2017 Wheat Midge Forecast Map for Alberta

Each fall, soil core sampling is carried out across the Canadian prairies to assess wheat midge densities and parasitism levels of the overwintering cocoon stage.  Soil collected from wheat fields is collected then the samples are washed to retrieve the tiny cocoons, each measuring only ~2-3mm in diameter (Fig. 1).

Figure 1. Wheat midge cocoon sizes (L) compared to canola seed (R).

After washing, each cocoon is carefully dissected under the microscope to determine if a parasitoid larva has attacked the wheat midge larval host.  The densities of the cocoons, and the percent parasitism by the biological control agents (Macroglenes penetrans, Platygaster sp., Euxestonotus error), are compiled and used to generate the geospatial forecast map below.  

The Albertan 2017 wheat midge forecast is posted below (Fig. 2) and you can review previous maps for that province further down the page.  Be sure to review Alberta Agriculture & Forestry's full wheat midge forecast map posting and how they conduct their survey by linking here.

Figure 2.  Alberta wheat midge forecast map for 2017.

Additional information related to wheat midge biology and monitoring can be accessed by linking to your provincial fact sheet (Saskatchewan Agriculture or Alberta Agriculture & Forestry).  A review of wheat midge on the Canadian prairies was published by Elliott, Olfert, and Hartley in 2011.

More information about Wheat midge can be found by accessing the pages from the new "Field Crop and Forage Pests and their Natural Enemies in Western Canada: Identification and Field Guide".  View ONLY the Wheat midge pages but remember the guide is available as a free downloadable document as both an English-enhanced or French-enhanced version.

Updated Livestock-Poultry Pest Control Guide - Philip

Hugh Philip recently updated the guide, “Recommendations for the Control of Arthropod Pests of Livestock, Poultry and Farm Buildings in Western Canada”. This is an 70-page guide and a valuable resource providing an updated list of insecticides used to control pests of livestock.  The Guide has been posted as a downloadable pdf file.

We are grateful to Hugh for his work and his permission to post the updated Guide here for all to use!  Also find a copy of this guide posted on the Western Forum of Pest Management website.

Please pay special attention to the PREFACE which has been copied below:

"This Guide was originally prepared and updated by the Western Committee on Livestock Pests (WCLP) until 1999. The control products listed in the Guide are recommended for use on livestock and poultry and in farm buildings in Western Canada. Not all of the products listed are available through all agricultural chemical retailers and veterinary clinics. The information presented in this Guide does not supersede or substitute the instructions on the product labels. Always read the label before using any control product recommended in this Guide. The Guide is also subject to all those changes, including deletions and revisions in the label claims of products that are authorized by Health Canada as required under the Pest Control Products Act and the Food and Drugs Act."

The table of contents for this guide has been copied below:

   PREFACE 

   INSTRUCTIONS ON USE OF THE GUIDE 

   GENERAL PRECAUTIONS 

   INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT 

   RESISTANCE MANAGEMENT 

   BEEF CATTLE 

   DAIRY CATTLE (NON-LACTATING) 

   DAIRY CATTLE (LACTATING) 

   FARM BUILDINGS 

   GOATS (NON-LACTATING) 

   GOATS (LACTATING) 

   HORSES 

   POULTRY 

   SHEEP 

   SWINE 

   INDEX OF RECOMMENDED ACTIVE INGREDIENTS