As soon as the crop emerges, observe the stand for overall quality. Use the table below and the photo identification page to help identify pests and pest damage.
| What problem looks like: | Check for: | Possible cause(s): |
|---|---|---|
| Blank spots | Seeds present, but failed to emerge: | |
| Rotting seeds | Seedling diseases | |
| Seeds planted too shallow or deep | Planting method | |
| Tiny, slender, white centipede-like pests with 11 to 12 pairs of legs and prominent antennae | Symphylans | |
| Maggot(s) feeding on seeds | Seedcorn maggot | |
| Shiny, slender, cylindrical, hard-bodied, yellow to brown larvae in soil | Wireworms | |
| Birds foraging in field | Birds | |
| Seeds or seedlings dead or missing: | ||
| Tiny, slender, white centipede-like pests with 11 to 12 pairs of legs and prominent antennae in soil | Symphylans | |
| Shiny, slender, cylindrical, hard-bodied, yellow-to-brown larvae in soil | Wireworms | |
| Presence of mounds | Gopher | |
| Maggots in soil | Seedcorn maggot | |
| Dead seedlings | Seedling diseases | |
| Birds foraging in field | Birds | |
| Slow emergence; poor stand establishment | Maggots feeding on seedling roots | Seedcorn maggot |
| Recent herbicide applications, drift | Possible herbicide injury | |
| Seed planted too deep | Planting technique | |
| Dry soil | Not enough moisture | |
| Temperature | Too cold to germinate or growth is slow due to cold temperatures | |
| Seedling collapse soon after emergence | Maggots feeding on seeds | Seedcorn maggot |
| Tiny, slender, white centipede-like pests with 11 to 12 pairs of legs and prominent antennae in soil | Symphylans | |
| Shiny, slender, cylindrical, hard-bodied, yellow to brown larvae in soil | Wireworms | |
| Dark discolored roots; damping-off | Seedling diseases | |
| Seedling roots eaten | Wireworms, seedcorn maggot, gopher | |
| Leaf damage | Holes or skeletonized areas on leaves; presence of greenish-yellow beetles with black spots or stripes | Cucumber beetles |
| Leaves curled downward; sticky, shiny leaves; presence of aphids or whiteflies | Whitefly, aphids | |
| Leaves cupped upward; ragged-looking plants | Thrips, possible herbicide injury | |
| Threadlike twisting lines in leaves | Leafminers | |
| Stunted seedlings | Sticky, shiny leaves; presence of aphids or whiteflies | Whitefly, aphids |
| Ragged-looking plants, distorted leaves | Thrips, possible herbicide injury | |
| Seedling leaves or stem eaten | Seedling leaves or stem gone or mostly eaten | Darkling beetles, rabbits, wireworms, armyworms, cutworms |
| Seedling cut off below or at soil line | Presence of smooth-skinned caterpillars that roll into a c-shape when disturbed | Cutworms |
| Presence of black or bluish-black to rusty brown beetles | Darkling beetle | |
| Atypical color | Abnormal coloring of any kind | Seedling diseases, nutrient imbalance, herbicide toxicity, viruses, boron, or salt toxicity |