Recently there have been numerous reports of swarms of “bee-like” flies around Indiana fields, farmsteads, and rural environments, and wanted to take the opportunity to tell you a bit about this curiosity. Adult hover flies (aka syrphid flies) can sometimes be mistaken for bees or wasps, because they look a lot like them! Some people refer to hover flies as “corn flies” or “sweat bees,” but these insects are actually quite different from bees. Hover flies belong to the Order Diptera, or the true flies. The most noticeable group at this time of year belong to the genus Toxomerus, which feed on pollen. There are many other syrphid flies present throughout the season that are beneficial, as their larvae feed on soft-bodied insects like aphids. Compared to sweat bees, hover flies have black and yellow markings, are able to fly in place yet dart away quickly, have a[Read More…]
101 articles tagged "corn".
Fancy colored yield maps are fine for verifying grain yields at the end of the harvest season, but bragging rights for the highest corn yields are established earlier than that down at the Main Street Cafe, on the corner of 5th and Earl.
The grain fill period begins with successful pollination and initiation of kernel development, and ends approximately 60 days later when the kernels are physiologically mature. During grain fill, the developing kernels are the primary sink for concurrent photosynthate produced by the corn plant.
Yield potential in corn is influenced at several stages of growth and development.
Southern Rust: Southern rust was officially confirmed in Posey County this week. We currently have two positive counties and one probable in Indiana.
We have been getting lots of inquiries lately about fields that didn’t get planted to a corn or soybean crop, and have lots of weeds growing in them.
Reports from those checking fields indicate that brown stink bugs were busy this spring feeding on seedling corn.
The consequences of flooding, ponding, and saturated soils on young corn depend heavily on the duration of the stress and temperatures.
The female moths are attracted to many hosts, tall, early lush corn being one.
The consequences of flooding, ponding, and saturated soils on young corn depend heavily on the duration of the stress and temperatures.