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| Figure 1. Dingy cutworms (photo: J. Gavloski, Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development). |
Showing posts with label Cutworm Field Guide. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cutworm Field Guide. Show all posts
Friday, 22 May 2020
Cutworms
Cutworms (Noctuidae) – Several species of cutworms can be present in fields and scouting should begin before seeding and continue in to June on the Canadian prairies! Access tools including the Cutworm Field Guide, photos and descriptions for glassy, darksided, pale western, dingy and some of the natural enemies that attack cutworms plus scouting tips to help identify cutworms in field crops.
Friday, 15 May 2020
Cutworms
Cutworms (Noctuidae) – A field guide is available to help growers scout and manage Cutworms. Cutworm Pest of Crops is available for free in either English or French and is posted on the Cutworm Field Guide page!
Several species of cutworms can be present in fields (Refer to downloadable PDF below). They range in colour from shiny opaque, to tan, to brownish-red with chevron patterning. Cutworm biology, species information, plus monitoring recommendations are available in the Prairie Pest Monitoring Network’s Cutworm Monitoring Protocol. Also refer to Manitoba Agriculture cutworm fact sheet which includes action and economic thresholds for cutworms in several crops.
In the past, the Insect of the Week featured economically important species of cutworms and some of the important natural enemies that help regulate these pests:
Glassy cutworm - Wk01 (May 07, 2018)
Darksided cutworm - Wk02 (May 14, 2018)
Pale western cutworm - Wk01 (May 1, 2017)
Dingy cutworm - Wk04 (May 23, 2017)
Cutworm natural enemies - Wk03 (21 May, 2018)
Scout fields that are “slow” to emerge, are missing rows, include wilting or yellowing plants, have bare patches, or appear highly attractive to birds – these are areas warranting a closer look. Plan to follow-up by walking these areas later in the day when some cutworm species move above-ground to feed. Start to dig below the soil surface (1-5 cm deep) near the base of a symptomatic plant or the adjacent healthy plant. If the plant is well-established, check within the crown in addition to the adjacent soil. The culprits could be wireworms or cutworms.
Several species of cutworms can be present in fields (Refer to downloadable PDF below). They range in colour from shiny opaque, to tan, to brownish-red with chevron patterning. Cutworm biology, species information, plus monitoring recommendations are available in the Prairie Pest Monitoring Network’s Cutworm Monitoring Protocol. Also refer to Manitoba Agriculture cutworm fact sheet which includes action and economic thresholds for cutworms in several crops.
In the past, the Insect of the Week featured economically important species of cutworms and some of the important natural enemies that help regulate these pests:
Glassy cutworm - Wk01 (May 07, 2018)
Darksided cutworm - Wk02 (May 14, 2018)
Pale western cutworm - Wk01 (May 1, 2017)
Dingy cutworm - Wk04 (May 23, 2017)
Cutworm natural enemies - Wk03 (21 May, 2018)
Scout fields that are “slow” to emerge, are missing rows, include wilting or yellowing plants, have bare patches, or appear highly attractive to birds – these are areas warranting a closer look. Plan to follow-up by walking these areas later in the day when some cutworm species move above-ground to feed. Start to dig below the soil surface (1-5 cm deep) near the base of a symptomatic plant or the adjacent healthy plant. If the plant is well-established, check within the crown in addition to the adjacent soil. The culprits could be wireworms or cutworms.
For Albertans..... If you find cutworms, please consider using the Alberta Pest Surveillance Network’s “2020 Cutworm Reporting Tool” then view the live 2020 cutworm map which will be updated daily.
Friday, 8 May 2020
Cutworms
Cutworms (Noctuidae) – A field guide is available to help growers scout and manage Cutworms. Cutworm Pest of Crops is available for free in either English or French and is posted on the Cutworm Field Guide page!
Several species of cutworms can be present in fields (Refer to downloadable PDF below). They range in colour from shiny opaque, to tan, to brownish-red with chevron patterning. Cutworm biology, species information, plus monitoring recommendations are available in the Prairie Pest Monitoring Network’s Cutworm Monitoring Protocol. Also refer to Manitoba Agriculture cutworm fact sheet which includes action and economic thresholds for cutworms in several crops.
In the past, the Insect of the Week featured economically important species of cutworms and some of the important natural enemies that help regulate these pests:
Glassy cutworm - Wk01 (May 07, 2018)
Darksided cutworm - Wk02 (May 14, 2018)
Pale western cutworm - Wk01 (May 1, 2017)
Dingy cutworm - Wk04 (May 23, 2017)
Cutworm natural enemies - Wk03 (21 May, 2018)
Scout fields that are “slow” to emerge, are missing rows, include wilting or yellowing plants, have bare patches, or appear highly attractive to birds – these are areas warranting a closer look. Plan to follow-up by walking these areas later in the day when some cutworm species move above-ground to feed. Start to dig below the soil surface (1-5 cm deep) near the base of a symptomatic plant or the adjacent healthy plant. If the plant is well-established, check within the crown in addition to the adjacent soil. The culprits could be wireworms or cutworms.
