Weekly Update (April 30, 2020; Wk 01) Otani, Weiss, Rounce, Olfert, Vankosky

Greetings!

We hope everyone is doing well and coping with this extraordinary spring.  The Weekly Update is back for 2020 although changes are coming this growing season! The popular Insect of the Week feature will return soon but today we are pleased to share Week 1 of the Weekly Updates for 2020!

Please access the complete Weekly Update either as a series of Posts for Week 1 (April 30, 2020) OR a downloadable PDF.

Stay Safe!

Questions or problems accessing the contents of this Weekly Update?  Please e-mail either Dr. Meghan Vankosky or Jennifer Otani.  Past “Weekly Updates” can be accessed on our Weekly Update page.

Subscribe to the Blog by following these easy steps!

Weather synopsis - R. Weiss, M. Vankosky, T. Rounce

Weather synopsis –  Temperatures (7 day average) have been warmest in MB and western SK (Fig. 1). 

Figure 1. Observed average temperatures across the Canadian prairies for the past seven days (April 20-26, 2020).

Rainfall (7 day accumulation) amounts have been lowest across most of SK.  

Figure 2. Observed cumulative precipitation across the Canadian prairies for the past seven days (April 20-26, 2020).

Over the past 30 days, average temperatures (Fig. 3) and cumulative rainfall (Fig. 4) have been greatest in MB. Temperatures and rainfall are lowest in AB. 

Figure 3. Observed average temperatures across the Canadian prairies for the past 30 days (March 28-April 26, 2020).

Figure 4. Observed cumulative precipitation across the Canadian prairies for the past 30 days (March 28-April 26, 2020).

The growing degree day map (GDD) (Base 5 ºC, April 1-April 27, 2020) is below (Fig. 5):

Figure 5. Growing degree day map (Base 5 °C) observed across the Canadian prairies for 
the growing season (April 1-27, 2020).

Image has not been reproduced in affiliation with, or with the endorsement of the Government of Canada and was retrieved (30Apr2020).  
Access the full map at http://www.agr.gc.ca/DW-GS/current-actuelles.jspx?lang=eng&jsEnabled=true&reset=1588297059209

The growing degree day map (GDD) (Base 5 ºC, April 1-April 27, 2020) is below (Fig. 6):

Figure 6. Growing degree day map (Base 10 °C) observed across the Canadian prairies for 
the growing season (April 1-27, 2020).

Image has not been reproduced in affiliation with, or with the endorsement of the Government of Canada and was retrieved (30Apr2020).  
Access the full map at http://www.agr.gc.ca/DW-GS/current-actuelles.jspx?lang=eng&jsEnabled=true&reset=1588297059209

The lowest temperatures (°C) observed the past seven days ranged from <-16 to >0 °C in the map below (Fig. 7).

Figure 7. Lowest temperatures (°C) observed across the Canadian prairies the past seven days (April 23-29, 2020).

Image has not been reproduced in affiliation with, or with the endorsement of the Government of Canada and was retrieved (30Apr2020).  

Access the full map at http://www.agr.gc.ca/DW-GS/current-actuelles.jspx?lang=eng&jsEnabled=true&reset=1588297059209

The highest temperatures (°C) observed the past seven days ranged from <9 to >21 °C in the map below (Fig. 8).

Figure 8. Highest temperatures (°C) observed across the Canadian prairies the past seven days (April 23-29, 2020).

Image has not been reproduced in affiliation with, or with the endorsement of the Government of Canada and was retrieved (30Apr2020).  

Access the full map at http://www.agr.gc.ca/DW-GS/current-actuelles.jspx?lang=eng&jsEnabled=true&reset=1588297059209

The maps above are all produced by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.  Growers can bookmark the AAFC Current Conditions Drought Watch Maps for the growing season.  More weather data can be access at the AAFC Drought Watch website, Environment Canada's Historical Data website, or your provincial weather network.

Wind Trajectories

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) and Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) have been working together to study the potential of trajectories for monitoring insect movements since the late 1990s.

Data not available this week.

Cereal leaf beetle

Cereal leaf beetle (Oulema melanopus) - The CLB simulation model will be used to monitor this insect pest's development across the prairies. Weekly temperature data collected across the prairies is incorporated into the simulation model which calculates estimates of development stages based on biological parameters for this species.  

As of April 26, 2020....Stay tuned - phenology models will be reposted.

Lifecycle and Damage:

Adult: Adult cereal leaf beetles (CLB) have shiny bluish-black wing-covers (Fig. 4). The thorax and legs are light orange-brown. Females (4.9 to 5.5 mm) are slightly larger than the males (4.4 to 5 mm). Adult beetles overwinter in and along the margins of grain fields in protected places such as in straw stubble, under crop and leaf litter, and in the crevices of tree bark. They favour sites adjacent to shelter belts, deciduous and conifer forests. They emerge in the spring once temperature reaches 10-15 ºC and are active for about 6 weeks. They usually begin feeding on grasses, then move into winter cereals and later into spring cereals.  

Figure 4. Adult Oulema melanopus measure 4.4-5.5 mm long (Photo: M. Dolinski).

