Welcome Rudra!

 Hello! My name is Rudra Patel, and I am a co-op student working with the Insect Pest Management (IPM) program at the Beaverlodge Research Farm. I am in the fourth year of my Bachelor of Science majoring in chemistry and minoring in agriculture at the University of Alberta. 

In my third year, I took an insects in cropping systems course where I learned different cultural, biological, physical, and chemical management techniques, as well as monitoring initiatives for several insect pests common in the Canadian prairies, including diamondback moths, flea beetles, and wheat stem sawflies. I am incredibly excited to apply what I learned in the classroom to the field! 

Figure 1. Rudra successfully capturing her first wireworm!

I am eager to learn more about the monitoring of insect pests for producers in the Peace River region, as well as hopefully getting to do some stem dissections! Outside of school, I love to watch movies, read, and hand sew! I am extremely grateful for this opportunity and can’t wait to gain more experience in the field this summer! 

Welcome Jodh!

Hello - my name is Jodh and I am originally from Calgary. I am in the fourth year of my Bachelor of Science studying Plant Biology at the University of Calgary. This is my first time working with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and I am incredibly excited to be with the Insect Pest Management (IPM) team at the Beaverlodge Research Station. 

My background is primarily in plants so I am enthusiastic to delve deeper into plant-insect interactions I’ve learned about in class with hands-on field research. I am most excited by the 2026 Tillage Field Plot Experiment that looks at how tillage and pesticide affect arthropod biodiversity in wheat (cv. Brandon) in the Peace River region. Throughout the season we will assess agronomic indicators (via germination, growth, and yield assessments), root health (via arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi root sampling) and soil health (via soil-core sampling). So far I have been involved with every step of the study which has included labeling, placing and flagging the plots and traps, taking and measuring initial soil samples and recording wheat growth every week. I look forward to continuing this project and seeing the results generated by hard work of the whole IPM team! It is such a privilege to have this amazing opportunity to learn so much this summer. I could not be more thankful to my supervisors and the federal government for supporting my journey here.

Figure 1: Jodh proudly holding a bag of freshly pulled weeds while standing in front of a plot in the 2026 Tillage Field Plot Experiment growing near Beaverlodge AB.

Welcome Ethaniel!

 Hi - my name is Ethaniel, and I’m a third-year biology honours student at the University of British Columbia with a strong interest in ecology, biodiversity, and field-based research. I worked for the Beaty Biodiversity Museum as a herbarium curatorial volunteer for the last term where I was responsible for cataloguing and organizing hundreds of preserved bryophyte and lichen samples. The samples are kept as part of the museum’s long-term archive and serve as a valuable resource for research, as well as monitoring and conservation efforts. Beyond my coursework, I grew up spending many hours on my grandparents’ hobby farm working with crops including tomatoes, sweet potatoes, and cucumbers. 

Figure 1. Ethaniel with bighorn sheep in Jasper National Park.

Both of these experiences helped develop an interest in agriculture and the relationship between organisms and their environments. I’m excited to contribute to the ongoing research with the Insect Pest Management (IPM) lab, and I’m particularly looking forward to hands-on fieldwork in the prairies! 

Figure 2. Ethaniel busy weeding in a field plot experiment growing near Beaverlodge AB in 2026.

Welcome Evelyn!

Hello - my name is Evelyn  and I will be working at the Beaverlodge Research Farm in the Insect Pest Management (IPM) program this summer. I just finished my fourth year of my Bachelor of Science degree focusing on Environmental Science at Simon Fraser University. My interests are in ecology and environmental archaeology. 

Last summer I worked for ESCropconsult as an integrated pest management scout in cranberry farms throughout the Fraser Valley. I learned a lot about insect identification and agricultural pests in cranberries. I had the opportunity to collect and identify multiple cranberry pest species including fireworm (Rhopobota naevana) and tipworm (Dasineura oxycoccana). I also participated in cranberry tipworm research and potato variety trials. I am excited to further expand my entomology knowledge as well as my field and lab experience at the Beaverlodge Research Farm. 

