2013 Peace River Region Annual Canola Survey J. Otani1

1 Research Farm, Agriculture & Agri-Food , P.O. Box 29, Beaverlodge AB, [email protected]. 2 Saskatoon Research Centre, Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, 107 Science Place, Saskatoon SK. 3 Smoky Applied Research and Demonstration Association, Falher AB. 4 North Peace Applied Research Association, Manning AB.

The 2013 Annual Peace Canola Survey was completed by Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada staff based at Beaverlodge1 and Saskatoon2. Samples were also kindly collected by staff from the Smoky Applied Research and Demonstration Association3 (SARDA) and the North Peace Applied Research Association4 (NPARA).

The survey has been performed since 2003 with the main objectives of collecting canola insect pest data throughout the region and to detect introduction of the Cabbage seedpod weevil into the Peace River region. A total of 189 canola fields were randomly selected at ~10km distances while surveying through the main canola producing areas within the BC and Peace during early- to mid-flower stages. Sweep-net sampling was conducted in individual canola fields (≥80 acres) using 50 - 180° sweeps on the following dates in these areas:  July 8 near Beaverlodge, Valhalla, Deadwood, Manning, High Level, , LaCrete.  July 9 near Carcajou, Hawk Hills, Grimshaw, LaGlace, Working, Spirit River, Bonanza, Rycroft, Sexsmith, Dawson Creek, Baldonnel, Fort St. John, Rose Prairie, Montney, Clayhurst, Rolla, Dunvegan, Fairview, , Highland Park, Berwyn, Peace River, Nampa, Falher, , Eaglesham, Wanham, Bezanson.  July 10 near Hythe, Beaverlodge, Dawson Creek, , Belloy, Codesa, Eaglesham, Jean Cote, Marie-Reine, Girouxville, High Prairie, Guy, Falher, Manning, Paddle Prairie.  July 16 near McLennan, , Whitemud Creek, Falher, Valleyview, Crooked Creek, Debolt, Clairmont, , Dimsdale, Wembley, Huallen.

Sweep-net samples were frozen then processed to generate data for 16 species with Lygus specimens identified to all five instar stages. The 2013 summary includes six economically important pests of canola reported from 169 surveyed canola fields:

1. Lygus (Miridae: Lygus spp.) populations of ≥5 adults plus nymphs per 10 sweeps were observed in 31.2% of fields surveyed (N=169 fields). There were zero Lygus present in only 2.4% of surveyed fields whereas 28.4% of the surveyed fields contained Lygus adults only and 69.2% of the fields were populated by both Lygus adults plus nymphs (N=169 fields). Note that all nymphs collected during our survey will have matured into new adults since July 16th.

Total Lygus per 10 sweeps Number of fields Percent of fields sampled ≥15.0 4 2.4% 10.1-15.0 7 4.1% 5.1-10.0 41 24.7% 0.1-5.0 113 66.9% 0 4 2.4% Sum 169 100%

Lygus stage Number of individuals Percent of Lygus sampled Adult 2625 70.4% 4-5 instar 179 4.8% 1-3 instar 926 24.8% Sum 3730 100.0%

Refer to the 2013 Lygus Survey Map below but remember individual fields must be monitored since Lygus populations can vary drastically. 2013 Peace River Region Canola Survey Total Lygus (Adults+Nymphs) per 10 sweeps

AAFC-Otani et al. The economic threshold for Lygus is applicable at the late flower and early pod stages but varies according to current crop value and control costs.

Table 1. Economic thresholds for Lygus in canola at late flowering and early pod stages (Wise and Lamb 1998).

Control costs Late flower to early pod (Canola crop stages 4.4-5.11) $/ac $/ha Economic Injury Level2 $8.00 $19.77 8 6 5 4 4 3 3 $10.00 $24.71 10 8 7 6 5 4 4 $1