Peanuts
The recent hotter and drier weather has brought with it the first activity from the lesser cornstalk borer (LCSB) to peanut fields within the county. I have found the presence of some LCSB in several peanut fields in the county within the last week. Please take a moment to check your fields for the presence of the LCSB and/or foliage feeding caterpillars. It doesn’t take much time to scout peanuts that are less than 50 days old. Notice the LCSB I found in Bulloch County that was inside one of the silk tubes attached to the crown of the peanut plant.
The LCSB thrives in hot and dry conditions which we are currently experiencing. This insect is sporadic in where it shows up and where its presence is most felt. The larvae live in the soil, constructing tunnels from soil and excrement tightly woven together with silk. These tunnels often radiate out from the stem of the food source, just below the soil surface. Notice the webbing and tunnel on the peanut vine in picture below.
Corn
Southern corn rust was confirmed yesterday in a corn field in Wayne County. This is the closest find to us at this point in time. Click HERE to view map of where it has been scouted and confirmed.
