Thursday, 9 June 2016

Weekly Update (June 6, 2016; Wk 06) - Predicted Grasshopper Development

Grasshoppers (Acrididae) – Warm temperatures in Saskatchewan and southern Manitoba were predicted to result in enhanced development. 

The model predicted that 41% of the hatch is complete (versus 23% last week)


Approximately 25% of the population was predicted to be in the first instar whereas 11% were predicted to be in the second instar.  Development is well ahead of average rates (9% hatch, 7% first instar and 2% second instar). 



Weekly surveying conducted by AAFC-Saskatoon Staff on June 2, 2016, confirmed that Melanoplines were primarily first and second instar stages although a few third instar nymphs were collected.

The following image showing various stages of the clearwinged grasshopper is provided below - note that adults have wings extending the length of the abdomen whereas nymphs lack wings but develop wing buds that will eventually mature to wings.  





Biological and monitoring information related to grasshoppers in field crops is posted by the provinces of ManitobaSaskatchewanAlbertaBritish Columbia and the Prairie Pest Monitoring Network.  Also refer to the grasshopper pages within the new "Field Crop and Forage Pests and their Natural Enemies in Western Canada: Identification and management field guide" - both English-enhanced or French-enhanced versions are available.