PEI Potato Growers Meeting: March 14, 2016
Wireworm and Click Beetle IPM Studies in BC and PEI.
Dr. Robert S. Vernon Dr. Wim van Herk Agassiz Research & Development Centre, AAFC Wireworm
Topics
Wireworm and
Click Beetle Control Biology
Click Beetles Wireworm s Field Risk; IPM Potatoes Monitoring
Cereals Spray Trials Manual Wireworm
Topics
Wireworm and
Click Beetle Control Biology
Click Beetles Wireworm s Field Risk; IPM Potatoes Monitoring
Cereals Spray Trials Manual Limonius Setting the stage:
-Wireworms: -several economic species in Canada (> 20)
Selatosomus
Melanotus Agriotes Surveys: 2004-2015 Identification of economic wireworms across Canada:
Wim van Herk Bob Vernon
AAFC-Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre, Agassiz, BC Identification + distribution (summary) • Main pest species today – Quebec – BC • Hypnoidus abbreviatus • Agriotes obscurus • Limonius aeger • Agriotes lineatus • M. communis/fissilis • Limonius canus • Dalopius vagus • L. californicus • Agriotes mancus – Prairies • Hypnoidus bicolor – Atlantic Canada (PEI) • Selatosomus destructor • Agriotes obscurus • Limonius californicus • Agriotes lineatus • Agriotes mancus • Agriotes sputator – Ontario • Hypnoidus abbreviatus • Hypnoidus abbreviatus • Limonius aeger • Limonius agonus • Melanotus similis • Melanotus spp. • Sylvanelater cylindriformis • Agriotes mancus • Agriotes mancus
Setting the stage:
-Wireworms: -A field may have one or MULTIPLE species
Setting the stage:
-Wireworms: -In PEI, samples we received from 12 fields ALL had at least 2 species, and one field had 5!!!!!
-Common combo in PEI: Agriotes sputator and Hypnoidus abbreviatus Why does this matter???? Wireworm species may differ in… - Susceptibility to insecticides -neonicotinoids (Titan in BC vs PEI) -pyrethroids (species differences….later)
Why does this matter????
- Knowing what species you are dealing with is of vital importance with respect to: a) ANY WW research program, and especially pesticide trials! b) The development of management strategies.
Life Cycle
Details vary between species!!!!!
Top Crop Magazine General Information: The click beetle stage:
Agriotes lineatus
Limonius canus The click beetle stage:
Typically emerge in spring after overwintering.
Mean number of male and female A. obscurus in Pitfall Traps males females 2015, Agassiz 6 A. obscurus
5
4 of beetles beetles of 3
2 Mean number number Mean
1
0 M30 A2 A8 A10 A13 A15 A17 A20 A22 A24 A27 A29 M1 M4 M6 M8 M11 M13 M15 M19 M21 M22 M25 M29 J3 J5 J8 J10
APRIL MAY The click beetle stage:
Typically emerge in spring after overwintering. In BC, may start in late March, peaking early May, then decline until July. Females lay eggs during that time.
Mean number of male and female A. obscurus in Pitfall Traps males females 2015, Agassiz 6 A. obscurus
5
4 of beetles beetles of 3
2 Mean number number Mean
1
0 M30 A2 A8 A10 A13 A15 A17 A20 A22 A24 A27 A29 M1 M4 M6 M8 M11 M13 M15 M19 M21 M22 M25 M29 J3 J5 J8 J10
APRIL MAY a) b) c)
ovarioles eggs
ovipositor lipids Most with mature eggs by April 22-27, 2015.
Number of A. obscurus beetles with mature, immature, or no eggs in 2015 Agassiz field mature immature none mean N mature eggs
30 60
beetles 25 50
20 40 A. obscurusA. 15 * 30
10 20 Mean number of eggs of number Mean 5 10
Number of female female of Number 0 0 M30 A2 A8 A10 A13 A15 A17 A20 A22 A24 A27 A29 M1 M4 M6 M8 M11M13M15M19M21M22M25M29 J3 J5 J8 J10 Dates
About 3 weeks after initial emergence The click beetle stage:
In PEI, A. sputator and others would typically start in early May. In 2015, due to late spring, A. sputator didn’t emerge in PEI until about May 21.
