Weekly Update (Jun 15, 2017; Wk 07) - Predicted Bertha Armyworm Development

Bertha armyworm (Lepidoptera: Mamestra configurata) - Emergence of adult moths is well underway. The map illustrates predicted appearance of adults (percent of the population) across the southern prairies; oviposition is predicted to begin this week with first hatch beginning later next week.

For those of you monitoring BAW pheromone traps, you may want to compare trap “catches” to the following reference photo kindly shared by Saskatchewan Agriculture:

Biological and monitoring information related to bertha armyworm in field crops is posted by the provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and the Prairie Pest Monitoring Network.  Also refer to the bertha armyworm 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.