In the Great Plains, migrants fly in from the south in the spring and are a threat to spring-planted crops, but most losses in winter grains are due to local overwintering populations. Biological control agents have been imported and released against Russian wheat aphid. Rolled leaves provide some protection against natural enemies. Biological control eventually may play an important role in the regulation of Russian wheat aphid populations, particularly in areas of more diversified agriculture. Commercially available biological control agents have not proved to be effective against Russian wheat aphid.
Cultural controls are important in management of Russian wheat aphid and other cereal pests.
Generalized recommendations, those that are effective in most aphid-infested regions, include good volunteer management, early planting for spring grains, and any measure that reduces crop stress. More site-specific cultural tactics, those that have proved viable in more limited areas, include delayed planting for winter wheat, grazing, irrigation management, narrowed row spacing, and increased N fertilization. Resistant barleys and additional resistant wheats also are being developed. Resistant wheats may require insecticide applications for other pest problems. In addition, there are important resistance differences among small grain species.