This research suggests that the flag leaf is about as important as the two stem leaves. Also, damaged leaves will not be replaced by the plant. The North Carolina Department of Agriculture has released several species of exotic parasites throughout the state. These parasites develop within cereal leaf beetle eggs and larvae and have the potential to keep populations below an economic level. Parasite release programs have worked well in several other states but have had limited success in our state up to the current time.
Efforts are to introduce new and better adapted parasites for North Carolina are continuing.
Native biological control agents, especially lady beetles, appear to consume cereal leaf beetle eggs and, perhaps, young larvae in early spring. Whereas farmers can do little to stimulate the development of these biological control agents, unnecessary or excessively early insecticide application may cause cereal leaf beetle problems by removing these valuable predators. Therefore, insecticides should applied only on the basis of a need as determined by proper scouting and threshold use. Avoid using insecticide with top dressed nitrogen application as this has been demonstrated to enhance populations in some cases. In addition, where cereal leaf beetles are present and the Hessian fly has not been a problem, avoiding late planting may be beneficial.