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THE BERTHA ARMYWORM (MAMESTRA CONFIGURATA) (LEPIDOPTERA: NOCTUIDAE) IN WESTERN CANADA1

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2012

P.G. Mason
Affiliation:
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 107 Science Place, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada S7N 0X2
A.P. Arthur
Affiliation:
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 107 Science Place, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada S7N 0X2
O.O. Olfert
Affiliation:
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 107 Science Place, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada S7N 0X2
M.A. Erlandson
Affiliation:
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 107 Science Place, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada S7N 0X2

Abstract

The bertha armyworm has been recognized as an agricultural pest in western Canada for more than 85 years, during which time outbreaks have occurred at irregular intervals. The first major outbreak occurred in Saskatchewan in 1944 on the new crop, rapeseed. The development of canola as a major crop led to a dramatic increase in the economic damage caused by the bertha armyworm and resulted in the widespread use of insecticides for control. Discovery of a species-specific pheromone and development of an adult monitoring system in the late 1970s and early 1980s led to a method for providing producers with early warning of potential for crop damage. In parallel, methods for estimating larval populations were developed but are in need of improvement. Refinement of these methods has the potential to provide a more accurate indication of damage risk for producers of canola. Control of bertha armyworm relies heavily on the use of chemical insecticides, emphasizing the need for development of integrated management strategies.

Résumé

La lègionnaire bertha a été reconnu comme un nuisable agricole dans Canada de l’ouest pour plus de 85 années, pendant qui du temps éruptions ont produit à intervalles irréguliers. La première éruption majeure a produit dans Saskatchewan dans 1944 sur la nouvelle récolte, colza. Le développement de canola comme une récolte majeure a mené à une augmentation dramatique a causé dans le dommage économique par la lègionnaire bertha et a résulté dans l’usage répandu d’insecticides pour contrôle. Découverte d’une phéromone espèce-spécifique et développement d’un système de l’écoute dans le tard 1970s et tôt 1980s a mené à une méthode pour fournir producteurs avec une alerte de potentiel endommage pour récolte. Aussi, méthodes pour estimer des populations larvaires a été développé mais est dans besoin d’amélioration. Affinage de cette méthode a le potentiel fournit à un indication plus exacte de risque de dommage pour producteurs de canola. Affinage de ces méthodes a le potentiel fournir une indication plus exacte de dégât risque pour producteurs de canola. Contrôle de la lègionnaire bertha compte très sur l’usage d’insecticides du chimique, accentue le besoin pour développement d’à intégré des stratégies de la gestion.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 1998

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