PEI Field 2, Pheromone traps, males
25000
20000 15000 10000
beetles beetles per day 5000 ♂ 0 May 27 Jun 1 Jun 10 Jun 18 Jun 26 Jul 3 Jul 10 Jul 16
PEI Field 2, Pitfall Traps, males
50
40 30 20 ♂ beetles beetles per day 10 0 Agriotes sputator May 27 Jun 1 Jun 10 Jun 18 Jun 26 Jul 3 Jul 10 Jul 16
PEI Field 2, Pitfall Traps, females
25
20 15 10
beetles beetles per day ♀ 5 0 May 27 Jun 1 Jun 10 Jun 18 Jun 26 Jul 3 Jul 10 Jul 16 Most with mature eggs by June 3, 2015.
Number of A. sputator beetles with mature, immature or no eggs in PEI Field 3.
No eggs Immature eggs only Mature eggs
80 70 60 * 50 40 30
Number of beetlesofNumber 20 10 0 May 28 June 3 June 11 June 18 June 25 July 2 July 9 July 29
About 1-2 weeks after initial emergence In a normal year, mature eggs about Mid May The click beetle stage:
Where do they come from in an agricultural area????
Typically, from undisturbed, non-farmed habitats.
Permanent Wireworm Habitats
Permanent Grass
Grassy ditches
Undisturbed field borders
Others: Pasture; lawns; grassy road edges, etc. Winter wheat Winter wheat Permanent Wireworm/ Click Beetle Reservoir PEI Field 2, Winter Wheat: Week 4: June 12-18, 2015 Total Females: A. sputator Females 0.63/Trap/Day
16
14
12
10
8
6 v 4
2
0 ♀ PEI Field 2, Winter Wheat: Week 5: June 19-26, 2015 Total Females: A. sputator Females 0.42/Trap/Day
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0 ♀ The click beetle stage:
So what are the preferred egg laying hosts of beetles coming out of permanent habitats????
Obviously, the habitat they are in. Adjacent fields with: -pasture -cereal crops, especially wheat and barley -grassy set asides (organics)
The click beetle stage:
So what happens when immigrant beetles lay eggs in a field????
Click Beetles enter grassy fields, cereal crops, etc. in Spring. Eggs are laid in soil, and hatch into neonates in 3-4 weeks.
Larvae (> 1 species) live and feed for years in the soil.
Populations increase with # years under grass or cereals. Once a field is infested, we have a new concern!!!
Surviving wireworms at the end of their life cycle (4 years), form adult beetles that emerge within the field, adding to the immigrating beetle populations. If field at that time is in cereal, populations can EXPLODE!!! This is happening in PEI!!!!!!! This becomes a problem when:
-Grass or cereals are in rotation with other high value crops, such as potatoes.
Wireworm infested wheat field
-Wireworm stage:
Agriotes lineatus
-Wireworm stage: -once in a field, will attack many economic crops
Potato feeding by wireworms:
At planting, mother tubers coincide with spring feeders. We know that 100% of wireworms feed at some point at this time. This is when your insecticides will do the most damage to wireworms (Thimet). When pesticides are strongest, and in zone where mother tubers are placed. Potato feeding by wireworms:
Wireworms mostly dormant in summer Daughter tubers, if present in September, coincide with fall feeders. Fall feeding occurs over a prolonged period. The longer potatoes are in the soil at that time, the higher the damage!!!!!! British Columbia POTATO TRIAL 2005 - WIREWORM DAMAGE ON TWO SAMPLING DATES
25.00 September 19th October 11th 20.00 23 days later
15.00
10.00
MEAN BLEMISHES/TUBER MEAN 5.00
0.00
Genesis
Thimet15G
Pyrifos 15G
Cruiser5FS L Poncho600 L
Poncho600 H Cruiser5FS H
Poncho600 M Cruiser5FS M
Control: Blank Control:
Pyrinex480EC
Control+Maxim
Poncho+PyrinexL
Poncho+PyrinexH
CruiserPyrinex + L CruiserPyrinex + H TREATMENTS Wireworm
Topics
Wireworm and
Click Beetle Control Biology
Click Beetles Wireworm s Field Risk; IPM Potatoes Monitoring
Cereals Spray Trials Manual Growing Forward II initiative: -Canadian Hort. Council Wireworm Cluster Project
Annual potato insecticide trials conducted in BC, PEI and other areas across Canada.
