Black grass bugs an issue

By Bob Shoemaker, Platte County Weed & Pest Supervisor

     The Platte County Weed & Pest have all of our summer employees ready for work. We are finding that many of the noxious weed are a week or more behind normal.  We expect to see them catch up rapidly following the great rains we have had. 

     Black grass bugs are a serious problem this year on crested wheat grass, other wheat grass species and are even a problem on the edges of some wheat strips.  This bug is an early problem.  It feeds by sucking the juices from the grass and injecting saliva into the stem.

     The wheat-grass species look bleached out and sickly.  The black grass bug is now laying eggs in the grass stem.  Soon the adults will finish their life cycle and will die.  In time most of the color will return to the grass, but damage from the feeding will significantly reduce production.

     Heavy grazing or moving the grass as short as possible are the only cultural control methods that have proven to be effective. 

     Burning the grass can be used to get rid of the eggs in the stem.  However, this method of control may be risky.  Chemical control is difficult because the problem is often not obvious prior to the eggs being laid.

     We are looking forward to the Festo Demonstration Day on June 12.  It should be a great time for everyone to see what can be accomplished by removing Russian Olives from riparian sites.  The public is invited to attend.