The Seed Head Fact sheet # 16 Re-emerging Pests

Date: April, 2017 in the Peace Region Introduction The pests mentioned in this factsheet provinces have seen an increase in have already been established here in outbreaks of Cutworms in the 2016 the Peace region and other parts of the growing season. Here in the BC Peace it Prairies. It should be noted however has been noticed that there were that their populations have been seen increasing high numbers of Click Beetles Scouting Techniques: in previous seasons to be rising and during fall surveys.  Inspect the seedlings on the potential damage to crops caused at least a weekly basis, by these insects could be irreparable. Although both insects have been seen in from mid-May to mid- isolated areas, producers should continue June. Cutworms and Clickworms have had to monitor their fields for presence of  Cutwoms are nocturnal, high numbers in the Peace Region in these pests. feeding at night and previous years, and neighboring hiding during the day, making them hard to Cutworms (Noctuidae) detect. Cutworms are a natural part of the  Feeding by cutworms prairie habitat. Some cutworms are results in notched, likely to be in most crop fields in any wilted, dead, or cut-off given year, but usually at levels well plants (weed or crop below where they would be an seedlings). Plants may economical concern or worth trying to be missing from rows manage. However, there are some and bare patches may species of cutworms that in some Most Common Species: appear in fields because years can get to levels that are of of cutworm feeding. economical concern in field crops. Crops may be damaged in late May or June by sporadic outbreaks of cutworms.  Often cutworms will be The most commonly found species of close to the cut or Between each instar stage, the larvae cutworms are: shriveled plants they "moult" or shed their skin. All have just damaged and cutworms belong to a family of moths • Redbacked cutworm (Euxoa ochro- can be found by digging known as Noctuidae. Some species gaster), can be the most damaging around these plants. overwinter as eggs (eg, the species.

Redbacked cutworm and Darksided Damaging populations often include Monitoring adult moths: cutworm); others, as partly-grown larvae of other cutworm species, Pheromone baited lures larvae (dingy, army, glassy, and black particularly these species: which will attract males army cutworms). Still others do not overwinter in the Prairies but rather • Darksided cutworm (Euxoa messoria) For more information: re-invade annually from the U.S., aided • Dingy cutworm (Feltia jaculifera)

by southerly winds. Most of our pest • Glassy Cutworm (Apamea devastator) Keith Uloth (BC Pest species have only one generation per can sometimes be abundant in grassy Monitoring) at year crops. [email protected] • Army Cutworm (Euxoa auxiliaris) phone 250-613-0761 The Seed Head is published by Peace Region Forage Seed Association

more Seed Head fact sheets available soon on our website www.peaceforageseed.ca Page 2 Re-emerging Pests in the Peace Region

Wireworm/Click Beetle (Elateridae) Description: Wireworms are larvae of a family of beetles known as • Wireworms are slender, have Click Beetles (Elateridae). There are many species that hard bodies, and have 3 pairs can feed on crops, and in Canada there are about 30 of legs behind the head. economically important species of wireworms. Larvae • The last abdominal segment is can live for several years, and different species may flattened with a keyhole- prefer different conditions. The two most widespread shaped notch. species of economic concern in the Canadian prairie • Size of fully-grown larvae provinces are the: varies between species. Larvae of the prairie grain 1) Prairie Grain wireworm wireworm are the larger of the 2 main species in (Selatosomus aeripennis the Canadian prairie provinces, and can reach a destructor), length of about 20 mm. 2) Common wireworm (Hypnoidus • How long larvae spend in the soil before pupating bicolor). also varies between species of wireworms. These two main species may • The prairie grain wireworm normally remains in the frequently be found together in the larval stage for 3 to 4 years. same field Host Crops: Common wireworm has been the most common species found in crops in the Canadian prairie provinces, howev- • Cereal crops, potatoes, carrots, onions, and er, historically the prairie grain wireworm has been strawberries. considered the more destructive of the two species. • Rapeseed was found to be attractive to larvae of Another species that can sometimes occur in crops in the prairie grain wireworm when no other choices the Canadian prairie provinces is Aeolus mellillus. of food where available, but was less attractive Larvae of this species are both plant feeders and when available in combination with crested predaceous, and may help reduce populations of the wheatgrass and bromegrass. other pest species. Aeolus mellillus also feeds on • For some crops the amount of feeding by cereals differently than the other species, feeding at the wireworms may depend on what food choices are soil surface and cutting stems off completely rather than available. boring into and shredding wheat stems. Scouting Techniques: Feeding: • Baits buried at marked locations in • Larvae of wireworms feed underground on seeds, the spring or late summer can roots and other below-ground plant parts. indicate where wireworms are • They are attracted to germinating seeds by the CO2 present. given off during germination/respiration. They may • Several types of baited have been shred the emerging tissue when it is still studied for monitoring wireworm underground. The central leaves may emerge with populations, including presoaked feeding damage. corn/wheat mixtures, oats, and potatoes. • In heavy infestations, bare patches may appear in • Baits are buried 7.5 to 15 cm deep in the soil, and the field and reseeding may be necessary. In most checked for wireworms 7 to 10 days later. crops, wireworms do most of their damage in early Competition from an abundant food supply in the spring, when they are near the soil surface. soil around where the baits are buried can greatly Wireworms can also burrow into potato seed pieces reduce the number of wireworms recovered. in the spring and into developing tubers in the fall. • Soil may also be sieved through a screen to look for wireworms. References: Government of Manitoba, Agricultural section.http://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/crops/insects/index.html[ Accessed January, 2017] North Dakota State Univeristy. https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/cpr/entomology/aster-leafhoppers-in-winter-wheat-5-14-15[Accessed January 2017] Alberta Agriculture and Forestry [Accessed February 2017] http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/prm11287

Compiled & Circulated by: Keith Uloth, Julie Robinson and Talon Gauthier This project was funded in part by the governments of Canada and British Columbia through the Agri-Food Futures Fund. This program is delivered by the Investment Agriculture Foundation of B.C.

Funding contribu- tions also received from: