07/09/07 New barley pest on the move

Farm and Ranch July 9, 2007 The economically important insect pest, the Haanchen barley mealybug, which first showed up in dryland barley in eastern Idaho in 2003, has suddenly appeared in northern Idaho around Grangeville and Cottonwood. Given that the insect is wingless and moves by walking, not flying, University of Idaho entomologist Ed Bechinski says the discovery in northern Idaho caught everyone by surprise. But since 2003 it has also been found in Montana, Utah and Canada. So how long before the Haanchen barley mealybug shows up in Oregon and Washington? Bechinski: "It can only move by dispersal and so it will only move as quickly as humans move it on machinery or some other way." The Haanchen barley mealybug was last a problem over 40 years ago in California. So why again now? Bechinski: "This definitely is an insect that would be favored by reduced tillage. It over winters as eggs on the stubble and therefore to the extent we don't turn that stubble over and bury those eggs. And maybe now too to the extent we don't burn we are probably going to have better survival. Though I would not be a proponent of field burning to destroy these eggs." Bechinski says not only was the Haanchen barley mealybug found in northern Idaho barley fields but it was also found in spring wheat and oats and in the weedy-grasses rat-tail fescue and wild oats. More on this pest tomorrow. I'm Bob Hoff and that's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on the Northwest Ag Information Network.