This summer, I am eager to learn about pests and management practices in the Peace River region. My previous experiences have highlighted the roles of pests and how important management of them is for the agricultural industry. I have never been to the Peace River region before or worked with crops like wheat and canola. I can’t wait to expand my knowledge of Alberta’s crops and pests and contribute to research. 

Figure 1. Evelyn holding a wireworm, larva of the Family Elateridae.

 

Welcome McKenzie!

Hello! My name is McKenzie and I am a third-year biomedical engineering student studying at the University of Victoria. Throughout my schooling I have enjoyed extra curriculars with an environmental focus including the Environmental Club at Bonnyville Centralized High School (BCHS) and the University of Victoria Environmental Engineering Club (UVEEC). Through the Environmental Club I ran and promoted electronic recycling drives, built a medicine wheel garden at the front of BCHS, and attended Envirothon 2022. In UVEEC, I am collaborating on the design of an underwater glider to collect conductivity, temperature, and depth (CTD) data in the Saanich Inlet. I work on the electrical team within the club, designing essential glider components. 

Figure 1. Visiting the Victoria Bug Zoo and getting a "hands-on" visit with a well-behaved Madagascar hissing cockroach.

 

Outside of school, I enjoy backpacking, art, and relaxing outdoors. Growing up in the M.D of Bonnyville, AB, instilled my love of nature. In the spring and summer, I would be surrounded by fireweed, paintbrushes, wood lilies, and dogwood; all of these flowers inspire my present art. The wildlife around my home was also very impactful to me. My favorite insect is the Canadian Tiger Swallowtail. As a child I would often see them around my house in the spring. I enjoyed their bright colouration and frequent visits to my butterfly garden. As I became older, I started backpacking in the Canadian Rockies. My visits to Alstones Lake, Jasper National Park, and Kootenay National Park made me fall in love with the mountains and realise that ecosystems like these need to be closely monitored and maintained to minimize human and pest impact. 

Figure 2. McKenzie enjoying time with their barn-cat-turned-indoor pet named Silver.

 Over the winter and spring, I am excited to work outdoors and take a research-based approach to help improve the environment and agriculture industry. It’s exciting that I will be learning about the impact that prairie pests have on the ecosystem, observe and collect data in the field that reinforces the learned information, and use both the learned information and my engineering background to analyse and interpret that data. Data from these projects can be used to inform decisions about prairie pest management in the future.

Welcome Jake!

My name is Jacob Landry-Doran and this is my first summer working with the Beaverlodge Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program. I am in my last year of a B.Sc. in Conservation Biology. 

Figure 1. Sharing a moment with a great plains toad during the summer of 2024.

I previously worked for Natural Resources Canada, collecting and processing pitfall samples with invertebrate natural enemies in upland oil reclamation sites. I also have years of work and volunteer experience in entomological laboratories, including the Mori and Frost labs at the University of Alberta, and the Royal Alberta Museum in Edmonton. 

I’ve always had a passion for insects and have a personal collection of native beetles and invertebrates. This personal collection has changed my career path towards becoming more involved with these amazing creatures! It’s fascinating that creatures as small as insects can have such a large impact on the environment around us. 

Figure 2. A thumbs-up after a long day of pitfall collecting!

I am really looking forward to working with the Beaverlodge IPM team to learn about different pest management projects. I’m always excited to further my experience and knowledge about insect interactions, including how research and collections can aid in the management of agricultural plant pests. I’m excited to be a member of the team!

Welcome Roza!

 

Hi! My name is Roza Gabdullina and currently I am completing my Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry at the University of Lethbridge. My academic journey has taken me through diverse fields, including a Bachelor in Fine Arts, a Master’s degree in History, and graduate studies in Archaeology, but my passion has always been grounded in discovery and applied research.  

