What is cutting my wheat stems?
Wheat plants falling over late in the season may be due to the wheat stem sawfly larvae cutting the stem. Look inside the stem near the bottom of the plant for a long slender brownish cocoon. This is the larvae of the wheat stem sawfly. Larval feeding in the stem can reduce the yield and quality of the grain due to nutrients not being able to reach the head. The larvae can also cut the stem completely, which can cause the plant to fall over and not be picked up by harvest equipment. Thick stands may hide the severity of the damage by holding up the cut stems until the wind blows them down.
