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.

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2019 Risk and Forecast Maps for the Prairies

The 2019 Prairie-Wide Risk and Forecast Maps can be viewed and downloaded here.

Economically significant insect pests are monitored across the Canadian prairies each year, thanks to extensive networks of collaborators and cooperators.  In 2018, that effort culminated in 5764 survey stops across Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and the BC Peace!  

Here's what's included in the PDF file:

• Average tempature, average precipitation, and modeled soil moisture for 2018.
• A series of geospatial maps are included for each of the target species; the current map is followed by the previous 4 years.  
• For some species, the geospatial maps represent 2018 distributions used to infer risk in the coming 2019 growing season.  Data is included for bertha armyworm, cabbage seedpod weevil, pea leaf weevil, wheat stem sawfly and diamondback moth.
• For wheat midge and grasshoppers, the geospatial maps forecast or predict expected populations or risk for the 2019 growing season.  

The historical Risk and Forecast Maps (2015-2019) are available for review.  

These maps help the agricultural industry prepare to manage insect pests across the prairies and helps growers make crop choices and anticipate scouting priorities within their growing region.  From May to July, the Weekly Updates will provide in-season updates, predictive model outputs plus scouting tips and links to relevant information.  

Thank you to the many people who monitor each growing season!

2018 Swede Midge Pheromone Monitoring Results - Mori, Vankosky

In 2018, swede midge pheromone traps were deployed at 41 sites across the Prairie region of Canada to monitor adult populations of this brassica pest. Of the 41 trap sites, 16 were located in Alberta, 19 in Saskatchewan (where positive swede midge identifications were made in 2007 and 2009), and 6 in Manitoba.

None of the traps were positive for swede midge in 2018. 

We are grateful to all of the producers, agronomists, and cooperators who participated in the 2018 swede midge monitoring project. Without your assistance, we could not have supported such a thorough and widespread pheromone monitoring program.

We also extend our thanks to Jonathon Williams for organizing the program, distributing trapping materials, and processing returned sticky cards for adult swede midge.

Because of the serious threat that swede midge poses to canola production, it is vital that monitoring for swede midge continues across the Prairies. At this time, plans are being made for the 2019 swede midge monitoring program. We hope that we can count on your support and cooperation in 2019.

At this time, plans are being made for the 2019 swede midge monitoring program. Agrologists or growers interested in performing weekly monitoring in 2019 are encouraged to contact Jonathon Williams, Boyd Mori, or Meghan Vankosky for more information.

Boyd Mori and Meghan Vankosky
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Saskatoon Research and Development Centre

More information about swede midge can be found by:

• Referring to the Canola Watch article by Dr. Julie Soroka or accessing a new Ontario fact sheet produced by Baute et al. 2016.
• Accessing the swede midge pages within the new Field Guide which is available as a free download in either English or French.

2017 Swede Midge Pheromone Monitoring Results - Mori, Vankosky

In 2017, swede midge pheromone traps were deployed at 46 sites across the Prairie region to monitor for populations of this brassica pest. Of the 46 trap sites, two were located in BC, 19 in Alberta, 16 in Saskatchewan, and nine in Manitoba. Figure 1 illustrates trap site locations in 2017. Two pheromone traps were deployed at each site.

All of the traps were negative for swede midge in 2017. 

Figure 1.  Pheromone trap site locations for swede midge (Continarinia nasturtii) in 2017.

We are grateful to all of the producers, agronomists, and cooperators who participated in the 2017 swede midge monitoring project. Without your assistance, we could not have supported such a thorough and widespread pheromone monitoring program.

We also extend our thanks to Nancy Melnychuk (AAFC-Saskatoon) for organizing the program and distributing trapping materials, and to Jonathon Williams and Shane Hladun (AAFC-Saskatoon) for examining the returned sticky cards.

Because of the serious threat that swede midge poses to canola production, it is vital that monitoring continues across the Prairies. At this time, plans are being made for the 2018 swede midge monitoring program. Agrologists or growers interested in performing weekly monitoring in 2018 are encouraged to contact Jonathon Williams, Boyd Mori, or Meghan Vankosky for more information.