Several species of cutworms can be present in fields (Refer to downloadable PDF below). They range in colour from shiny opaque, to tan, to brownish-red with chevron patterning. Cutworm biology, species information, plus monitoring recommendations are available in the Prairie Pest Monitoring Network’s Cutworm Monitoring Protocol. Also refer to Manitoba Agriculture cutworm fact sheet which includes action and economic thresholds for cutworms in several crops.
In the past, the Insect of the Week featured economically important species of cutworms and some of the important natural enemies that help regulate these pests:
Glassy cutworm - Wk01 (May 07, 2018)
Darksided cutworm - Wk02 (May 14, 2018)
Pale western cutworm - Wk01 (May 1, 2017)
Dingy cutworm - Wk04 (May 23, 2017)
Cutworm natural enemies - Wk03 (21 May, 2018)
Scout fields that are “slow” to emerge, are missing rows, include wilting or yellowing plants, have bare patches, or appear highly attractive to birds – these are areas warranting a closer look. Plan to follow-up by walking these areas later in the day when some cutworm species move above-ground to feed. Start to dig below the soil surface (1-5 cm deep) near the base of a symptomatic plant or the adjacent healthy plant. If the plant is well-established, check within the crown in addition to the adjacent soil. The culprits could be wireworms or cutworms.
For Albertans..... If you find cutworms, please consider using the Alberta Pest Surveillance Network’s “2020 Cutworm Reporting Tool” then view the live 2020 cutworm map which will be updated daily.
Friday, 14 June 2019
Cutworms (June 13, 2019; Wk 10)
Manitoba continues to experience cutworm issues this spring! Thanks to John Gavloski (Manitoba Agriculture) who was able to provide a quick summary:
There has been a lot of insecticide applications and some reseeding of crops in Manitoba because of cutworms. Damage is to a variety of crops. Redbacked and dingy cutworms have been the two dominant species, although some other species of cutworms are being found. They are starting to turn to pupae, however stages are quite variable in some fields and scouting and insecticide applications continue.
Please refer back to our earlier Cutworm post (Wk05) for help with scouting and identification tips. Also access the free downloadable Cutworm Field Guide.
There has been a lot of insecticide applications and some reseeding of crops in Manitoba because of cutworms. Damage is to a variety of crops. Redbacked and dingy cutworms have been the two dominant species, although some other species of cutworms are being found. They are starting to turn to pupae, however stages are quite variable in some fields and scouting and insecticide applications continue.
Please refer back to our earlier Cutworm post (Wk05) for help with scouting and identification tips. Also access the free downloadable Cutworm Field Guide.
Monday, 10 June 2019
Insect of the Week (June 10, 2019) – Doppelgangers: Bertha armyworm and clover cutworm
The case
of the bertha armyworm and the clover cutworm (and other cutworm species)
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Clover cutworm larva
cc-by 3.0 Lo Troisfontaine
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Bertha armyworm – caterpillar
Mike Dolinski, MikeDolinski@hotmail.com
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- Colour: there are generally fewer velvety black clover cutworm caterpillars, with most of the clover cutworm larvae being green or pale brown
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Lateral
stripe:
o
On
the clover cutworm it is yellowish-pink
o
On
the bertha armyworm it is yellowish-orange
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| Climbing cutworm larva - from Cutworm Field Guide |
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| Climbing cutworm adults - from Cutworm Field Guide |
In terms of
scouting, economic thresholds and control options, treat both species as you
would bertha armyworms.
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Bertha armyworm – adult
Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development
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Clover cutworm adult
cc-by-nc-sa 2.0 Ilona Loser
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To learn more about bertha armyworms and clover cutworms, go to the Insect of theWeek page or download copies of the Field Crop and Forage Pests andtheir Natural Enemies in Western Canada and Cutworm Pests of Crops onthe Canadian Prairies identification field guides.
Thursday, 16 May 2019
Thursday, 9 May 2019
Cutworms (May 9, 2019; Wk 05)
Cutworms (Noctuidae) – A field guide is available to help growers scout and manage Cutworms. Cutworm Pest of Crops is available for free in either English or French and is posted on the Cutworm Field Guide page!
Several species of cutworms can be present in fields (Refer to downloadable PDF below). They range in colour from shiny opaque, to tan, to brownish-red with chevron patterning. Cutworm biology, species information, plus monitoring recommendations are available in the Prairie Pest Monitoring Network’s Cutworm Monitoring Protocol. Also refer to Manitoba Agriculture cutworm fact sheet which includes action and economic thresholds for cutworms in several crops.