Over the past year, I’ve had the opportunity to explore molecular diagnostics through an internship with Paramoria Agri-Science, where I worked as a Molecular Pathology Intern. There, I conducted qPCR analyses to detect and quantify crop diseases from field samples and optimized protocols for diagnostic efficiency. I also worked on developing an RNA toehold switch biosensor for clubroot detection in canola. The idea is to create a test that functions much like a rapid COVID test, using freeze-dried toehold switches embedded on paper to detect pathogen RNA and produce a visible signal that could give growers real-time results right in the field. I co-authored a publication focused on the biophysical characterization of GFP-nanobody interactions, building on research I conducted using biophysical techniques.  

This summer, I’m excited to expand my experience into entomology and gain practical skills in insect sampling, field plot maintenance, and integrated pest management. I’m especially looking forward to seeing how molecular biology and field ecology intersect to support sustainable agriculture in Canada. 

Figure 1. Roza taking a break from labelling insect specimens.

Welcome Jacques!

Hello there! My name is Jacques Jolivet and I am a co-op student at the University of Victoria working in the Insect Pest Management (IPM) program at the Beaverlodge Research Farm this summer. I am a third-year science undergraduate student majoring in Biology at the University of Victoria on Vancouver Island, where I grew up. I have always had a passion for bugs of all sorts and in the past few years I have started breeding isopods and collecting ant queens during their nuptial flights.

I grew up on a small hobby farm, and have been heavily involved in the 4-H Program for 13 years, so agriculture is very near and dear to me. On our farm, we raise sheep and chickens. In my free time, you can find me cuddling with my sheep, playing tabletop roleplaying games and dying for hours on end in brutally difficult video games.

This summer working with the IPM team is my first job and I am really excited to do interesting, meaningful work!  I hope to learn as much as I can about insect biology and identification, agriculture in the Peace River region, and how to conduct proper field and laboratory analysis.

Figure 1. Jacques cuddling with his fluffy friends.

Welcome Bao!

Hi! My name is Bao Ngan Tuong, and I’m a third-year Food Science major at the University of British Columbia.  I’ll be working at the Beaverlodge Research Farm with the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program from May to August 2025.

Although my studies aren’t directly focused on entomology, insects play a vital role in my field. Crop yields are critical in the food industry and are strongly influenced by pest management and growing conditions. My perspective on insects broadened significantly last summer when I worked as a camp leader at the UBC farm. The farm maintains its own bee colonies, which allowed me the opportunity to observe and to gain a better understanding about its role in agriculture. I then shared this knowledge to the campers and guided them through the field to see the bees. We also explored books on pest species and discussed how others can cause major crop losses and lead to significant economic impacts like grasshoppers and beetles. That experience helped me recognize both the positive and negative contributions insects make to agriculture.

Joining the IPM program gives me an exciting opportunity to deepen my understanding of insects and their role in agriculture. I’m particularly excited to gain a perspective on northern agriculture in the Peace River region, where crops like canola, wheat, and peas are grown. I’m eager to gain hands-on experience and build lab and fieldwork skills, especially on sample processing and data management, sample labeling and tracking, taxonomic identification, and insect monitoring. These are all crucial and transferable skills that I hope to apply in my future career in the food and agriculture industry. 

Figure 1. Bao at a strawberry u-pick in BC!

BC Peace Professional Agrologist Tour August 16, 2024

Here's a list of items and links mentioned by Jennifer at today's field tour: 

INSECT MONITORING IN FIELD CROPS

• Permission to Access by AAFC Staff (posted Jun 3, 2024). 
• Field bio-sanitation protocol (posted May 1, 2024).

