Jacob Forehand (Extension Specialist and PVQE Director at VT) and I were discussing burrower bug after the recent V-C Peanut Advisory Committee meeting. Damage from burrower bug was found in the county we both grew up in, and the damage seemed to be associated with clary sage “trash” placed in a field prior to peanuts. We don’t know how clary sage impacts survival of burrower bug, but we do know that this insect has multiple hosts.

Similar to placing gin trash in fields that might have weed seed in it, we need to be careful about a similar approach with “sage trash” but for a different reason.

Several years ago we had rotation trials with sage planted prior to peanuts. In that work, we found that yields of peanuts were lower when they were planted the year after sage was harvested. We never could figure out the cause, but it was apparent that at least a year of corn or cotton was needed between sage and peanuts. It was unlikely a burrower bug issue, but there is something negative about sage planted too close to peanuts in the rotation. Sage trash might have the same effect.

We still have a lot to learn about this insect.