Friday 15 May 2020

Cereal leaf beetle

Cereal leaf beetle (Oulema melanopus) - The cereal leaf beetle model indicates that overwintered adults are active and  oviposition is underway across the prairies. The graphs provide a comparison of development for  Brandon (Fig. 1) and Lethbridge (Fig. 2). Reproductive adults appeared earlier in southern AB, resulting in earlier oviposition.

Figure 1. Predicted cereal leaf beetle phenology at Brandon MB.
Values are based on model simulations (April 1-May 11, 2020).

Figure 2. Predicted cereal leaf beetle phenology at Lethbridge AB.
Values are based on model simulations (April 1-May 11, 2020).

NEW for Manitobans - Dr. John Gavloski is looking for samples of cereal leaf beetle larvae this growing season to determine their range across Manitoba, their population density, and the rate at which larvae are parasitized. Please contact John (John.Gavloski@gov.mb.ca) or @JohnTheBugGuy if you observe cereal leaf beetles in your fields. 

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.