Cutworms and scarab beetles concerns for Alberta canola producers

Canola
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Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development Agri-News

(June 23, 2014)

Cutworms and scarab beetles seem to be the insects of most concern in Alberta this week.  “Almost all of the serious cutworm damage seems to be on canola,” says Scott Meers, insect management specialist, Alberta Agriculture, Brooks. “Once a canola plant is cut off, it doesn’t come back. Barley and wheat and other cereals can often recover from cutworm damage, but we are seeing significant damage in some canola fields.”  Meers says he is also getting calls about scarab beetles.

“Generally scarab beetles are dung beetles, but there are some reports that indicate they may be doing damage to seedlings,” says Meers. “There is a particular species we’ve been watching that has no common name and that has been known to damage crops in the past. We’re wondering if this activity is caused by it. In previous years the beetle had been found on land that had manure applied to it, but this time it seems to be different. We’d certainly like to hear from anyone running into these beetles.”

More information on the beetle is available by clicking here.

Meers says bertha army worm adults are starting to fly soon but the first week of trap catches showing zero counts. “This is good but not unexpected. We want the traps out before the flights so we know we caught the full flight. And, if anyone hasn’t set their traps out yet, it’s time to get the traps out and registered.”

Meers says with canola on the verge of flowering in southern Alberta, producers should be watching for cabbage seed pod weevil. “And with wheat starting to head out in some place, it’s a good idea to keep an eye out for wheat midge as well,” says Meers. “Both cabbage seed pod weevil and wheat midge are probably more than a week away, but not much more than that.”