Boyd Mori and Meghan Vankosky
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Saskatoon Research and Development Centre

More information about swede midge can be found by:

• Referring to the Canola Watch article by Dr. Julie Soroka or accessing a new Ontario fact sheet produced by Baute et al. 2016.
• Accessing the swede midge pages within the new Field Guide which is available as a free download in either English or French.

Winter Update (Oct 2, 2017; Wk 22) - 2017 Pea leaf weevil distribution map for SK

The 2017 Saskatchewan Pea leaf weevil distribution map was recently posted by Saskatchewan Agriculture.  The survey is based on the average number of feeding notches observed per plant (read more about PLW monitoring).  Watch for the November issue of Agriview when the 2017 map below will be posted accompanied by a written summary.  

Participants involved with the survey are thanked for their efforts and the extra sites that produced the 2017 pea leaf weevil map!  

The effort revealed a marked expansion in distribution within Saskatchewan in 2017 compared to 2016!

More information on pea leaf weevil can be accessed by reviewing Week 6 of the Weekly Update! 

Remember - a NEWLY UPDATED PPMN monitoring protocol is available!  Also refer to the pea leaf weevil page within the "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.  A review of this insect was published in 2011 by Carcamo and Vankosky in Prairie Soils and Crops.

Insect of the Week (May 29, 2017) - Pea leaf weevil

This week's "Insect of the Week" is the Pea Leaf Weevil. Larval hosts are field peas and faba beans. Adults can spread to other cultivated and wild legumes, such as alfalfa, beans and lentils. Each adult female lays up to 300 eggs in one summer! The eggs hatch in the soil near developing plants and larvae move to feed on nitrogen-fixing nodules. This results in partial or complete inhibition of nitrogen fixation by the plant, causing poor plant growth. Adults feed on leaves and growing points of seedlings, causing notches in leaf margins.

Adult, larval and egg stages overlap and all three can be present over most of the growing season. For more information about Pea Leaf Weevil risk in your area, see the 2017 Insect Risk Maps page. Also, we have posted a NEW Pea Leaf Weevil monitoring protocol.

For more information on the pea leaf weevil, see the Insect of the Week page.

Pea leaf weevil - adult, eggs (Mike Dolinski, MikeDolinsky@hotmail.com)

Remember the NEW Cutworm Field Guide is free and downloadable in 2017!

2017 Risk and Forecast Maps for the Prairies

The 2017 Prairie-Wide Risk and Forecast Maps can be viewed and downloaded here. Maps are generated for bertha armyworm, grasshoppers, wheat midge, cabbage seedpod weevil, pea leaf weevil, wheat stem sawfly, diamondback moth as well as average temperature, average precipitation, and modeled soil moisture for the Canadian prairies.

Thank you to the many people who monitor each growing season!  An astonishing 6414 survey stops were involved in the insect monitoring performed across the Canadian prairies in 2016!

Manitoba insect survey and forecast maps - J. Gavloski

Manitoba posts their 2016 Insect Survey and 2017 Forecast Maps up on their website! Take a moment to look over the following forecasts:

• Manitoba Grasshopper Forecast Map for 2017.
• Risk Forecast for Bertha Armyworm in Manitoba in 2016.
• Diamondback Moth Monitoring Program in Manitoba - 2016.

Manitoba growers can access general information on pest and beneficial insects from a series of fact sheets posted at the Insect section of their website.

More information related to the above maps and insects can be obtained by contacting Manitoba Agriculture entomologist John Gavloski.

Saskatchewan Insect Survey and Forecast Maps are available on Saskatchewan.ca - Hartley, Stephens

All the Saskatchewan Insect Survey and Forecast Maps and more can be found on Saskatchewan.ca ! To view all our agriculture maps check out our Maps for Farmers and Agribusiness section.

