Pest Control in Fort Collins | Agricultural Pests (Updated 2025)
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Agricultural Pests
Agriculture is a way of life for many residents of Fort Collins, while pests remain a great pest in agriculture: crops, livestock, and farm productivity. The control of insect pests, rodents, and plant diseases could thus reduce or cause losses. Knowledge of the common agricultural pests, their effect on crops, and control would help farmers and growers protect their investment and achieve healthy crops for their farmers.
Common Agricultural Pests in Fort Collins
1. Aphids (Aphidoidea)
Are small, soft-bodied insects that feed on plant sap.
They cause wilting, yellowing, and stunted growth in crops like cereals, corn, or vegetables.
They secrete honeydew, which may lead to mold and attract other pests.
2. Grasshoppers (Caeliferous)
Destructive pests that eat much vegetation.
They quickly defoliate crops like alfalfa, grains, and vegetables.
They thrive mostly in dry weather, and control measures do not seem to work against them once their population builds up.
3. Armyworms (Spodoptera spp.)
Larvae of moths that feed on leaves, stems, and roots;
Hit crops like corn, wheat, and soybeans.
Devastating in large numbers.
4. Corn Earworms (Helicoverpa zea)
Feed on corn kernels, hence affecting the quality and yield.
Tomatoes, cotton, and other field crops are also attacked.
They are resistant to many insecticides; thus, an integrated pest management program is essential.
5. Colorado Potato Beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata)
Serious pest in potato, eggplant, and tomato.
Striped black-and-yellow beetles with very destructive larvae.
Pesticide resistant; populations can build up to high numbers quickly under poor resistance management.
6. Rodents (Mice & Rats)
They consume seeds, roots, and stored grain, thus causing damage to crops.
Contaminating the food supply with excreta and urine.
Transmitters of diseases which may cause ill-health for livestock and humans.
7. Wireworms (Elateridae Larvae)
Weak plants which can even fail to germinate are formed due to root and seed feeding.
Commonly attack corn, wheat, potato, and root vegetables.
Difficult, almost impossible, to detect prior to major damage.
Signs of infestation by agricultural pests
Damaged leaves and stems:
Holes, wilting, discoloration, etc. are instrumental in determining insect feeding.
Chewed or missing crops:
Grasshoppers and armyworms can strip fields in no time.
Frass and droppings:
Small pellets near plants show possible presence of caterpillars or beetles.
Tunneling in roots and stems:
Damage to the underground by wireworms and root maggots.
Stunted growth and poor yields:
Infestations weaken plants and thus, lowers yields.
Rodent activity:
Signs of rodent activity include the presence of gnawed grains, burrows, and droppings around storage areas.
Early detection and proactive pest management strategies are essential for protecting farms in Fort Collins. By implementing IPM techniques, maintaining healthy crops, and using targeted pest control measures, farmers can prevent major infestations and ensure successful harvests.
Effective Agricultural Pest Control in Fort Collins
1. Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
2. Crop Rotation & Companion Planting
3. Physical Barriers & Traps
4. Biological Controls
5. Proper Irrigation & Soil Health Management
6. Targeted Pesticide Use
Protecting Fort Collins Agriculture from Pests