In 2018, the Insect of the Week featured two economically important species of cutworms and some of the important natural enemies that help regulate these pests:
Wk01 (May 07, 2018) - Glassy cutworm
Wk02 (May 14, 2018) - Darksided cutworm
Wk03 (21 May, 2018) - Ground beetles: cutworm natural enemies
Scout fields that are “slow” to emerge, are missing rows, include wilting or yellowing plants, have bare patches, or appear highly attractive to birds – these are areas warranting a closer look. Plan to follow-up by walking these areas later in the day when some cutworm species move above-ground to feed. Start to dig below the soil surface (1-5 cm deep) near the base of a symptomatic plant or the adjacent healthy plant. If the plant is well-established, check within the crown in addition to the adjacent soil. The culprits could be wireworms or cutworms.
For Albertans..... If you find cutworms, please consider using the Alberta Pest Surveillance Network’s “2019 Cutworm Reporting Tool” then view the live 2019 cutworm map which is updated daily.
Several species of cutworms can be present in fields (Refer to downloadable PDF below). They range in colour from shiny opaque, to tan, to brownish-red with chevron patterning. Cutworm biology, species information, plus monitoring recommendations are available in the Prairie Pest Monitoring Network’s Cutworm Monitoring Protocol. Also refer to Manitoba Agriculture cutworm fact sheet which includes action and economic thresholds for cutworms in several crops.
In 2018, the Insect of the Week featured two economically important species of cutworms and some of the important natural enemies that help regulate these pests:
Wk01 (May 07, 2018) - Glassy cutworm
Wk02 (May 14, 2018) - Darksided cutworm
Wk03 (21 May, 2018) - Ground beetles: cutworm natural enemies
Scout fields that are “slow” to emerge, are missing rows, include wilting or yellowing plants, have bare patches, or appear highly attractive to birds – these are areas warranting a closer look. Plan to follow-up by walking these areas later in the day when some cutworm species move above-ground to feed. Start to dig below the soil surface (1-5 cm deep) near the base of a symptomatic plant or the adjacent healthy plant. If the plant is well-established, check within the crown in addition to the adjacent soil. The culprits could be wireworms or cutworms.
For Albertans..... If you find cutworms, please consider using the Alberta Pest Surveillance Network’s “2019 Cutworm Reporting Tool” then view the live 2019 cutworm map which is updated daily.
Thursday, 2 May 2019
Cutworms (May 2, 2019; Wk 04)
Cutworms (Noctuidae) – A field guide is now available to help growers scout and manage Cutworms! Cutworm Pest of Crops is available for free in either English or French and is posted on the Cutworm Field Guide page!
Several species of cutworms can be present in fields. They range in colour from shiny opaque, to tan, to brownish-red with chevron patterning. Cutworm biology, species information, plus monitoring recommendations are available in the Prairie Pest Monitoring Network’s Cutworm Monitoring Protocol. Also refer to Manitoba Agriculture cutworm fact sheet which includes action and economic thresholds for cutworms in several crops.
Scout fields that are “slow” to emerge, are missing rows, include wilting or yellowing plants, have bare patches, or appear highly attractive to birds – these are areas warranting a closer look. Plan to follow-up by walking these areas later in the day when some cutworm species move above-ground to feed. Start to dig below the soil surface (1-5 cm deep) near the base of a symptomatic plant or the adjacent healthy plant. If the plant is well-established, check within the crown in addition to the adjacent soil. The culprits could be wireworms or cutworms.
For Albertans..... If you find cutworms, please consider using the Alberta Pest Surveillance Network’s “2019 Cutworm Reporting Tool” then view the live 2019 cutworm map which is updated daily.
Several species of cutworms can be present in fields. They range in colour from shiny opaque, to tan, to brownish-red with chevron patterning. Cutworm biology, species information, plus monitoring recommendations are available in the Prairie Pest Monitoring Network’s Cutworm Monitoring Protocol. Also refer to Manitoba Agriculture cutworm fact sheet which includes action and economic thresholds for cutworms in several crops.
Scout fields that are “slow” to emerge, are missing rows, include wilting or yellowing plants, have bare patches, or appear highly attractive to birds – these are areas warranting a closer look. Plan to follow-up by walking these areas later in the day when some cutworm species move above-ground to feed. Start to dig below the soil surface (1-5 cm deep) near the base of a symptomatic plant or the adjacent healthy plant. If the plant is well-established, check within the crown in addition to the adjacent soil. The culprits could be wireworms or cutworms.
For Albertans..... If you find cutworms, please consider using the Alberta Pest Surveillance Network’s “2019 Cutworm Reporting Tool” then view the live 2019 cutworm map which is updated daily.
