Publication presents the main pests in wheat crops

Changes in the agricultural landscape, changes in the production system and the increase in the area of ​​wheat cultivation in Brazil have impacted the incidence and management of pests. The publication “Pests of wheat cultivation” presents the main species of insects that occur in wheat farming, detailing in a didactic way aspects such as identification, distribution, damage and management.

Wheat crops are home to more than a hundred species of insects, a small fraction of which can be considered pests. When insects reach populations that compromise grain production, they acquire the status of pests. Among the main groups of insects that can cause damage to wheat are corós, aphids, caterpillars, stink bugs and borers. Pest attacks can occur at different stages throughout the crop's development, with the potential to affect all parts of the plant, from the roots to the reproductive structures. The main strategy to avoid losses in wheat crops is the adoption of the principles of integrated pest and disease management.

“To help with integrated management, we organized this publication covering the main pests in wheat crops, with illustrations that facilitate identification. The symptoms and damage caused by the pests are also detailed, as well as biological aspects and control methods”, explains Embrapa Trigo researcher Alberto Luiz Marsaro Júnior, one of the seven authors of the publication.

To download the publication “Pests of wheat cultivation” for free, simply access the link or visit the Embrapa publications page.