What’s eating my crop this week?
Gophers continue to cause significant damage in southern regions of Saskatchewan and Alberta. Adult gophers are only active for about 100 days a year and are now beginning their summer hibernation. Juveniles will continue activity through mid-September (females) and into October (males). Preliminary testing indicates that bait stations are effective within about a 50(ish)-foot radius, but reduce population less in summer than in the spring before green-up. Support predators, especially badgers and birds of prey. Saskatchewan’s gopher control program ends July 31.
Clover cutworm damage has been reported in the north Peace around Fort Vermillion. They are similar in size and appearance to bertha armyworm; however, major damage is not common and spraying whole fields is not usually economical. Read more in AAFC’s Cutworm Pests on the Canadian Prairies – Identification and Management Field Guide.
The new threshold of lygus bugs is 20-30 per 10 sweeps. Use the lower value for stressed crops. In Alberta’s black soil zone when good soil moisture exists, agronomists have in the past used a threshold of 50-80 lygus bugs per 10 sweeps or higher. More heat in the forecast could support peak emergence of bertha armyworms. Nothing can be done for late-season flea beetles.
Manitoba Crop Pest Update: Trap results: diamondback moth, bertha armyworm
Saskatchewan survey updates: bertha armyworm, diamondback moth
Alberta live maps: bertha armyworm, cabbage seedpod weevil, cutworms, diamondback moth