2015 - BC Trial (Vernon) - PEI Trial (Noronha) Plot preparation -Roundup in March Harvests done at 100 and 120 DAP -Field disced, not ploughed -Clods removed -Furrows opened -Seeding by hand
Leona Arnold 15 yrs grading experience
41 HARVESTED ROW
GUARD ROW TREATED ROWS GUARD ROW CO2
CO2 Tuber blemishbait trapping protection in the CO2 CO2 CO2 following spring = CO2 CO2 Wireworm Mortality? Insecticide Efficacy Trials at PARC, Agassiz, 2013 Mean wireworm blemishes per market-sized tuber 5 Harvest 1 (100 DAP)
4
3
2 blem/tuber
1
0
5 Harvest 2 (120 DAP)
4
3
2 blem/tuber
1
0
15G
100
200
300
200
EXP EXP 1 EXP 2 EXP 3 EXP 4 EXP 5 EXP 6 EXP 7 EXP 8 EXP 9
EXP 12 EXP 13 EXP 14
EXP 10
EXP 11
Capt
Capt
Capt
Untreated
Capt
Titan 12.5 Titan
Thimet Titan 6.3 6.3 + Titan Agriotes obscurus Efficacy Trials (Agassiz: 2003-2013)
Control Thimet 15G Pyrinex 480EC Capture 2EC (phorate) (chlorpyrifos) (bifenthrin) (300g) N = 13 N = 13 N = 9 N = 5
100
80
60 ? ?
40 % of Control of %
20
0 Blemishes Large wws Small wws But: Capture only controls wireworms. So, no control of CPB, aphids, flea beetles. Need to combine with a systemic at planting. Options: -Neonic mixed with Capture as IF spray. -Neonic seed tmt with Capture IF spray.
% of Control 100 20 40 60 80 0 Wireworm Efficacy Trials (Agassiz: 2003 Efficacy (Agassiz: Trials Wireworm Control N = 13 Blemishes
Thimet N = 13
15G
Large wws Pyrinex N= 9
480EC
?
Small wws + Titan ST ( Capture 2EC ( - N = 4 2013)
6.3 ? 200g g)
) How does Capture work?
Repulsive to wireworms in all lab studies When sprayed in furrow at planting, repels wireworms moving to seeded rows. Force field idea. The wider the seed furrow, the better the force field. The better the coverage of seed furrow, the better the force field. The more water the better!
2015 Agassiz Potato Trial
100 HARVEST 1 (110 DAP) 90 HARVEST 2 (132 DAP) 80
70
60
50
40
30
% Reduction Blemishes in Reduction % 20
10
0 Check Thimet Capture Capture Titan Titan 6.3g + 15G 300g 300g 12.5g Capt. 200g ‘Sides’ ‘Bottom’ Wireworm
Topics
Wireworm and
Click Beetle Control Biology
Click Beetles Wireworm s Field Risk; IPM Potatoes Monitoring
Cereals Spray Trials Manual Cereal Seed Tmts: “PAST”
-Lindane (Vitavax) seed treatment used -Provided good stand protection AND… -Killed wireworms quite effectively (growers claimed 3 or 4 years) -BUT!!! -Banned in Canada in 2004. Wireworm infested wheat field
No wireworms Growing Forward II initiative: -Canadian Hort. Council Wireworm Cluster Project
Annual wheat seed insecticide trials conducted in BC, PEI and other areas across Canada. -2014, 2015: -3 Field trials in BC (2 ww species) -2 Field trials in Prairies (1ww species) -1 Field trial in PEI (1 ww species) Preformed furrows Plot preparation Precision seeding by hand -Roundup in March -Field disced, not ploughed -Clods removed No CO2!!!! Does crop protection Weekly counts Core sampling = Harvest Yield Wireworm Mortality?
neonates Resident wws
Bait Traps Installed: 4/plot Extracts: 1 year later Berlese Funnel Room -neonates -resident wws
55 Candidate Insecticides for Canada: Neonicotinoids (related to nicotine): clothianidin (Poncho, Titan) thiamethoxam (Actara, CruiserMaxx) imidacloprid (Gaucho, Stress Shield 600). Synthetic pyrethroids (related to pyrethrum): tefluthrin (Force); bifenthrin (Capture) lambda cyhalothrin (Matador). Phenyl pyrazoles: fipronil (Regent). Other candidates: renaxypyr, cyazypyr, spinosad, halofenocide
-Only fipronil killed wireworms -but won’t be registered in Canada The search goes on for Lindane replacement(s): -Crop Protection -Wireworm kill -New “Silver bullets”
? ? ? ? ? ? Good news…….
-A number of promising proprietary products have been identified. -I expect to see one or more new Silver Bullets registered before I retire.
-My retirement date is classified.