• Annual canola survey of the Peace River region (link here); Agreements: 102; Fields: 1170; Targeted survey sites: 110. 
• Aphids in field crops (Weekly Update; Wk12).
• Bertha armyworm (Weekly Update; Wk12).
• Cereal leaf beetle (Weekly Update; Wk10).
• Cutworms (Weekly Update; Wk05).
• Diamondback moth (Weekly Update; Wk12). 
• Fall field scouting in grasses grown for seed (IPM Blog; 2023Sep13)
• Field heroes (Weekly Update; Wk05).
• Flea beetles (Weekly Update; Wk04).
• Grasshopper monitoring (Weekly Update; Wk12).
• Lygus bug (Weekly Update; Wk12).
• Pea leaf weevil (Weekly Update; Wk05).
• Wheat midge monitoring (Weekly Update; Wk11).
• Weekly Update for Week 15 (view list of posts) by #PPMN.

FIELD GUIDES

• Alberta Forage Manual (2009; Ag-Dex120/20-1; ISBN 0-7732-6082-X; pdf in English). Includes Forage Insects and Natural Enemies of Forage Pest Insects chapters. 
• Arthropods of legume forage crops (2011; ISBN 978-0-9689321-5-5; pdf in English). 
• Cutworm field guide (2017; ISBN 978-0-660-08051-2; pdf in English, pdf en français). 
• Field crop and forage insect pests and natural enemies in western Canada (ISBN 978-1-100-25768-6; pdf in English, pdf en français). 
• Guide to pest wireworms in Canadian prairie field crop production (ISBN 978-0-660-39114-4; pdf in English, pdf en français).

PRAIRIE-WIDE NETWORKS

• Prairie Pest Monitoring Network (homepage); Weekly Update, Insect of the Week, Subscribe, Risk Maps, Insect Monitoring Protocols
• Prairie Weed Monitoring Network (homepage). 
• Prairie Crop Disease Monitoring Network (homepage).

INSECT PEST MONITORING PROGRAM AT AAFC-BEAVERLODGE

• X  @bugs5132  with in-season updates.
• Insect Pest Management Lab Blog updated seasonally. 
• Alberta AgriSystems Living Lab
• Peace Region Living Lab

North Peace Applied Research Association Annual Field Tour - July 31, 2024

Here's a list of items and links mentioned by Jennifer at today's field tour: 

INSECT MONITORING IN FIELD CROPS

• Permission to Access by AAFC Staff (posted Jun 3, 2024). 
• Field bio-sanitation protocol (posted May 1, 2024).

• Annual canola survey of the Peace River region (link here); Agreements: 102; Fields: 1170; Targeted survey sites: 110. 
• Aphids in field crops (Weekly Update; Wk12).
• Bertha armyworm (Weekly Update; Wk12).
• Cereal leaf beetle (Weekly Update; Wk10).
• Cutworms (Weekly Update; Wk05).
• Diamondback moth (Weekly Update; Wk12). 
• Fall field scouting in grasses grown for seed (IPM Blog; 2023Sep13)
• Field heroes (Weekly Update; Wk05).
• Flea beetles (Weekly Update; Wk04).
• Grasshopper monitoring (Weekly Update; Wk12).
• Lygus bug (Weekly Update; Wk12).
• Pea leaf weevil (Weekly Update; Wk05).
• Wheat midge monitoring (Weekly Update; Wk11).
• Weekly Update for Week 12 (view list of posts) by #PPMN.

FIELD GUIDES

• Alberta Forage Manual (2009; Ag-Dex120/20-1; ISBN 0-7732-6082-X; pdf in English). Includes Forage Insects and Natural Enemies of Forage Pest Insects chapters. 
• Arthropods of legume forage crops (2011; ISBN 978-0-9689321-5-5; pdf in English). 
• Cutworm field guide (2017; ISBN 978-0-660-08051-2; pdf in English, pdf en français). 
• Field crop and forage insect pests and natural enemies in western Canada (ISBN 978-1-100-25768-6; pdf in English, pdf en français). 
• Guide to pest wireworms in Canadian prairie field crop production (ISBN 978-0-660-39114-4; pdf in English, pdf en français).