The Saskatchewan 2016 Bertha Armyworm moth accumulation map is posted.
The Saskatchewan 2016 Cabbage Seedpod Weevil Survey Map is posted.
Saskatchewan's 2016 Pea Leaf weevil Survey Map can be viewed.
The Saskatchewan 2017 Grasshopper Forecast Map is posted now.
Also, the Saskatchewan 2017 Wheat Midge Forecast Map is posted now.

Saskatchewan growers can access general Insect pest information located under our Crop Protection section.

More information related to the above maps and insects can be obtained by contacting Saskatchewan Agriculture's Scott Hartley or Danielle Stephens.

Alberta 2017 Forecast and 2016 Risk Maps plus updates to Alberta Agriculture and Forestry web pages - Meers, Barkley

Alberta has posted their forecast and survey maps for several insect pest species occurring in field crops.  Visit their home page to view all the Alberta maps.

The following list and hyperlinks were provided by Shelley Barkley via the Alberta Insect Pest Monitoring Network.

Scott Meers, entomologist with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, was interviewed and spoke about Alberta insect forecasts for 2017.  That series of five interviews can be access with the following hyperlinks:

1. 2017 Wheat Stem Sawfly and Cabbage Seedpod Weevil Forecasts
2. 2017 Pea Leaf Weevil Forecast
3. 2017 Wheat Midge Forecast
4. 2017 Bertha Armyworm Forecast
5. Grasshoppers

Additionally, Alberta Agriculture and Forestry has updated their webpages with the following:

1. They have created a graphic that illustrates the "range expansion" of 2 evil weevils in Alberta: pea leaf and cabbage seedpod.
2. Similar graphics have been added to their bertha armyworm page.  Check out the past "six years of bertha armyworm moth" in Alberta which can be accessed via an hyperlink positioned on their bertha armyworm web page. 
3. Their grasshopper page has been updated too - check out the "historic grasshopper maps" for Alberta via a hyperlink located on their grasshopper web page. 
4. The past "eight years of sawfly" in Alberta can be accessed via a hyperlink located on their wheat stem sawfly web page.
5. Remember, if you have access to a large format printer, a poster of the 6 Alberta insect forecast maps is available to print.

2016 Swede Midge Pheromone Monitoring - Olfert, Mori, Vankosky

In 2016, swede midge pheromone traps were deployed at 62 sites across the Prairie region to monitor adult populations of this brassica pest. Of the 62 trap sites, two were located in BC, 13 in Alberta, 29 in Saskatchewan (where positive swede midge identifications were made in 2007 and 2009), and 13 in Manitoba. The map below illustrates trap site locations in 2016.

None of the traps were positive for swede midge in 2016. 

We are grateful to all of the producers, agronomists, and cooperators who participated in the 2016 swede midge monitoring project. Without your assistance, we could not have supported such a thorough and widespread pheromone monitoring program. 

We also extend our thanks to Nancy Melnychuk (AAFC-Saskatoon) for organizing the program, distributing trapping materials, and processing returned sticky cards for adult swede midge.

Because of the serious threat that swede midge poses to canola production, it is vital that monitoring for swede midge continues across the Prairies. At this time, plans are being made for the 2017 swede midge monitoring program. Agrologists or growers interested in performing weekly monitoring in 2017 are encouraged to email either your provincial entomologist or the survey researchers hyperlinked below for more information.

Owen Olfert (AAFC-Saskatoon) 
Boyd Mori (AAFC-Saskatoon) 
Meghan Vankosky (AAFC-Saskatoon) 

John Gavloski (Manitoba Agriculture) 
Scott Hartley (Saskatchewan Agriculture) 
Scott Meers (Alberta Agriculture & Forestry) 

More information about swede midge can be found by:
• Referring to the Canola Watch article by Dr. Julie Soroka or accessing a new Ontario fact sheet produced by Baute et al. 2016.
• Accessing the swede midge pages within the new Field Guide which is available as a free download in either English or French.

2016 Risk and Forecast Maps for the Prairies

The most recent insect pest maps of the 2016 forecast maps can be viewed and downloaded here.