Thursday, 31 May 2018
Cutworms (May 31, 2018; Wk 04)
Cutworms (Noctuidae) – A field guide is available to help growers scout and manage Cutworms! Cutworm Pest of Crops is available for free in either English or French and is posted on the Cutworm Field Guide page! Also be sure to check the Insect of the Week through May - it highlights cutworms.
Several species of cutworms can be present in fields. They range in colour from shiny, opaque, to tan, to brownish-red with chevron patterning. Cutworm biology, species information, plus monitoring recommendations are available in the Prairie Pest Monitoring Network’s Cutworm Monitoring Protocol. Also refer to Manitoba Agriculture cutworm fact sheet which includes action and economic thresholds for cutworms in several crops.
Scout fields that are “slow” to emerge, are missing rows, include wilting or yellowing plants, have bare patches, or appear highly attractive to birds – these are areas warranting a closer look. Plan to follow-up by walking these areas later in the day when some cutworm species move above-ground to feed. Start to dig below the soil surface (1-5 cm deep) near the base of a symptomatic plant or the adjacent healthy plant. If the plant is well-established, check within the crown in addition to the adjacent soil. The culprits could be wireworms or cutworms.
The following page extracted from the new "Cutworm Pests of Crops on the Canadian Prairies" (Floate 2017; Page 5) shows the seasonal occurrence of lifecycle stages for different species of cutworms. To aid scouting, the seasonal chart outlines what time of year larvae of different pest species are present (i.e., when to scout) but it also describes larval feeding habit (i.e., where to look for them relative to the plant host).
For Albertans..... If you find cutworms, please consider using the Alberta Pest Surveillance Network’s “2018 Cutworm Reporting Tool”. Once data entry occurs, growers can view the live 2018 cutworm map which is updated daily (see below for screenshot of map retrieved June 5, 2018).
Several species of cutworms can be present in fields. They range in colour from shiny, opaque, to tan, to brownish-red with chevron patterning. Cutworm biology, species information, plus monitoring recommendations are available in the Prairie Pest Monitoring Network’s Cutworm Monitoring Protocol. Also refer to Manitoba Agriculture cutworm fact sheet which includes action and economic thresholds for cutworms in several crops.
Scout fields that are “slow” to emerge, are missing rows, include wilting or yellowing plants, have bare patches, or appear highly attractive to birds – these are areas warranting a closer look. Plan to follow-up by walking these areas later in the day when some cutworm species move above-ground to feed. Start to dig below the soil surface (1-5 cm deep) near the base of a symptomatic plant or the adjacent healthy plant. If the plant is well-established, check within the crown in addition to the adjacent soil. The culprits could be wireworms or cutworms.
The following page extracted from the new "Cutworm Pests of Crops on the Canadian Prairies" (Floate 2017; Page 5) shows the seasonal occurrence of lifecycle stages for different species of cutworms. To aid scouting, the seasonal chart outlines what time of year larvae of different pest species are present (i.e., when to scout) but it also describes larval feeding habit (i.e., where to look for them relative to the plant host).
For Albertans..... If you find cutworms, please consider using the Alberta Pest Surveillance Network’s “2018 Cutworm Reporting Tool”. Once data entry occurs, growers can view the live 2018 cutworm map which is updated daily (see below for screenshot of map retrieved June 5, 2018).
Thursday, 24 May 2018
Cutworms (May 24, 2018; Wk 03)
Cutworms (Noctuidae) – A field guide is now available to help growers scout and manage Cutworms! Cutworm Pest of Crops is available for free in either English or French and is posted on the Cutworm Field Guide page! Also be sure to check the Insect of the Week through May - it highlights cutworms.
Several species of cutworms can be present in fields. They range in colour from shiny, opaque, to tan, to brownish-red with chevron patterning. Cutworm biology, species information, plus monitoring recommendations are available in the Prairie Pest Monitoring Network’s Cutworm Monitoring Protocol. Also refer to Manitoba Agriculture cutworm fact sheet which includes action and economic thresholds for cutworms in several crops.
Scout fields that are “slow” to emerge, are missing rows, include wilting or yellowing plants, have bare patches, or appear highly attractive to birds – these are areas warranting a closer look. Plan to follow-up by walking these areas later in the day when some cutworm species move above-ground to feed. Start to dig below the soil surface (1-5 cm deep) near the base of a symptomatic plant or the adjacent healthy plant. If the plant is well-established, check within the crown in addition to the adjacent soil. The culprits could be wireworms or cutworms.
The following page extracted from the new "Cutworm Pests of Crops on the Canadian Prairies" (Floate 2017; Page 5) shows the seasonal occurrence of lifecycle stages for different species of cutworms. To aid scouting, the seasonal chart outlines what time of year larvae of different pest species are present (i.e., when to scout) but it also describes larval feeding habit (i.e., where to look for them relative to the plant host).