PRAIRIE-WIDE NETWORKS

• Prairie Pest Monitoring Network (homepage); Weekly Update, Insect of the Week, Subscribe, Risk Maps, Insect Monitoring Protocols
• Prairie Weed Monitoring Network (homepage). 
• Prairie Crop Disease Monitoring Network (homepage).

INSECT PEST MONITORING PROGRAM AT AAFC-BEAVERLODGE

• X  @bugs5132  with in-season updates.
• Insect Pest Management Lab Blog updated seasonally. 
• Alberta AgriSystems Living Lab
• Peace Region Living Lab

Alberta AgriSystems Living Lab: Peace Region Field Tour - July 10, 2024

 Here's a list of items and links mentioned by Jennifer at today's field tour: 

• Annual canola survey of the Peace River region (link here); Agreements: 102; Fields: 1170; Targeted survey sites: 110.
• Bertha armyworm (Prairie Pest Monitoring Network's Weekly Update).
• Diamondback moth (Prairie Pest Monitoring Network's Weekly Update).
• Field bio-sanitation protocol (posted May 1, 2024).
• Field crop and forage insect pests and natural enemies in western Canada (ISBN 978-1-100-25768-6; pdf version). 
• Grasshopper monitoring (Prairie Pest Monitoring Network's Weekly Update).
• Pea leaf weevil (Prairie Pest Monitoring Network's Weekly Update).
• Permission to Access by AAFC Staff (posted Jun 3, 2024). 
• Prairie Crop Disease Monitoring Network (link here).
• Prairie Pest Monitoring Network website (link here). 
• Prairie Weed Monitoring Network (link here).
• Weather synopsis for Week 9 (posted by Prairie Pest Monitoring Network)
• Weekly Updates (posted by Prairie Pest Monitoring Network)
• Wheat midge monitoring (Prairie Pest Monitoring Network's Weekly Update).
• X  @bugs5132 

Peace Region Forage Seed Tour - July 9, 2024

Here's a list of items and links mentioned by Jennifer at today's field tour:

• PDF copy of notes including CRF larval pests, cutworms, grasshoppers (posted 8, Jul, 2024).

• Alberta Forage Manual (2009; Ag-Dex120/20-1; ISBN 0-7732-6082-X; pdf version). Includes Forage Insects and Natural Enemies of Forage Pest Insects chapters. 
• Annual canola survey of the Peace River region (link here); Agreements: 102; Fields: 1170; Targeted survey sites: 110.
• Arthropods of legume forage crops (2011; ISBN 978-0-9689321-5-5; pdf version). 
• Cereal leaf beetle (link here).
• City of Grande Prairie Youth Career Discovery Expo (posted Mar 21, 2024).
• Cutworm field guide (2017; ISBN 978-0-660-08051-2; pdf version). 
• European skipper information (posted Jan 19, 2017). 
• Fall crown-feeding insect larval pest species (posted Sep 13, 2023). 
• Field bio-sanitation protocol (posted May 1, 2024).
• Field crop and forage insect pests and natural enemies in western Canada (ISBN 978-1-100-25768-6; pdf version). 
• Field Heroes YouTube channel
• Pea leaf weevil (posted by Prairie Pest Monitoring Network)
• Permission to Access by AAFC Staff (posted Jun 3, 2024). 
• Prairie Pest Monitoring Network website (link here).
• Red clover casebearer (posted Feb 5, 2019). 
• Weather synopsis for Week 9 (posted by Prairie Pest Monitoring Network)
• Weekly Updates (posted by Prairie Pest Monitoring Network)
• X  @bugs5132

Visit by Alberta Pulse Growers Commission - July 9, 2024

 Here's a list of items and links mentioned by Jennifer at today's field tour: 

• Today's notes as PDF copy (posted Jul 8, 2024).

