The same southerly winds that blew diamondback moths up into Canada this spring might have brought aphids attracted to canaryseed.
Ray McVicar, special crops agrologist, advises farmers to look for the bird cherry-oat aphid and the English grain aphid.
The bird cherry-oat aphid is dark green to purple, and the English grain aphid is light green.
Aphids often hide along the small stem inside the canaryseed head. The head should be bent and closely inspected when making counts to determine infestation. The bird cherry-oat aphid will also feed on the stems, underside of leaves and in the canaryseed boot, the part where the flag leaf joins the central stem, before heading.
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Although research has not determined economic thresholds for aphid infestations in canaryseed in Saskatchewan, American research indicates 10-20 aphids per stem on half the stems in the field prior to the soft dough stage can cause enough crop damage to warrant insecticide application.
“Because canaryseed prices moved higher this spring, the approximate economic threshold level … is about 10 aphids per 50 percent of stems,” said McVicar.
Malathion, Fyfanon, Cygon and Lagon are registered for control of aphids in canaryseed. If aphids are present, insecticides should be applied at early heading, around early August. Aphids do little economic damage after the soft dough stage of the seed, so spraying then is a waste.
