Drought has a silver lining when it comes to wheat midge. Little rain
means fewer of the insects in Saskatchewan and Alberta.
Scott Hartley, insect and pest management specialist with Saskatchewan
Agriculture, said weather has reduced cases of orange wheat blossom
midge in the last two years.
“If it’s too windy or cool during egg laying time, females don’t alight
on the plants,” he said.
Regions like east-central and southeastern Saskatchewan and the
Camrose, Alta., region have higher infestation rates due to better
moisture conditions. In many areas, populations have dropped below
detectable levels.
The 2002 forecast map is based on cocoons present in soil samples
collected in a survey last fall.
The map shows a large reduction in the overwintering midge population,
with 96 percent of surveyed areas showing less than 600 midge per sq.
metre.
Populations of 600 generally mean yield loss, while moderately affected
crops have lower grades.
Hartley said wheat midge can be controlled with pesticides or by not
growing wheat.