• 2017 Centennial: Project 200 School-aged field tour (posted 2017)
• 2019 School-aged field tour (posted 2019) 
• Annual canola survey of the Peace River region (link here); Agreements: 102; Fields: 1170; Targeted survey sites: 110.
• City of Grande Prairie Youth Career Discovery Expo (posted Mar 21, 2024). 
• Cutworm field guide (2017; ISBN 978-0-660-08051-2; pdf version). 
• Alberta Forage Manual (2009; Ag-Dex120/20-1; ISBN 0-7732-6082-X; pdf version). Includes Forage Insects and Natural Enemies of Forage Pest Insects chapters.
• Arthropods of legume forage crops (2011; ISBN 978-0-9689321-5-5; pdf version). 
• Field bio-sanitation protocol (posted May 1, 2024).
• Field crop and forage insect pests and natural enemies in western Canada (ISBN 978-1-100-25768-6; pdf version). 
• Field Heroes YouTube channel
• Pea leaf weevil (posted by Prairie Pest Monitoring Network)
• Permission to Access by AAFC Staff (posted Jun 3, 2024). 
• Prairie Pest Monitoring Network website (link here).
• Weather synopsis for Week 9 (posted by Prairie Pest Monitoring Network)
• Weekly Updates (posted by Prairie Pest Monitoring Network)
• X  @bugs5132

Permission to Access Land by AAFC's Pest Management Staff

As of 2023, Agriculture and Agri--Food Canada requires staff members to obtain signed Permission to Access from landowners. Even if verbal permission is provided, staff members are accompanied, or urgent risk is involved, AAFC staff are still required by managers to first obtain a signed form before entering a field.

Please - we need help from producers across the Peace River region to help collect the vital data that keeps our agricultural region informed and prepared to deal with insect pest risk!  

Please scan the QR code below if you are interested in finding out more about the insect pests in your fields. Technical staff working at AAFC-Beaverlodge in the IPM program (Otani) will then follow-up with you by phone or email to set up Permission to Access forms but also to  describe what research projects your land can contribute towards to help! 

Field Bio-Sanitation Protocol and Mitigating Transmission of Soil-borne Diseases

Clubroot is a soil-borne disease of canola and other cruciferous plants of the Brassicaceae family which is caused by a pathogen called Plasmodiophora brassicae. Clubroot is spread when infested soil is transported by vehicles and farm machinery or though wind and water erosion. Roots of infected plants have a club-like appearance (Fig. 1). Above-ground symptoms vary depending on the growth stage at time of infection. Common symptoms include wilting, stunting, yellowing, and premature ripening. Above-ground symptoms are similar to common canola disorders thus it is important to carefully dig up suspect plants and inspect the roots.

Figure 1. Characteristic clubroot galls on an infested canola plant. 

Photo: (LL, ND, CC BY-SA 2.0)

The distribution of clubroot in the Peace River region has increased since first appearing in Big Lakes County (August 2017) and now includes additional sites in northwestern Alberta:

• Access the current clubroot map here to learn more about where this disease occurs within Alberta.
• Refer to Alberta Agriculture and Forestry's website for more information on clubroot. 
• Refer to Clubroot Disease | Canola Encyclopedia (canolacouncil.org) for more information.
• Refer to Preventing Clubroot: Agricultural Sanitization for more information on preventing clubroot.

Back in 2004, the Integrated Pest Management Program (IPM) implemented biosanitation protocols including use of tyvek booties and sterilization of all field equipment. From 2017-2018, field sanitation involved the use of Virkon and bleach and, since 2019, involved bleach only. As of May 2023, our biosecurity protocol includes:

• Adhering to a strict field research sanitation protocol.
• Identifying ourselves by operating marked Government of Canada vehicles when visiting fields. 
• Reducing or cancelling field work activities on rainy days to avoid tracking mud.
• Washing AAFC vehicles at commercial car washes BEFORE and AFTER conducting field work (Fig. 2).
• Sterilizing and washing vehicle floor mats with bleach each day (Fig. 3).

