| | Insect forecasts maps were posted to Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development’s site after the Agronomy Update which was held in Red Deer on January 17 and 18, 2012.
“The past year was a relatively quiet one on the insect front; however, things never stay the same in the insect world and 2012 has the potential to provide challenges in several areas,” says Scott Meers, provincial pest management specialist with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development. “Annual surveys are carried out for seven insects, the pests that historically pose problems in one part of the province or another.”
Bertha Armyworm – 146 sites were monitored, the largest survey completed on this insect to date. Findings include a larger moth catch than the previous year. An elevated count was experienced in the Fort Vermillion area. An elevated risk in the Two Hills areas, as well as in Vulcan and Strathmore area. There was limited need for control operations in 2012.
Alberta has been in the low end of the life cycle of this pest for the last few years, but appears to be on the increase. It is advisable for farmers to watch the maps and stay updated as the coming growing season progresses.
Diamondback Moth – this pest migrates up from the southern U.S. each year, so it’s difficult to predict. The insect makes up to three complete life cycles in Alberta each year. The monitoring indicates the number that show-up early in the season and from there, predictions on how severe the potential problems could be. There is usually only about two to three weeks advance warning for this pest, due to its lifecycle patterns.
Cabbage Seedpod Weevil – there were quite low populations in 2011, largely because of the poor spring conditions. Typically the earlier flowering fields of canola will be the ones that will need to be watched and likely sprayed for control. This insect hasn’t moved into central Alberta; however, it will be watched it closely. There is no reason to expect that the low numbers in southern Alberta will repeat in the coming growing season so careful monitoring and attention will be required in the traditional problem areas. A lot of research information is drawn from the sweeps that are done as part of this insect survey.
Wheat Stem Sawfly – there are no issues with this pest north of Hwy 1, and overall we are at the lowest population numbers of this pest and have been for a few years. There are a couple of hotspots: one just west of Brooks and southeast of Taber to the Foremost area.
Wheat Midge – has been a big issue in Alberta as it keeps finding new areas to infest. In 2011, it was confirmed in the Peace for the first time. This survey consists of 285 soil samples from 59 counties across the province, and these samples have to be individually washed. For this insect to be a problem, the wheat midge emergence and wheat stage have to line up. The wheat is susceptible from as soon as the head is visible up until anthesis, when the anthers show up. If wheat is put in early and anthesis happens before the midge emerges, there is very little midge damage. The biggest problem areas are in southwestern Alberta but there are also individual problem fields throughout central Alberta.
Pea Leaf Weevil – the amount of damage is surveyed in late May and early June. This is less a forecast than just a relay of the survey results. Vulcan area, typically showing the highest levels, has shown decline in populations, while the Wheatland area is showing the highest levels they have ever recorded. There are still fairly high populations in the Lethbridge to Medicine Hat area, but not as high as in years past. Those who were fighting this pest in 2011 will need to continue in this coming year. Seed treatment for this pest is the best preventative measure producers can take.
Grasshoppers – last year, there were over 1600 survey sites across the province. The Peace has some pockets of higher populations. South and central Alberta show quite low populations, and the risk in north central Alberta are variable. Grasshopper populations follow the weather, so depending on the spring temperatures and precipitation, producers will see populations accordingly.
In 2011, surveys were also carried out on the western bean cutworm, an insect that attacks beans and corn. The interest with this insect pest is tolerant of BT corn, and has been making inroads, but has not yet been detected in Alberta.
To view the survey and forecast maps, visit the Alberta Insect Pest Monitoring Network homepage at www.agriculture.alberta.ca/bugs-pest
Contact:
Scott Meers
403-362-1366
bugs.r.us@gov.ab.ca |
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