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Alberta insect pest update

June 17, 2014 - Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development (ARD) is continuing to keep an eye on insect pests in this year's crops.

Scott Meers, ARD insect management specialist, says they have a number of different insects on the radar.

"We're getting reports of cutworms, and there seems to be a variety of species," says Meers. "Most of the reports this last week have been from central Alberta around the Three Hills and Trochu area up to the Bashaw/New Norway area, and mostly on canola."

Meers says the pea leaf weevil survey will be complete next week. He notes the level of activity appears to be lower than it has been in recent years. "We're also finding the weevil further north than normal, especially on the west side of the province, and we're finding more damage in faba beans than in peas."

Meers says diamondback moths will likely not be an issue this year. Meanwhile, Bertha armyworm traps will be going out next week.

June 18, 2014  By Janet Kanters

ARD insect management specialist Scott Meers conducting the 2014 pea leaf weevil survey. Alberta Agriculture’s insect management specialist says there are a number of different insects on the radar this week.