Swede midge arrived in Canada in 2000 but has yet to make an appearance in the West.
Dale Risula of Saskatchewan Agriculture said the tiny fly has caused damage in Ontario, so producers need to watch for it.
“There’s no need for alarm bells but just start to be aware,” he said.
The midge prefers wet, cool weather and affects plant quality, causing it to shrink and shrivel. If larvae feed on canola plants before bolting occurs, it could prevent flowering and podding.
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Swede midge originated in Europe and Asia and is present in Ontario and Quebec.
The adult, at two to three millimetres long, is almost impossible to see but its impact is visible in damage that closely resembles herbicide injury or nutrient deficiencies.
Females lay their eggs on flower buds or at the base of leaf stalks, depositing as many as 100 eggs.
Larvae go from translucent to yellow as they mature. After about three weeks, they fall to the ground, create cocoons in the soil and pupate, emerging as flies two weeks later.
