Latest Research

Check out these insect-related research findings from entomologists across Canada. They’re Field Hero champions doing important work that can make a difference in your crops.

June 2023

• Weather synopsis
  Find updated temperature and precipitation data for the Canadian prairies. These factors play a significant role in both insect and host crop development.
• Wind trajectory summary
  Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada have a long-term collaboration focused on using wind trajectory models to predict insect migration and dispersal.
• Predicted grasshopper development
  Grasshopper nymphs up to the third instar, possibly including pest species like migratory grasshopper (Melanoplus sanguinipes) and two-striped grasshopper, are being reported already in some parts of the prairies.
• Predicted diamondback moth development
  Diamondback moths (Plutella xylostella) were found on pheromone traps set up the first week of May and adults of a new generation could be in flight now.
• Predicted bertha armyworm development
  As we’ve seen for other pests this spring, warm temperatures have likely contributed to rapid development of bertha armyworm pupae in the soil. If you are helping us to monitor adult bertha armyworm, the pheromone traps might need to get set up earlier than normal this year.
• Provincial Insect Updates
  Use the links in this post to keep up to date with insect pest updates from Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta.
• Insect of the Week – Pea Leaf Weevil
  Check out the Insect of the Week article from May 29 to learn more about the pea leaf weevil.

May 2023

• Weather synopsis
  Read about the weather so far this spring across the Canadian prairies. Temperature and precipitation have significant impacts on insect and crop development.
• Predicted grasshopper development
  Adult grasshoppers, including the migratory grasshopper, Melanoplus sanguinipes, benefited from warm and dry weather late in the summer of 2022. Egg development is currently underway for the pest grasshoppers.
• Predicted alfalfa weevil development
  Alfalfa weevil (Hypera postica) adults overwinter and could already be laying eggs in some parts of the prairies.
• Insect of the week
  Flea beetles are an important early-season insect pest across the Canadian prairies. Learn more about their biology and impact in the first Insect of the Week article of 2023.