Egg: Eggs are laid approximately 14 days following the emergence of the adults. Eggs are laid singly or in pairs along the mid vein on the upper side of the leaf and are cylindrical, measuring 0.9 mm by 0.4 mm, and yellowish in colour. Eggs darken to black just before hatching.  

Larva: The larvae hatch in about 5 days and feed for about 3 weeks, passing through 4 growth stages (instars). The head and legs are brownish-black; the body is yellowish. Larvae are usually covered with a secretion of mucus and fecal material, giving them a shiny black, wet appearance (Fig. 5).  When the larva completes its growth, it drops to the ground and pupates in the soil. 

Figure 5.  Larval stage of Oulema melanopus with characteristic feeding 
damage visible on leaf (Photo: M. Dolinski).

Pupa: Pupal colour varies from a bright yellow when it is first formed, to the colour of the adult just before emergence. The pupal stage lasts 2 - 3 weeks. Adult beetles emerge and feed for a couple of weeks before seeking overwintering sites. There is one generation per year.

Fact sheets for CLB are published by the province of Alberta and available from the Prairie Pest Monitoring Network. Also access the Oulema melanopus page from the "Field crop and forage pests and their natural enemies in western Canada - Identification and management field guide" available as a free downloadable document in either an English-enhanced or French-enhanced version.

Predicted grasshopper development

Grasshopper Simulation Model Output – The grasshopper simulation model will be used to monitor grasshopper development across the prairies. Weekly temperature data collected across the prairies is incorporated into the simulation model which calculates estimates of grasshopper development stages based on biological parameters for Melanoplus sanguinipes (Migratory grasshopper).  

As of April 26, 2020....Stay tuned - phenology models will be reposted.

Reminder - The Prairie Pest Monitoring Network's 2020 Grasshopper Forecast Map was released last week (Fig. 4) in the 2019-2020 Risk and Forecast Maps.  Spring temperatures, soil moisture conditions, and precipitation all have an impact on survival of overwintered grasshopper eggs. Growers in areas highlighted orange or red in the map below should be vigilant this spring.

Figure 4.  Grasshopper forecast map (M. sanguinipes) for 2020 growing season.

Biological and monitoring information related to grasshoppers in field crops is posted by Manitoba Agriculture, Saskatchewan Agriculture, Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, the BC Ministry of Agriculture and the Prairie Pest Monitoring Network.  Also refer to the grasshopper pages within the "Field Crop and Forage Pests and their Natural Enemies in Western Canada: Identification and management field guide" as an English-enhanced or French-enhanced version.

Bookmark prairie provincial insect pest pages

Looking for insect pest monitoring fact sheets and information from your prairie provincial experts?

Access Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development here.

Access Saskatchewan Agriculture here.

Access Alberta Agriculture and Forestry here.

Scouting Charts - Canola and Flax

Field scouting is critical - it enables the identification of potential risks to crops. Accurate identification of insect pests PLUS the application of established monitoring methods will enable growers to make informed pest management decisions.

We offer TWO generalized insect pest scouting charts to aid in-field scouting on the Canadian prairies:

1. CANOLA INSECT SCOUTING CHART
 

2. FLAX INSECT SCOUTING CHART
 

These charts feature hyperlinks directing growers to downloadable PDF pages within the "Field crop and forage pests and their natural enemies in western Canada: Identification and management field guide".

Whenever possible, monitor and compare pest densities to established economic or action thresholds to protect and preserve pollinators and beneficial arthropods. Economic thresholds, by definition, help growers avoid crop losses related to outbreaking insect pest species.

Good luck with your scouting!

Crop protection guides

Crop Protection Guides – If you don’t have a copy of your province’s Crop Protection Guide, please make use of these links to access the PDF version of the:
• Manitoba's Guide to Crop Protection Guide  or access via their homepage
• Saskatchewan's Crop Protection Guide or access it via their homepage
• Alberta's Crop Protection or Blue Book or access it via their homepage
• Western Committee on Crop Pests Guidelines for the Control of Crop Pests

Crop reports

Crop reports are produced by:
• Manitoba Agriculture (May 5, 2020 report accessible to email subscribers)
• Saskatchewan Agriculture (2020 reports not yet available but check online).
• Alberta Agriculture and Forestry Crop Report (not yet available).

The following crop reports are also available:
• The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) produces a Crop Progress Report (read the April 27, 2020 edition).

• The USDA's Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin (read the April 28, 2020 edition). 

2019-2020 Risk and Forecast Maps Vankosky, Giffen, Weiss, Otani

Preparing for the 2020 growing season!

The Prairie-wide 2019-2020 Risk and Forecast Maps are now available below. Click to open the downloadable PDF file.



This week, we are preparing for the Weekly Update and Insect of the Week to return.  We hope everyone is staying safe and keeping well!

Questions or problems accessing the contents of this Weekly Update?  Please e-mail either Dr. Meghan Vankosky or Jennifer Otani.  Past “Weekly Updates” can be accessed on our Weekly Update page.

Subscribe to the Blog by following these easy steps!