Your Carbs Are Under Threat: Protecting Wheat from the Devastating Wheat Stem Sawfly

Wheat is a cornerstone of Colorado agriculture and one of the few crops well suited to the region’s dryland conditions. However, wheat stem sawfly has emerged as a devastating pest, causing an estimated $40 million in annual losses in Colorado. With infestations increasing across the Central Great Plains and few effective management options available, protecting wheat from this pest is critical. This presentation will introduce you to this small but destructive insect and highlight research from the Nachappa Lab aimed at developing sustainable pest management strategies to protect wheat production, safeguard the global food supply, and, of course, save the carbs we love!

Presenter: Dr. Punya Nachappa, Associate Professor in the Department of Agricultural Biology at Colorado State University