Economic Thresholds for Insects Attacking Special Crops

Aphids | Beet leafminer | Grasshoppers | References

Many economic thresholds currently in use are nominal (i.e. unsupported by research). Some economic thresholds have been developed for major pests attacking crops in Western Canada. The following data have been compiled from various sources including the guidelines published by the Western Committee on Crop Pests and are indicative of the threshold recommendations being made.

Aphids

Crop	Threshold
Canary Grass	More than 50 per head between heading and soft dough.
Field Peas	DUsually from 1-4 aphids/20 cm stem tip when 50-75% of plants have begun to flower (27) (28) (40).

Economic thresholds for pea aphids per 20 cm tip at various expected returns and control costs in field peas (40)

Beet Leafminer

Crop	Threshold
Sugar beet	Only infestations causing more than 25% defoliation require treatment (26).

Grasshoppers

Crop	Threshold
Safflower	More than 15/m²

References

26. Lilly, C. E. 1970. The effect of chemical control of the beet leaf-miner on yields of sugar beets. Pesticide Research Report. 142-143.

27. Maiteki, G. A. and Lamb, R. J. 1985. Growth stages of field peas sensitive to damage by the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum (Homoptera: Aphididae). Journal of Economic Entomology. 78: 1442-1449.

28. Maiteki, G. A., Lamb, R. J., and Ali-Khan, S. T. 1986. Seasonal abundance of the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum (Homoptera: Aphididae), in Manitoba field peas. The Canadian Entomologist. 118: 601-607.

40. Timlick, B. and Turnock, W. J. 1991. Population density of the pea aphid, and economic thresholds for field peas. Agriculture Canada. Canadex. 142.622: 4 pp.

Other Documents in the Series

Economic Thresholds for Insects Attacking Cereals and Corn
Economic Thresholds for Insects Attacking Forages
Economic Thresholds for Insects Attacking Oilseeds
Economic Thresholds for Insects Attacking Special Crops - Current Document

For more information about the content of this document, contact Scott Meers.
This document is maintained by Shelley Barkley.
This information published to the web on November 20, 2001.
Last Reviewed/Revised on December 4, 2014.