Wireworm infested wheat field
No wireworms Wireworm
Topics
Wireworm and
Click Beetle Control Biology
Click Beetles Wireworm s Field Risk; IPM Potatoes Monitoring
Cereals Spray Trials Manual Click Beetle Control Control Click beetles
X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Top Crop Magazine Why Click Beetle Control??:
In areas with ‘fields’ saturated with ww populations, and few/poor WW controls. In areas with cereals and grasses in rotation with high value crops (potatoes). In Canada, where European wireworms have become established. Prime example is PEI. -A. sputator reaching epidemic proportions -Growers willing to try new approaches
Control Options:
A) Farmed X X Habitats X X X X X X X + B) Non-Farmed Habitats X X X A) Farmed Habitats
Strategies under evaluation Insecticidal sprays. -B. Vernon and W. van Herk Biological + Semiochemical. -T. Kabaluk Wireworm
Topics
Wireworm and
Click Beetle Control Biology
Click Beetles Wireworm s Field Risk; IPM Potatoes Monitoring
Cereals Spray Trials Manual Wireworm PEI Wireworm Risk To Fields Survey Results: 2009; 2012; 2016
Moderate Catches
Low High Catches Catches Image from Shauna Mellish Wireworm Field History of Risk To Fields WW damage
Nearby Field History of WW Damage (<1 km away)
Approaching WW Damage (1 to 4 km away) Wireworm Years in Pasture Risk To Fields -past 4 Years
1 Yr 2 Yr 3 Yr 4 Yr
Year 1 Year 4 Year 2
Year 3 Wireworm Years in Cereals Risk To Fields -past 4 Years
1 Yr 2 Yr 3 Yr 4 Yr Wireworm Risk To Fields Click Beetle Trapping
European click beetles have pheromones -Agriotes lineatus. BC, Atlantic Canada -Agriotes obscurus. BC, Atlantic Canada -Agriotes sputator. Atlantic Canada
Agriotes lineatus Agriotes obscurus Agriotes sputator New Vernon Pitfall Trap
Top Cup Pheromone Bottom
Very inexpensive: $1 per trap with pheromone. 1.5 minutes/trap to install. 1 minute/trap to check. Very effective!!
Bulb Planter 7000 beetles in 1 trap in 1 week!!!
894,748 A. sputator beetles caught in PEI in 2015!!! PEI Project: 2015 PrinceClick Edward Beetle Island Project: 2015 Trapping
Annual Sentinel Trap Locations
A. sputator in area? Numbers: low, med, high Click Beetle PEI Project: 2015 Trapping
Field Trapping Locations
A. sputator in field? Numbers: low, med, high. Mitigation required? Did it work? 2015: PEI Field 1 Winter Wheat -63 pheromone traps ♂ 450 -51 pitfall traps ♂♀ 400 -28 traps in headlands 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 Agriotes lineatus 0 2015: PEI Field 2 Winter Wheat -45 pheromone traps ♂1400
-34 pitfall traps ♂♀ 1200 -22 traps in headlands 1000
800
600
400
200
0
♂ A. sputator: St. Catherine's: Field 3 26989 males total 2015:Week 7: July PEI 2-9 Field 3 Max = 1391 Timothy 3500 -39 pheromone traps ♂ 3500 -34 pitfall traps ♂♀ 3000 3000
-25 traps in headlands 2500 2500
2000 2000
1500 1500
1000 1000
500 500
0 0 PEI Field 2 A. sputator: 1038 males caught/day Week 1: May 20-27 Max = 111/Trap/Day
1400
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0
Temp = 13.6oC ♂ Rain = 2.1 mm A. sputator: PEI Field 2 24784 males caught/day Week 2: May 27-June 1 Max = 1391/Trap/Day
1400
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0
o ♂ Temp = 16.3 C Rain = 1.2 mm PEI Field 2 A. sputator: 7941 males caught/day Week 3: June 1-10 Max = 625/Trap/Day
BEFORE SPRAYING 1400
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0
Temp = 11.2oC ♂ Rain = 2.1 mm PEI Field 2 A. sputator: 8085 males caught/day Week 4: June 12-18 Max = 509/Trap/Day
AFTER SPRAY 1 1400
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0
o ♂ Temp = 15.2 C Rain = 4.0 mm A. sputator: PEI Field 2 1095 males caught/day Week 5: June 19-26 Max = 134/Trap/Day
AFTER SPRAY 2 1400
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0
o ♂ Temp = 13.3 C Rain = 11.2 mm PEI Field 2 A. sputator: 3448 males caught/day Week 6: June 26-July 3 Max = 328/Trap/Day
2 WKS AFTER SPRAY 2 1400
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0
Temp = 16.4oC ♂ Rain = 1.2 mm Future Studies 2015: 63 traps 450 2016: 10 traps 400 350 -8 outer 300 -2 inner 250 200 150 100 50 0 2016: 20 fields in PEI -8 outer, 2 inner, 450 8 headland traps, 400 Noronha traps. 350 -Crops: Winter wheat, 300 Brown mustard, 250 200 Soybean, Potato. 150 100 50 0 Objectives for 2016: -A. sputator crop prefs. 450 -males and females 400 -Matador spray trials 350 -Winter wheat 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 Wireworm
Topics
Wireworm and
Click Beetle Control Biology
Click Beetles Wireworm s Field Risk; IPM Potatoes Monitoring
Cereals Spray Trials Manual Insecticidal sprays.
