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Source: Jeff Whitworth, Extension Entomologist, Kansas State University  |   September 26, 2011 resize text

Recently, Hessian fly activity has been increasing in Kansas. This may be partly related to the increased adop­tion of no-till and reduced-till farming, which allows for increased summer survival of the Hessian fly.

One of the most critical times in the life cycle of Hessian fly, from the perspective of newly planted wheat, is late summer and early fall. The Hessian fly lives through the summer in residue of wheat, wheat-related species, rye, and barley as brown, 1/8-inch long capsule-like cases (puparia) commonly called flaxseeds.

Holly Davis, K-State Research and ExtensionWheat infested with Hessian fly (left) compared with non-infested wheat. Tiny, fragile flies emerge from the flaxseed on warm fall days from August through November, often after a rain. It does not take much moisture to get adult fly activity. We have had spikes in activity from just fog/heavy dew events.

The adult Hessian fly is a tiny, dark-colored insect about 1/8-inch long that resembles a gnat. These adults only live for one to three days, during which time they mate. After mating, females lay eggs in the leaf grooves of fall-seeded (preferably seedling) wheat. Though tiny, eggs can be seen with the unaided eye and resemble early stages of wheat leaf rust.

Only a portion of the population will emerge as adults at any one time. Some flaxseeds survive in a dormant stage for weeks, months, or even years. This makes the exact source of an infestation difficult to document and allows addi­tional broods to develop. Under favorable weather condi­tions, volunteer wheat present in or adjacent to infested fields can support development of a summer brood. Injury to volunteer wheat is of little consequence, but the indi­viduals arising from this brood may produce a secondary fall brood that is likely to injure the planted crop.

Hessian fly puparia, or "flaxseed," on wheat. After the eggs are laid on wheat, they will hatch into tiny larvae within three to 10 days. These larvae migrate downward during the night when humidity is high. Larvae cannot survive exposed on the leaf surface. They move down the plant between the sheath and stem, stopping just above the crown, generally just below the soil surface. Larvae feed by withdrawing sap from the plant for eight to 30 days. Temperature influ­ences development, and most larvae mature before the onset of cold weather. Mature larvae are shiny, whitish, legless and headless maggots about 3/16-inch long. Full-grown lar­vae gradually form flaxseed, and just as in the summer, the insects pass the winter in this flaxseed stage.

For more information, see K-State publication MF-2866, “Hessian Fly,” at your local county Extension office or at: http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/library/entml2/MF2866.pdf.

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