For Albertans..... If you find cutworms, please consider using the Alberta Pest Surveillance Network’s “2018 Cutworm Reporting Tool”. Once data entry occurs, growers can view the live 2018 cutworm map which is updated daily (see below for the map retrieved May 24, 2018).
Several species of cutworms can be present in fields. They range in colour from shiny, opaque, to tan, to brownish-red with chevron patterning. Cutworm biology, species information, plus monitoring recommendations are available in the Prairie Pest Monitoring Network’s Cutworm Monitoring Protocol. Also refer to Manitoba Agriculture cutworm fact sheet which includes action and economic thresholds for cutworms in several crops.
Scout fields that are “slow” to emerge, are missing rows, include wilting or yellowing plants, have bare patches, or appear highly attractive to birds – these are areas warranting a closer look. Plan to follow-up by walking these areas later in the day when some cutworm species move above-ground to feed. Start to dig below the soil surface (1-5 cm deep) near the base of a symptomatic plant or the adjacent healthy plant. If the plant is well-established, check within the crown in addition to the adjacent soil. The culprits could be wireworms or cutworms.
The following page extracted from the new "Cutworm Pests of Crops on the Canadian Prairies" (Floate 2017; Page 5) shows the seasonal occurrence of lifecycle stages for different species of cutworms. To aid scouting, the seasonal chart outlines what time of year larvae of different pest species are present (i.e., when to scout) but it also describes larval feeding habit (i.e., where to look for them relative to the plant host).
For Albertans..... If you find cutworms, please consider using the Alberta Pest Surveillance Network’s “2018 Cutworm Reporting Tool”. Once data entry occurs, growers can view the live 2018 cutworm map which is updated daily (see below for the map retrieved May 24, 2018).
Tuesday, 22 May 2018
Insect of the Week (21 May, 2018) - Ground beetles: cutworm natural enemies
This week's Insect of the Week is a large group of insects called ground beetles, also known as carabid beetles. Many species feed on cutworms as well as other pests.
Almost 400 different species of ground beetles occur on the Prairies, ranging in size from just a few millimetres to more than 2 centimetres. A field may contain 50 or more species, with densities ranging up to 10 beetles per square meter.
Ground beetles are characterized with long threadlike antennae, have a body that is flattened top-to-bottom, and have strong legs designed for running, large eyes, and obvious jaws (mandibles). Smaller ground beetle species can be important predators of cutworm eggs. Larger species attack and kill fully-grown cutworm larvae.
With all the work they do protecting your crop, ground beetles are real @FieldHeroes.
Find out more about ground beetles at the Insect of the Week page!
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Adult Carabus nemoralis attacking a bertha armyworm caterpillar.
Photocredit - Vincent Hervet, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
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Species of ground beetles common in agricultural fields on the Prairies.
From left to right: Bembidion quadrimaculatum, Agonum cupreum,
Pterostichus melanarius, Calosoma calidum.
Photocredit - Henri Goulet (retired), Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
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For a detailed review of ground beetle research, biology, distribution, habitat, diet, etc., see Chapter 1: Ground Beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) of the Prairie Grasslands of Canada.
**NEW - Don't forget there's a new cutworm identification manual you can download from the Cutworm Field Guide page - NEW**
Wednesday, 16 May 2018
Cutworms (May 17, 2018; Wk 02)
Cutworms (Noctuidae) – A field guide is now available to help growers scout and manage Cutworms! Cutworm Pest of Crops is available for free in either English or French and is posted on the Cutworm Field Guide page! Also be sure to check the Insect of the Week through May - it highlights cutworms.
Several species of cutworms can be present in fields. They range in colour from shiny opaque, to tan, to brownish-red with chevron patterning. Cutworm biology, species information, plus monitoring recommendations are available in the Prairie Pest Monitoring Network’s Cutworm Monitoring Protocol. Also refer to Manitoba Agriculture cutworm fact sheet which includes action and economic thresholds for cutworms in several crops.
Scout fields that are “slow” to emerge, are missing rows, include wilting or yellowing plants, have bare patches, or appear highly attractive to birds – these are areas warranting a closer look. Plan to follow-up by walking these areas later in the day when some cutworm species move above-ground to feed. Start to dig below the soil surface (1-5 cm deep) near the base of a symptomatic plant or the adjacent healthy plant. If the plant is well-established, check within the crown in addition to the adjacent soil. The culprits could be wireworms or cutworms.
For Albertans..... If you find cutworms, please consider using the Alberta Pest Surveillance Network’s “2018 Cutworm Reporting Tool”. Once data entry occurs, growers can view the live 2018 cutworm map which is updated daily (see below for the map retrieved May 15, 2018).