-Nothing registered for click beetle control in Canada. -Need registrations, which requires research. 2014 Click Beetle Spray Studies, BC
Matador Decis Ripcord Pyganic Pyganic + Matador
2015 Studies: AAFC, Agassiz, BC Dr. van Herk
-Matador 120EC -Full rate for wheat: 83 mL/ha -Full; ½; and ¼ rates -A. obscurus and A. lineatus
Click beetles
Beneficials A. obscurus, 8 Days After Spray
120 27% 100 35% 45% kill kill 80 kill
60
40
20
0 Control 1/4 rate 1/2 rate Full rate Agriotes obscurus
A. lineatus, 8 Days After Spray
50 45 29% 100% 85% 40 kill kill kill 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 Agriotes lineatus Control 1/4 rate 1/2 rate Full rate 2015 Prince Edward Island Studies:
Field 2: Sprayed on June 11, 2015 -Matador 120EC (83 mL/ha) -22 gal H2O/acre -40-50 psi Field 3: Sprayed on June 11, 2015 -Matador 120EC (83 mL/ha) Field 2 (5 DAS) Field 3 (5 DAS)
Alive Moribund Dead Alive Moribund Dead
100% 100%
50.2% 51.6%
80% 80% Kill Kill 60% 60%
40% 40% % of beetles of % % of beetles of % 30 cups with 20% 20% 20 AS males each 0% 0% Control Matador spray Control Matador spray
More spray studies planned in PEI and BC in 2016 Wireworm
Topics
Wireworm and
Click Beetle Control Biology
Click Beetles Wireworm s Field Risk; IPM Potatoes Monitoring
Cereals Spray Trials Manual Wireworm IPM
Program Development Continuing research: -Wireworm and Click Beetle controls.
-Monitoring and Field Risk Assessments -Management Strategies Wireworm
Management Manual by 2017 This project is generously funded through the Canadian Agri-Science Cluster for Horticulture 2, in partnership with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s AgriInnovation Program, a Growing Forward 2 initiative, the Canadian Horticultural Council and many industry contributors. Special thanks to: Brian Beaton William and Ben Visser, Sterling Buchanan Christine Noronha AAFC, Charlottetown staff Melissa Richardson and Amber Beaton
Thank you!!!! Present at planting options in potato production across Canada.
Granular In-Furrow Seed-Piece insecticides Sprays Treatments
Thimet (OP) Actara (N) Titan (N) Admire (N) Actara (N) Admire (N)
Pyrifos (OP) Pyrinex (OP) Capture (P)
102 Insecticide Efficacy Trials at PARC, Agassiz, 2015 Mean wireworm blemishes per market-sized tuber 5 Harvest 1 (110 DAP)
4
3
2
blemishes/tuber 1
0
5 Harvest 2 (130 DAP)
4
3
2
blemishes/tuber 1
0
15G
300 300
300 300
200
sides
EXP 1 EXP 2 EXP 3 EXP 4 EXP 5 EXP 6 EXP 7 EXP 8
bottom
Capt
Capt
Untreated
Capt
Titan 12.5 Titan
Thimet Titan 6.3 + Titan A. sputator: Newtown Field 8823 males caught/day Week 3: June 1-10 Max = 625/Trap/Day BEFORE SPRAYING 1400
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0
Temp = 11.2oC Rain = 2.1 mm A. sputator: Newtown Field 8085 males caught/day Week 4: June 12-18 Max = 509/Trap/Day AFTER SPRAY 1 1400
1200 -8% +53% 1000
800
600
400
200
0
Temp = 15.2oC Rain = 4.0 mm Wireworm Crop History
Risk To Fields -past 4 Years
Clover: Eggs ++
Barley
Potato Clover Clover
Barley: Eggs +++ 1 Yr 2 Yr 3 Yr 4 Yr Potato: Eggs +
Clover: Eggs ++