Research

Background

Insect pests of field crops in Western Canada pose serious risks to crop yields on an annual basis. Farmers in Western Canada have to manage insects including grasshoppers, wheat midge, wheat stem sawfly, cabbage seedpod weevil, pea leaf weevil, bertha armyworm, diamondback moth, flea beetles, and a variety of aphid species. These insects pests can be managed using a variety of tactics, including integrated pest management (IPM) programs, but the success of insect management is dependent on timely scouting, use of appropriate tactics, and biotic and abiotic factors. Insect pest populations may also be resistant to registered insecticide active ingredients.

To be best equipped to manage insect pests and reduce insect-related yield losses, farmers and agronomists require significant amounts of information related to the biology, distribution and management of those pests, as well as the impact of their natural enemies and their susceptibility to registered insecticides.

This study aims to address the ongoing need for information to combat insect-related crop losses in Western Canada by: A) conducting field and lab experiments to fill knowledge gaps that hinder the development of predictive models for key pest species. B) using new data generated, existing knowledge and historical monitoring records to develop and validate predictive models for additional pest species. C) Leveraging annual pest monitoring activities to test insect pest populations from across Western Canada for insecticide resistance and add this information to risk assessments for insect species.

Objectives

1. Understand insect pest population dynamics and forecast pest populations
2. Assess the current status of insecticide resistance in Western Canada
3. Develop new insect information resources