Growers could be caught napping after aphids started to arrive in cereal and oilseed rape crops several weeks earlier than initially forecast.

Delayed drilling of some spring cereals crops because of soggy soil conditions will likely result in later emergence, with seedlings facing a greater risk of aphid-transmitted diseases such as barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV).

Meanwhile, oilseed rape growers and agronomists are reporting large numbers of mealy cabbage aphids in crops, particularly in the South West and Midlands.

See also: Go early with wheat disease control to see yield advantage

The latest update from the AHDB’s aphid news service says aphids are now easily found in winter cereals in southern parts of England, with BYDV infection suspected in both winter wheat and barley in the South and West.

Bird cherry-oat aphids are being found in suction traps right across the UK and the grain aphid has made its first appearance in 2016 after it was recorded in Herefordshire.

Oilseed rape

Large and widespread colonies of Mealy cabbage aphid in OSR in Dorset @olihillFW @agronomist_oli pic.twitter.com/0xuaUiThUI

— Todd Jex (@TJex_RegenAg) April 18, 2016

Slightly suprised to see these mealy #aphids on the #OSR this morning pic.twitter.com/bmWaCT48Vq

— Jake Freestone (@No1FarmerJake) April 15, 2016

Winter and spring wheat

Lots of these about on cereal crops too. Rose grain aphid pic.twitter.com/3220faHkeE

— Blackthorn Arable Ltd (@Blackthorncox) April 17, 2016

spring definitely here – aphids about 🙂 https://t.co/t91jHLbRky

— Simon Leather 🔶🇪🇺 (@EntoProf) April 18, 2016

https://twitter.com/got_the_awn/status/721999505793683456

Patches that resemble BYDV starting to appear on some early drilled wheat crops pic.twitter.com/jaoQFfPv3W

— Phil Burrell (@cricketandcrops) April 15, 2016

Finding aphids too easily in end Sept planted wheat which has had deter and a follow up pyrethroid pic.twitter.com/wENOOlbWuF

— Bob Sheets (@Bob_Sheets) April 7, 2016

Winter barley

finding aphids in Wbarley,patches of BYDV starting to show even in later drilled Deter treated crops@agronomist_oli pic.twitter.com/QcTxeVN67E

— Todd Jex (@TJex_RegenAg) April 15, 2016

https://twitter.com/agronomist_oli/status/722158029177810946