Pest surveillance branch update June 19, 2014

Alberta Insect Pest Monitoring Network – The wet weather will favor disease development. Many fungal and bacterial diseases will thrive with the continuous moisture available. On his weekly insect update on Call of the Land, Scott Meers talks about cutworms, scarab beetle, and bertha armyworm. Diseases to watch for under these conditions at this time of year

Wireworm crawling out of soil.

Researchers need wireworm samples

Wireworm numbers are on the rise and Ag Canada researchers need samples to develop control methods

Producers can help in the effort to find a wireworm control solution by submitting samples to Canada’s wireworm research team. “Lindane (such as Vitavax Dual) insecticide kept wireworm numbers low for several decades on the Prairies,” says Neil Whatley, crop specialist with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development. “(But) since the ban of this organochlorine pesticide