Several species of cutworms can be present in fields. They range in colour from shiny opaque, to tan, to brownish-red with chevron patterning. Cutworm biology, species information, plus monitoring recommendations are available in the Prairie Pest Monitoring Network’s Cutworm Monitoring Protocol. Also refer to Manitoba Agriculture cutworm fact sheet which includes action and economic thresholds for cutworms in several crops.
Scout fields that are “slow” to emerge, are missing rows, include wilting or yellowing plants, have bare patches, or appear highly attractive to birds – these are areas warranting a closer look. Plan to follow-up by walking these areas later in the day when some cutworm species move above-ground to feed. Start to dig below the soil surface (1-5 cm deep) near the base of a symptomatic plant or the adjacent healthy plant. If the plant is well-established, check within the crown in addition to the adjacent soil. The culprits could be wireworms or cutworms.
For Albertans..... If you find cutworms, please consider using the Alberta Pest Surveillance Network’s “2018 Cutworm Reporting Tool”. Once data entry occurs, growers can view the live 2018 cutworm map which is updated daily (see below for the map retrieved May 15, 2018).
Monday, 14 May 2018
Insect of the Week (May 14, 2018) - Darksided cutworm
It's spring, so it's cutworm season. This week's insect is the darksided cutworm. Mature larvae are hairless, greyish with a prominent white stripe on either side just above their legs. It is a climbing cutworm with feeding occurring at night. They have a broad host range including cereals, canola, corn, flax, sunflower, vegetables berry and tree fruits.
Find out more about the darksided cutworm at the Insect of the Week page. Other important species include dingy, army, redbacked and pale western cutworms (See Insect of the Week: 2017 - May 1, 8, 15 and 29).
In addition, Cutworm Pests of Crops on the Canadian Prairies - Identification and Management Field Guide was recently published (2017). This new handy manual has chapters on general biology, history of outbreaks, scouting techniques, natural enemies and general control options. The meat of the manual is descriptions of 24 cutworm species, their lifecycle, hosts, damage, monitoring and economic thresholds. To download a copy, go to the Cutworm Field Guide page.
Find out more about the darksided cutworm at the Insect of the Week page. Other important species include dingy, army, redbacked and pale western cutworms (See Insect of the Week: 2017 - May 1, 8, 15 and 29).
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| Darksided cutworm Photocredit John Gavloski, Manitoba Ministry of Agriculture |
In addition, Cutworm Pests of Crops on the Canadian Prairies - Identification and Management Field Guide was recently published (2017). This new handy manual has chapters on general biology, history of outbreaks, scouting techniques, natural enemies and general control options. The meat of the manual is descriptions of 24 cutworm species, their lifecycle, hosts, damage, monitoring and economic thresholds. To download a copy, go to the Cutworm Field Guide page.
Thursday, 10 May 2018
Cutworms (May 10, 2018; Wk 01)
Cutworms (Noctuidae) – A field guide is now available to help growers scout and manage Cutworms! Cutworm Pest of Crops is available for free in either English or French and is posted on the Cutworm Field Guide page! Also be sure to check the Insect of the Week through May - it highlights cutworms.
Several species of cutworms can be present in fields. They range in colour from shiny opaque, to tan, to brownish-red with chevron patterning. Cutworm biology, species information, plus monitoring recommendations are available in the Prairie Pest Monitoring Network’s Cutworm Monitoring Protocol. Also refer to Manitoba Agriculture cutworm fact sheet which includes action and economic thresholds for cutworms in several crops.
Scout fields that are “slow” to emerge, are missing rows, include wilting or yellowing plants, have bare patches, or appear highly attractive to birds – these are areas warranting a closer look. Plan to follow-up by walking these areas later in the day when some cutworm species move above-ground to feed. Start to dig below the soil surface (1-5 cm deep) near the base of a symptomatic plant or the adjacent healthy plant. If the plant is well-established, check within the crown in addition to the adjacent soil. The culprits could be wireworms or cutworms.
For Albertans..... If you find cutworms, please consider using the Alberta Pest Surveillance Network’s “2018 Cutworm Reporting Tool”. Once data entry occurs, growers can view the live 2018 cutworm map which is updated daily.
Several species of cutworms can be present in fields. They range in colour from shiny opaque, to tan, to brownish-red with chevron patterning. Cutworm biology, species information, plus monitoring recommendations are available in the Prairie Pest Monitoring Network’s Cutworm Monitoring Protocol. Also refer to Manitoba Agriculture cutworm fact sheet which includes action and economic thresholds for cutworms in several crops.
