and dark stripes running the length of the body.

Armyworm (A)

The adult is a pale brown moth with a white dot in the center of each forewing.

Bean Leaf Beetle (A)

Yellow, tan, or red beetles with a distinct black triangular mark between the wing covers.

Black Cutworm (L)

Larvae vary from light gray to nearly black with coarse, granular skin texture.

Black Cutworm (A)

Adults have dark forewings with a pale tips and a distinct 'black dagger' on each forewing.

Corn Earworm (L)

Larvae are highly variable in color with alternating light and dark stripes.

Corn Earworm (A)

Adult moths are off-white or cream colored with a dark comma-shaped marking on the forewing.

Corn Flea Beetle (A)

Minute, shiny black beetles with large hind legs.

Corn Leaf Aphid (A)

Very small, greenish to reddish, globular shaped, may be winged or wingless.

Corn Rootworms (A)

Western: yellow with black stripes; Northern: cream or light tan turning green with age.

Corn Rootworms (L)

White, slender larvae with a brown head and a dark plate on top of the posterior end.

European Corn Borer (L)

Larvae are beige with tan/dark brown heads and two brown spots atop each abdominal segment.

European Corn Borer (A)

Adult moths are light yellow or tan with irregular darker bands across the wings.

Fall Armyworm (L)

Smooth-skinned larvae varying from light tan or green to nearly black with an inverted Y-shaped suture on the head.

Fall Armyworm (A)

Hind wings are grayish-white; front wings are dark gray mottled with lighter and darker splotches.

Hessian Fly (L/A)

Adults are gray to black, gnat-like flies while larvae are pale, yellowish white maggots.

Japanese Beetle (A)

Adults are metallic green with bronze-colored wing covers and white tufts of hair around the abdomen.

Japanese Beetle (L)

White, C-shaped larvae with large brown heads.

Potato Leafhopper (L/A)

Very small, greenish yellow, wedge-shaped insects.

Seedcorn Maggot (L)

Pale, yellowish-white maggot lacking defined heads and legs.

Soybean Aphid (A)

Very small but visible, usually yellow to green, globular shaped.

Spider Mites (A)

Tiny, spider-like, 8-legged; white, green, or reddish with 2 distinct dark spots on the body.

Stalk Borer (L)

Larvae recognized by prominent longitudinal white stripes with a 'purple band' around the middle.

Stalk Borer (A)

Adult moths are grayish brown with small white spots along the forewings.

Stink Bugs (A)

Adults are brown, broad, flat, shield-shaped bugs, with some being bright green.

Western Bean Cutworm (L)

Young larvae are grayish brown to pinkish-tan with smooth textured skin; larger larvae have dark rectangles behind the head.

Western Bean Cutworm (A)

Adult moths marked with creamy white stripes on the forewings with distinct white and kidney-shaped spots.

Wireworm (L)

Slender, hard-bodied, brownish larvae.