Winnipeg — Cutworms and flea beetles are starting to inflict crop damage in Western Canada, said a Manitoba entomologist.
Manitoba growers have noticed damage from cutworms this week, said John Gavloski, extension entomologist for Manitoba Agriculture.
“They (cutworms) were there in the fields, but they were very small caterpillars. Just doing some minor defoliation,” said Gavloski.
“They’re larger caterpillars now, and when some of the species get bigger they start clipping stems, and that really draws attention to their feeding. Also they’re taking bigger chunks of plant tissue.”
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Cutworm is a term that encompasses several species of caterpillar. They stay below soil during the day, and come out to feed at night on several kinds of crops, including corn and sunflowers.
Gavloski said he knows of multiple cases where it has been necessary to spray fields for cutworms.
Flea beetles feed on crops almost every year, but pose an extra threat this year.
“Typically farmers use an insecticide-treated seed, which repels the beetles, but that doesn’t always work. Especially with the cool weather,” Gavloski said.
Cool weather in the spring also means it takes plants longer to finish the seedling stage and become more resistant to flea beetles.
“That seed treatment basically wears down, and then the farmers have to go in and do a full spray of insecticide. That’s what we’re seeing this year,” Gavloski said.
Annual crop losses in North America from flea beetles are likely more than $300 million, according to the Canola Council of Canada.
Saskatchewan is also experiencing crop damage due to flea beetles and cutworms, a May crop report released by the government. Farmers have done some reseeding, but say most crops are in relatively good condition.
An Alberta government crop report says some areas in North Western Alberta, including Barrhead, Edmonton, Leduc, Drayton Valley and Athabasca have started spraying for flea beetles.
