We just pulled together a quick summary of the various biological control activities our program has contributed towards...
AAFC-STB-Alberta-Beaverlodge
Research Farm (Jennifer.Otani@agr.gc.ca)
– The Pest Management program is active in annual and perennial field crops
grown in the Alberta and BC portions of the Peace River region (i.e., 55-59
degrees North by 117-120 degrees West).
Historical projects include
parasitoids/parasitism of Lygus spp. by Peristenus, Phasia
aeneoventris; Delia spp. larvae in canola by Aleochora bilineata;
coccinellid larvae by Oomyzus scaposus; cutworms in annuals and
perennials grown for seed Apamea devastator, A. amputatrix,
Nephelodes minians, Euxoa auxiliaris, Actebia fennica and more by various
parasitoids and viruses; Coleophora deauratella and C. mayrella
by Chelonus spp., Neochrysocharis formosa now placed in genus Omphale;
Thymelicus lineola with zero observed parasitism over multiple years, Tychius
meliloti, T. picirostris, T. stephensii with zero observed parasitism over
multiple years, Hypera nigrirostris by Scambus hispae
(tentative), Bathyplectes curculionis, B. exiguus; Sitodiplosis
mosellana by Macroglenes penetrans, Platygaster sp., Inostemma
walkeri.
Currently, the program supports R. DeClerck-Floate (AAFC-Lethbridge)
with a release and post-release data collection on common toadflax near Grande
Cache AB in 2022 plus we are following-up in 2024 by (i) confirming Oulema
melanpus at larval feeding sites reported in 2023 in the Peace River region, and (ii) attempting to confirm larval parasitism levels.
Biological control
topics relevant to the region needing support for the future include wheat
midge parasitism, cereal leaf beetle parasitism, seed-feeding clover weevil
parasitism, red clover casebearer parasitism, European skipper parasitism, plus
the control of common toadflax, oxeye daisy, Canada thistle and kochia.
Thank
you to Dr. O. Lonsdale (AAFC-Ottawa) who coordinates NIS submissions and to the many
taxonomists who have helped us over the years!