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Spotted alfalfa aphid

Description

Presents a description of the spotted alfalfa aphid, describes the type of damage it can cause to alfalfa crops, and looks at biological and chemical methods of controlling the insect. This... More ≫

Description

Presents a description of the spotted alfalfa aphid, describes the type of damage it can cause to alfalfa crops, and looks at biological and chemical methods of controlling the insect. This species of aphid can be more serious on alfalfa than the pea aphid because it not only sucks out the juice of the plant, but it also injects a toxin into it.

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Bertha armyworm

Description

Bertha armyworm (Mamestra configurata) is one of the most significant insect pests of canola in Canada. The pest occurs throughout Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and the interior of British... More ≫

Description

Bertha armyworm (Mamestra configurata) is one of the most significant insect pests of canola in Canada. The pest occurs throughout Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and the interior of British Columbia. Severe infestations can occur throughout most of this area, but are usually (but not always) limited to the Parkland area of the Prairies and the Peace River region of British Columbia and Alberta. This document provide background, Life cycle, damage description and monitoring and control recommendations for the Bertha armyworm (Mamestra configurata).

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Cabbage seedpod weevil

Description

The cabbage seedpod weevil (Ceutorhynchus obstrictus) was introduced to North America from Europe about 70 years ago. The weevil was discovered in British Columbia in 1931, and from there, it... More ≫

Description

The cabbage seedpod weevil (Ceutorhynchus obstrictus) was introduced to North America from Europe about 70 years ago. The weevil was discovered in British Columbia in 1931, and from there, it dispersed south and eastward, so it now occurs throughout most of the United States. It was first found infesting canola in southern Alberta in 1995, and since then, the weevil has spread to central Alberta and southwestern Saskatchewan. In 2000, it was found in Québec for the first time.

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Colorado potato beetle : effective chemical control

Description

Colorado Potato Beetles (CPB) have challenged the world’s potato industry for decades. In production areas where these pests do not exist, producers and governments strive to maintain a CPB-free... More ≫

Description

Colorado Potato Beetles (CPB) have challenged the world’s potato industry for decades. In production areas where these pests do not exist, producers and governments strive to maintain a CPB-free status. Where they do exist, CPBs cause crop losses and increase production costs.

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Grasshopper management

Description

Grasshoppers are a major pest of both cultivated crops and rangeland grasses in the world’s semi-arid regions. Traditionally drier areas like southern Alberta are more prone to recurring problems,... More ≫

Description

Grasshoppers are a major pest of both cultivated crops and rangeland grasses in the world’s semi-arid regions. Traditionally drier areas like southern Alberta are more prone to recurring problems, but serious grasshopper infestations can occur in cropland throughout the province. Although the majority of grasshopper damage has been to cereal grains, other crops can be seriously affected. This fact sheet provides information on significant species of grasshoppers in Alberta, including each specie’s significant food supply. Information is also provide on grasshopper control and the economic threshold at which control measures become viable.

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Grasshoppers : life cycle, damage assessment and management strategy

Description

Descriptions of clear-winged, Packard's, two-striped and migratory grasshoppers.

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Wheat midge

Description

The wheat midge (Sitodiplosis mosellana) is found in most areas around the world wherever wheat is grown. In recent years, significant damage to wheat crops has been reported in Alberta,... More ≫

Description

The wheat midge (Sitodiplosis mosellana) is found in most areas around the world wherever wheat is grown. In recent years, significant damage to wheat crops has been reported in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, southern British Columbia, Minnesota, North Dakota and Idaho. All wheat varieties are currently susceptible to wheat midge, but some are more seriously affected than others. Although the midge also attacks other members of the grass family, including barley, couch grass, intermediate wheat grass and rye, infestations on these plants are usually not serious enough to warrant control. Research and breeding for wheat midge resistant wheat varieties is underway at the Cereals Research Centre (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Winnipeg) and the Crop Development Centre (University of Saskatchewan).

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Cabbage thrips in Alberta

Description

In recent years, an increase in the incidence of bronzing and roughened leaf texture on cabbages grown in southern Alberta has sometimes made the cabbages unacceptable for either the fresh or... More ≫

Description

In recent years, an increase in the incidence of bronzing and roughened leaf texture on cabbages grown in southern Alberta has sometimes made the cabbages unacceptable for either the fresh or processing market. This damage is associated with high populations of thrips, tiny insects that feed by rasping and piercing the outer cell layers of the leaves and ingesting the exposed cell contents. The damaged tissue desiccates and allows the entry of disease organisms. When thrips feed, they leave small black specks (fecal pellets) on the injured plant parts.

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Insects associated with alfalfa seed production

Description

This field guide was prepared to enable growers of seed alfalfa to quickly identify their pest and beneficial insects. The important distinguishing features are indicated on the plates by arrows.... More ≫

Description

This field guide was prepared to enable growers of seed alfalfa to quickly identify their pest and beneficial insects. The important distinguishing features are indicated on the plates by arrows. These features can be readily seen with a hand lens or magnifying glass. Economic thresholds are based on the average number of insects captured in five 90° sweeps.

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Natural enemies of field crop insect pests in Alberta

Description

This fact sheet describes some of the pathogens (diseases), insect predators and parasites attacking field crop insect pests. Natural enemies are those organisms that help control population... More ≫

Description

This fact sheet describes some of the pathogens (diseases), insect predators and parasites attacking field crop insect pests. Natural enemies are those organisms that help control population levels of pest insects. Predatory insects, such as the lady beetles, eat many prey insects during their development. Lady beetles are just one example of the many different insects that prey, in both larval and adult stages, on other insects. Blister beetles, on the other hand, are predacious only as larvae; the adults are foliage feeders.

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