Predicted wheat midge development

Wheat Midge (Sitodiplosis mosellana) – Wheat midge overwinter as larval cocoons in the soil. Soil moisture conditions in May and June can have significant impact on wheat midge emergence. Adequate rainfall promotes termination of diapause and movement of larvae to the soil surface where pupation occurs. Insufficient rainfall in May and June can result in delayed movement of larvae to the soil surface. Elliott et al. (2009) reported that wheat midge emergence was delayed or erratic if rainfall did not exceed 20-30 mm during May. Olfert et al. (2016) ran model simulations to demonstrate how rainfall impacts wheat midge population density. Our wheat midge model (Olfert et al. 2020) indicates that dry conditions may result in: 
    a. Delayed adult emergence and oviposition.
    b. Reduced numbers of adults and eggs.

Wheat midge model runs indicate that recent rainfall in Alberta has resulted in movement of more than 50% of the larval population to the soil surface (Fig. 1). Dryer conditions in Saskatchewan and Manitoba have delayed movement of larvae to the soil surface (Fig. 1). If dry conditions persist, this may delay pupation and adult emergence.  

Figure 1. Predicted  percent of larval population of wheat midge (Sitodiplosis mosellana) at soil surface across
the Canadian prairies (as of June 7, 2020).

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.  

Alberta Agriculture and Forestry has a YouTube video describing in-field monitoring for wheat midge.  

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.