Pea leaf larvae - credit Alberta agriculture

By Dori Modney with files from Alberta Agriculture

invasive species

Alberta Pest Monitoring Network seeking test fields

Jun 12, 2020 | 11:05 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB. — It’s that time of year that the Alberta Insect Pest Monitoring Network is checking fields for invasive species.

Bertha Armyworm traps are being placed in fields this week and the reporting data base will open on June 14.

Alberta Agriculture and Forestry insect technologist Shelley Barkley says that last week, pupal development was at 65% in Alberta.

“If you are a producer who is planting peas in 2020 or an agronomist who has clients with pea fields, entimologists would like the opportunity to visit your field,” says Shelley Barkley, insect technologist with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry (AF).

“The timing of the survey coincides with maximum feeding damage and to find the fields in 4 to 6 node stage.”

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In each Alberta municipality where pea leaf weevil is known to exist, five fields are surveyed. In areas outside the known range of the insect, as well as three fields per municipality are surveyed.

In 2019, staff visited more than 250 pea fields in Alberta – from Warner to Manning and from Pincher Creek to Bonnyville.

When it comes to the pea leaf weevil survey, Barkley says they have completed the survey south of Highway 1 and are starting the week in Wheatland, Kneehill, Starland, Acadia, Special Area 2 and 3.

The team is still looking for fields for surveying in the next couple weeks.

Email shelley.barkley@gov.ab.ca for details. The team does not enter the field they are surveying.

Pea Weevil — credit to Alberta Agriculture

Find more information and resources on the Alberta Insect Pest Monitoring Network.