Scout fields that are “slow” to emerge, are missing rows, include wilting or yellowing plants, have bare patches, or appear highly attractive to birds – these are areas warranting a closer look. Plan to follow-up by walking these areas later in the day when some cutworm species move above-ground to feed. Start to dig below the soil surface (1-5 cm deep) near the base of a symptomatic plant or the adjacent healthy plant. If the plant is well-established, check within the crown in addition to the adjacent soil. The culprits could be wireworms or cutworms.
For Albertans..... If you find cutworms, please consider using the Alberta Pest Surveillance Network’s “2018 Cutworm Reporting Tool”. Once data entry occurs, growers can view the live 2018 cutworm map which is updated daily.
Monday, 7 May 2018
Insect of the Week (May 07, 2018) - Glassy cutworm
This week's insect is the glassy cutworm. The larva is greyish-white, semi-translucent and shiny (i.e. glass-like) with a orange-brown head. Since it overwinters as a larva, it is active as soon as the ground thaws. It feeds underground and rarely come to the surface. Their main host crop are grasses but will also attack wheat and corn. Corn planted following wheat may be particularly at risk.
Find out more about the glassy cutworm at the Insect of the Week page.
Other important species include dingy, army, redbacked and pale western cutworms (See Insect of the Week: 2017 - May 1, 8, 15 and 29).
Find out more about the glassy cutworm at the Insect of the Week page.
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| Glassy cutworm cc-by Joseph Berger, bugwood.org |
In addition, Cutworm Pests of Crops on the Canadian Prairies - Identification and Management Field Guide was just published (2017). This new handy field guide has chapters on general biology, history of outbreaks, scouting techniques, natural enemies and general control options. The guide includes descriptions of 24 cutworm species, their lifecycle, hosts, damage, monitoring and economic thresholds. To download a copy, go to the Cutworm Field Guide page.
Friday, 4 August 2017
Update from the field....
Many prairie growers have a cutworm or armyworm story of woe but this time around growers on Vancouver Island near Port Alberni contended with an unusual pest - True armyworm (Mythimna unipuncta) in high densities were eating up hay fields and pasture! Thanks to Tracy Hueppelsheuser with the BC Ministry of Agriculture who shared this CTV news clip.
Remember the NEW Cutworm Field Guide is free and downloadable in 2017!
Friday, 2 June 2017
Weekly Update (Jun 1, 2017; Wk 05) - Cutworms
Cutworms (Noctuidae) – NEW - Just in time for spring scouting! A new field guide is now available to help growers scout and manage Cutworms! Cutworm Pest of Crops is now available for free in either English or French and is featured at our new Cutworm Field Guide!
Keep an eye on fields that are “slow” to emerge, are missing rows, include wilting or yellowing plants, have bare patches, or appear highly attractive to birds – these are areas warranting a closer look. Plan to follow-up by walking these areas later in the day when some cutworm species move above-ground to feed. Start to dig below the soil surface (1-5 cm deep) near the base of a symptomatic plant or the adjacent healthy plant. If the plant is well-established, check within the crown in addition to the adjacent soil. The culprits could be wireworms or cutworms.
Several species of cutworms can be present in fields. They range in colour from shiny opaque, to tan, to brownish-red with chevron patterning. Cutworm biology, species information, plus monitoring recommendations are available in the Prairie Pest Monitoring Network’s Cutworm Monitoring Protocol. Also refer to the Manitoba Agriculture cutworm fact sheet which includes action and economic thresholds for cutworms in several crops.
For Albertans..... If you find cutworms, please consider using the Alberta Pest Surveillance Network’s “2017 Cutworm Reporting Tool”. The map now has reports of pale western and redbacked cutworms in central and southern Alberta so view the live 2017 cutworm map.
Check the Insect of the Week - the month of May highlighted cutworms! Be sure to read more about Pale western cutworms, Redbacked cutworms, Army cutworms, Dingy cutworms.
Several species of cutworms can be present in fields. They range in colour from shiny opaque, to tan, to brownish-red with chevron patterning. Cutworm biology, species information, plus monitoring recommendations are available in the Prairie Pest Monitoring Network’s Cutworm Monitoring Protocol. Also refer to the Manitoba Agriculture cutworm fact sheet which includes action and economic thresholds for cutworms in several crops.
For Albertans..... If you find cutworms, please consider using the Alberta Pest Surveillance Network’s “2017 Cutworm Reporting Tool”. The map now has reports of pale western and redbacked cutworms in central and southern Alberta so view the live 2017 cutworm map.
Check the Insect of the Week - the month of May highlighted cutworms! Be sure to read more about Pale western cutworms, Redbacked cutworms, Army cutworms, Dingy cutworms.
Remember the NEW Cutworm Field Guide is free and downloadable in 2017!
