Early aphid activity forecast following relatively warm winter

Cereal and oilseed rape aphids are likely to fly considerably earlier this year, according to AHDB’s Aphid News.

The service, led by Rothamsted Research, revealed the temperature in January and February was considerably higher than the long-term average across the country – by 1 to 1.5C in the north and around 2C in the south – and it is anticipated the first aphid flights will be two to four weeks earlier than average.

The forecasts include dates when cereal and brassica aphids are expected to be first caught in thirteen suction traps across the country, as well as information on potential aphid abundance in spring and early summer.

From early April, AHDB plans to issue weekly Aphid News bulletins so growers can keep abreast of the latest regional aphid developments, including information on virus transmission and potential resistance issues.