The Cereal Leaf Beetle in North America

Insect, Mite, and Nematode Pests of Oat

“…In June of 1962, numerous beetles were collected from a field in Berrien County, southwestern Michigan, and subsequently identified as the cereal leaf beetle (CLB) [Oulema melanopus (L.)] (Ruppel, 1972;Haynes & Gage, 1981). This insect may have entered the USA several years earlier, since farmers in the area had been applying insecticides to control an undetermined leaf-feeding pest since 1959 (Castro & Guyer, 1963).…”

“…The head and wing covers are metallic bluish black, and the legs and prothorax are orange (Hatchett et aI., 1987). These adults oviposit on winter wheat, wild grasses, and late spring grain (Haynes & Gage, 1981). The yellow cylindrical eggs are laid singly or in small chains on the upper leaf surfaces (Wellso & Cress, 1972).…”

“…There are four larval instars (Hatchett et aI., 1987). The majority of the larvae enter the soil and pupate by early June (Haynes & Gage, 1981) at a depth of 2 to 5 cm. Each pupa is contained in a cell of soil and a mucous-like substance (Hatchett et aI., 1987).…”

“…Adult beetles disperse and feed on any available succulent grass crop and corn. They are found in increasing numbers until late October and early November (Haynes & Gage, 1981). Afterwards, adults are found in old hay, in wheat and corn stubble adjacent to wood lots or other topographic features that intercept wind, within hollow weed stems, along fence rows, and under the bark of trees (Castro et aI., 1965;Janes, 1967;Yun, 1967;Haynes & Gage, 1981).…”

“…Movement to the west has been slower. By 1979, the CLB could be found from southern Ontario in Canada, and in the USA, in Tennessee and North Carolina and from Missouri to the east coast (Baniecki & Weaver, 1972;Haynes & Gage, 1981;Battenfield et aI., 1982). By 1982, the CLB had reached Wisconsin (Battenfield et aI., 1982), and in 1984, a major infestation was found damaging small grains in Morgan County, Utah (Hatchett et aI., 1987).…”