WINNIPEG — Photodynamic inactivation is not a phrase used in everyday conversation, but it could become an effective control of insect and fungal pests in agriculture. “Photodynamic Inactivation (PDI) of micro-organisms using natural photosensitizers has shown itself to be a powerful tool to combat bacteria and fungi (in crops),” says a 2019 paper published on […] Read more
Tag Archives pests
Native insect acquires new taste for soybeans
The soybean tentiform leafminer has been seen in Manitoba creating leaf injuries on the lower and upper surface
A tiny North American moth species that has been seen in Canada has been developing a new appetite for soybean plants on the U.S. Plains. The species, Macrosaccus morrisella — now officially named the soybean tentiform leafminer — was detected feeding on soybean crops in eastern Minnesota in 2021 and has since taken its newfound […] Read more
Warm December delighted grain beetles; farmers not so much
CALGARY — Unusually warm weather that lasted into early January prompted a Saskatchewan farmer to warn producers about hot spots and insects in grain bins. “I’m hearing that more and more farmers are finding bugs,” said Michael Reimer, who primarily grows durum wheat near Eston, Sask. “I mean, a year ago, we were at minus […] Read more
Sask. may deregulate pests
REGINA — The Saskatchewan agriculture ministry is reviewing several pests for possible deregulation, including clubroot, grasshoppers and Richardson’s ground squirrels. Changes could be in place by spring 2024. SaskCanola requested changes a year ago to how clubroot is treated. The organization asked for clubroot to be removed from the Pest Control Act where it had […] Read more
Grasshoppers out early
Farmers are urged to make sure they are dealing with a pest variety of hopper before they decide to spray.
“The good news is if you have millions you don’t have to know (which species),” said Dan Johnson from the University of Lethbridge. “If you have millions, they are definitely pests. None of the naturally occurring ones out on the rangeland that feed birds and participate in the ecosystem ever form millions.”
Gopher control enters the post-strychnine era
Product $/acre
James Tansey, Saskatchewan’s insect and vertebrate pest management specialist, said all the registered products in the study worked, but based on the data, he recommended those containing zinc phosphide.
Once-a-year grasshopper forecasts have limitations
Grasshopper specialist says limiting survey to once a year is like conducting a deer population survey only before mating season
Alberta’s 2023 grasshopper forecast predicts areas around Lethbridge will see large populations, while north-central areas will be less affected by the pest. The forecast is based on adult population numbers collected across the province in August 2022. The Peace region is expected to see moderately high numbers in pockets, while the north-central region overall is […] Read more
Insects were not a big deal in Alta. this year
Flea beetles were most significant problem in the province, and cabbage seedpod weevils also made themselves known
This year will be remembered for many things, but a plague of insects isn’t one of them. “It wasn’t an insect year,” entomologist and assistant University of Alberta professor Boyd Mori said about 2020’s insect pressures in Alberta. Flea beetle was the most troublesome pest. Both the striped and crucifer species were found in vast […] Read more
Click beetles, wireworms focus of new Alberta field study
Research on wireworms lagged when effective pesticides came into wider use in Canada. Now that those same pesticides, notably lindane, are no longer in use, wireworm research is being revived. Haley Catton, research scientist and cereal crop entomologist with Agriculture Canada in Lethbridge, is in year two of a three-year study designed to see how […] Read more
Cutworms can be difficult to identify: look for ‘fake legs’
There are two things for Alberta farmers to remember about cutworms, says Agriculture Canada entomologist Kevin Floate. One is that Alberta Agriculture has an online cutworm reporting tool that farmers can use to enter data and see whether cutworms are a problem in a specific area. Find it by visiting www.agric.gov.ab.ca/app68/listings/cutworm/cutworm_map.jsp. The other is that […] Read more
