Advancing monitoring and decision-making tools for wireworm in Alberta
Term: 3 years, beginning in 2021
Status: Ongoing
Funding Amount: $45, 309
Lead Researcher(s): Dr. Haley Catton (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge)
Funding Partners: Alberta Wheat Commission, Results Driven Agriculture Research, Alberta Pulse Growers
Project Description
Wireworm is a serious pest for many growers, and on the Prairies is a unique mix of 3-4 dominant species. The damaging larvae live for several years in the soil, feed on multiple crops, and have patchy distributions. For these reasons wireworm is difficult to monitor, and no economic thresholds are currently available. As new (possible more effective) chemical seed treatments enter the marketplace, a glaring need exists for a decision-making framework for wireworm management. When should a producer invest in chemical seed treatment and how do they determine if it is necessary? We will investigate these logical next questions, investigating and optimizing methods of wireworm monitoring specific to the Prairies. We will compare using newly discovered adult mating pheromones with traditional larval sampling. We will explore the possibility of using overhead imagery to detect wireworm damage patches, how damaged patches differ from undamaged areas, and methods and intensity of sampling needed to detect problems. This work can lay the foundation for developing an economic threshold for cereal damage for wireworm in Alberta. All of these outcomes will contribute toward giving producers the information they need to make informed decisions about investing in chemical control. Since wireworm is the primary reason that cereal seeds are treated with insecticides on the Prairies, this information has the potential to reduce unnecessary pesticide use.