Flea beetles are making more of a pest of themselves than normal this year, thanks to delayed canola germination and cold temperatures.
“You’ll always see pockets of damage, where the weather, seeding timing and insect development line up to cause a problem,” said Doug Moisey of the Canola Council of Canada. “This year, those pockets are a lot bigger than usual.”
John Gavloski of Manitoba Agriculture said cold weather has delayed insect feeding and emergence.
The seed treatments went to work when the crop was planted and are now wearing off when they are supposed to, about three weeks after seeding. However, this has left still-immature canola exposed to the voracious beetles.
Read Also
VIDEO: Green Lightning and Nytro Ag win sustainability innovation award
Nytro Ag Corp and Green Lightning recieved an innovation award at Ag in Motion 2025 for the Green Lightning Nitrogen Machine, which converts atmospheric nitrogen into a plant-usable form.
In central and northeastern Alberta, the bugs are not feeding and dying any more, Moisey said. Rather, they are feeding and surviving.
“And chewing on stems and growing points on the plants, especially the early seeded crops. Frost did a lot of damage and those plants are trying to re-grow just as the seed treatment is wearing off,” he said.
“We are recommending that in those cases, producers get out there and control the insects.”
Gavloski said producers in Manitoba have begun spraying, and he recommends farmers begin scouting for the insects this week.
“If you planted late, you might be OK. The seed treatment will be working and if temperatures improve, the plants will develop fast enough to pass the vulnerable stages. But don’t count on it, go scout.”
