The present situation is much worse than usual because there is much inoculum present, both in commercial fields and in some seed fields. Because of this it is important that aphids not be permitted to increase on your crop. For some discussion of insecticides for aphid control on potato please see last week's Aphid Alert newsletter. Data is presented for Minnesota and North Dakota locations only. Green peach aphid flight activity is increasing sharply and growers should scout fields frequently, pay particular attention to field margins, especially along fallow borders.
Results are very location specific.
In locations with much wild mustard or canola, turnip aphid tends to predominate, in locations near corn, corn leaf aphid tends to predominate. We are finding this species to be abundant on wild mustard throughout the REd River Valley. In locations where crops have been lost to standing water there is often much wild mustard producing large numbers of winged turnip aphids. Captures of sunflower aphid are just starting to increase. Numbers at most locations are still very low.