By Jeff Bradshaw

Extension Entomology Specialist, Panhandle Research & Extension Center

The Russian wheat aphid, Diuraphis noxia, is a pest of wheat worldwide; however, the last time that Nebraska saw a serious outbreak of this pest was probably in the late 1980s following its introduction into the U.S. in 1986.

However, last June there were some fields in Kimball County that had reported heavy infestations of Russian wheat aphid in their fields and some required treatment.

Additionally, we noticed spotty presence of these aphids in our wheat at the Panhandle Research and Extension...