Trap Catches to Sept 02, 2022.
Aphid numbers seemed to have peaked. We recovered far fewer aphids per trap and overall regional numbers are way down this week, resulting in a decrease in the regional PVY Vector Risk Index. It should be noted that this season's cumulative PVY Vector Risk Index remains significantly higher than that of 2021.
(Click on image for larger version)
Green Peach Aphid capture numbers were lower this week, approximately only 60% of last week's numbers. But the species did increase their regional distribution this week, showing up at an additional two locations (Perham and one of the Staples trap locations).
Soybean aphids are also down this week, dropping to almost half of last week, but are also well distributed across the region. As the nights get colder, we should soon see temperatures that will trigger a movement from soybeans to Buckthorn.
There was a drop off in the number of most cereal aphids, with only one English Grain aphid being recovered all week. This is not surprising as cereal crops have matured in most locations and aphid dispersal from those crops will have ended. The only exception was Bird-Cherry Oat aphid, the only species to have an increase in capture numbers this week (although it was only 4 more than last week...) Other than that, all other species were captured at lower numbers.
The season is quickly winding down and many locations are vine killing and harvesting. Hopefully, the aphid numbers will continue to rapidly drop, the weather will stay fine for harvest and the remaining few weeks will go smoothly.