Friday, 26 May 2017
Weekly Update (May 25, 2017; Wk 04) - Cutworms
Cutworms (Noctuidae) – NEW - Just in time for spring scouting! A new field guide is now available to help growers scout and manage Cutworms! Cutworm Pest of Crops is now available for free in either English or French and is featured at our new Cutworm Field Guide! Also be sure to check the Insect of the Week throughout May - it highlights cutworms! Be sure to read more about Dingy cutworms.
Several species of cutworms can be present in fields. They range in colour from shiny opaque, to tan, to brownish-red with chevron patterning. Cutworm biology, species information, plus monitoring recommendations are available in the Prairie Pest Monitoring Network’s Cutworm Monitoring Protocol. Also refer to the Manitoba Agriculture cutworm fact sheet which includes action and economic thresholds for cutworms in several crops.
Keep an eye on fields that are “slow” to emerge, are missing rows, include wilting or yellowing plants, have bare patches, or appear highly attractive to birds – these are areas warranting a closer look. Plan to follow-up by walking these areas later in the day when some cutworm species move above-ground to feed. Start to dig below the soil surface (1-5 cm deep) near the base of a symptomatic plant or the adjacent healthy plant. If the plant is well-established, check within the crown in addition to the adjacent soil. The culprits could be wireworms or cutworms.
For Albertans..... If you find cutworms, please consider using the Alberta Pest Surveillance Network’s “2017 Cutworm Reporting Tool”. The map now has reports of pale western and redbacked cutworms in central and southern Alberta so view the live 2017 cutworm map.
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| Dingy cutworm larva (cc John Gavloski, Manitoba Agriculture) |
Keep an eye on fields that are “slow” to emerge, are missing rows, include wilting or yellowing plants, have bare patches, or appear highly attractive to birds – these are areas warranting a closer look. Plan to follow-up by walking these areas later in the day when some cutworm species move above-ground to feed. Start to dig below the soil surface (1-5 cm deep) near the base of a symptomatic plant or the adjacent healthy plant. If the plant is well-established, check within the crown in addition to the adjacent soil. The culprits could be wireworms or cutworms.
For Albertans..... If you find cutworms, please consider using the Alberta Pest Surveillance Network’s “2017 Cutworm Reporting Tool”. The map now has reports of pale western and redbacked cutworms in central and southern Alberta so view the live 2017 cutworm map.
Remember the NEW Cutworm Field Guide is free and downloadable in 2017!
Tuesday, 23 May 2017
Insect of the Week (May 23, 2017) - Dingy cutworm
For many, seed isn't even in the ground yet, but the cutworms are ready for it when it is. So the time to start scouting for cutworms is now! Even if it is too wet to seed, consider checking volunteer plants for cutworms or feeding damage. General cutworm monitoring protocols can be found on the Monitoring Protocols page. Species-specific protocols can be found in the new Cutworm Pests of Crops on the Canadian Prairies (see below for download details).
There are over 20 cutworm species that may cause economic damage to your crop, each with different feeding behaviour, preferred hosts and lifecycle. This is why species identification is so important: it helps growers understand what they are up against: determining how and when to scout, knowing whether the cutworm species is found above-ground (climbing) or below-ground, recognizing damage, choosing control options. Species also impacts the most appropriate time of day for monitoring and applying controls.
Action and economic thresholds do exist for many of the cutworm species - please use them. This will help control costs by eliminating unnecessary/un-economic sprays and reduce your impact on non-target insects - insects that include cutworm natural enemies that work in the background to control cutworm populations.
This week's Insect of the Week is the dingy cutworm. This is an above ground climbing species. Crops are at greatest risk in the spring when partially mature larvae emerge to feed primarily on leaves. The name 'dingy cutworm' is generally applied to three closely related species with similar appearance and life cycles.
For more information about dingy cutworms, go to the Insect of Week page.
There are over 20 cutworm species that may cause economic damage to your crop, each with different feeding behaviour, preferred hosts and lifecycle. This is why species identification is so important: it helps growers understand what they are up against: determining how and when to scout, knowing whether the cutworm species is found above-ground (climbing) or below-ground, recognizing damage, choosing control options. Species also impacts the most appropriate time of day for monitoring and applying controls.
Action and economic thresholds do exist for many of the cutworm species - please use them. This will help control costs by eliminating unnecessary/un-economic sprays and reduce your impact on non-target insects - insects that include cutworm natural enemies that work in the background to control cutworm populations.
This week's Insect of the Week is the dingy cutworm. This is an above ground climbing species. Crops are at greatest risk in the spring when partially mature larvae emerge to feed primarily on leaves. The name 'dingy cutworm' is generally applied to three closely related species with similar appearance and life cycles.
For more information about dingy cutworms, go to the Insect of Week page.
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| Dingy cutworm larva (cc John Gavioski, Manitoba Agriculture) |
Remember the NEW Cutworm Field Guide is free and downloadable in 2017!
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