Figure 2. Washing AAFC vehicle at the commercial to remove soil after a long day of fieldwork. 

Photo: Maddy Jones-AAFC Beaverlodge.

Figure 3. Floor mats are hung and sterilized with bleach while at the commercial car wash. 

Photo: Maddy Jones-AAFC Beaverlodge.

• Wearing impermeable shoes while operating and exiting vehicle. These shoes are sterilized each day.
• Sterilizing impermeable boots using bleach both AT and BETWEEN each field (Fig. 4). 
• Wearing disposable booties are over sterilized impermeable boots prior to entering field or pull-in (Fig. 5).

Figure 4. Impermeable boots are placed into bins containing a bleach solution while traveling between field sites. Photo: Maddy Jones AAFC-Beaverlodge.

Figure 5. Disposable booties are donned over sterilized impermeable boots prior to field entry at each site. 

Photo: Maddy Jones AAFC-Beaverlodge.

• Parking AAFC vehicles on the side of the road - we NEVER drive into a field!
• Using sodium hypochlorite or bleach (2%) to sterilize vehicle tires, wheels, and wheel-wells both AT and BETWEEN each field (Fig. 6). 

Figure 6. Wheel-wells and tires are sterilized upon arrival to each field site using a bleach solution. 

Photo: Maddy Jones AAFC-Beaverlodge.

• Soaking all field equipment that contacts soil (e.g., spades, trowels, soil core samplers) in bleach after use in each field. 
• Bagging and sterilizing all booties using an autoclave (employs high temperature and pressure).
• Carrying multiples of small field equipment to allow for soaking in bleach and/or sterilization using an autoclave.
• Maintaining a log of all visits and all field sanitation protocols implemented.

Please contact us if you have questions or concerns! If you wish to personally see our sanitization efforts in action, we can arrange it! You can contact us by emailing Shelby Dufton.

We thank growers for their continued support of field research by way of granting permission for our staff to access land to collect data. Out staff continue to do our utmost to ensure every field remains protected. 

Post prepared by Madysen Jones

City of Grande Prairie Youth Career Discovery Expo

The IPM Program participated in the 2024 Youth Career Discovery Expo in Grande Prairie AB today! Our program helped promote our field entomology research program while also describing how High School, Post-Secondary, or even Graduate students can apply to work for the Federal Student Work Employment Program (FSWEP). We talked about the Beaverlodge Research Farm which is part of the network of Agriculture and Agri-Food Research and Development Centres spread across Canada and the types of research that takes place at our Farm. 

The day-long event drew at least 2000 students from across the region! We were pleased to showcase a small portion of our insect voucher specimens (Figs. 1-2 and 4-7) using an interactive "Insect Scavenger Hunt" created by our two technicians, Amanda and Shelby!  Keen visitors were challenged to find three different insects amongst the pinned voucher specimens we brought along to view. Winners earned their very own ground beetle to take home (Figs. 3 and 8)!  We were one of the few agricultural careers to be included in this special event!

Many thanks to our program's two excellent technicians, Amanda and Shelby, and to the City of Grande Prairie for hosting this important event!  Amanda, Shelby, and Jennifer spoke with 200-some students who stopped by to talk! The most exciting part of the day was that 60 carefully curated ground beetle specimens were adopted to good homes with students who left us feeling pretty excited about Entomology! 

Here's a few photos of the day-long event at our booth! 

Figure 1. Booth, including our interactive insect scavenger hunt, is ready to go!

Figure 2. Our booth at the Youth Discovery Expo is ready to go and here's our first visitor of the day!

Figure 3. Our ground beetle "prizes" are ready and waiting to be won by visitors taking on our interactive insect scavenger hunt!

Figure 4. Standing room only by 10 am - great interest from our student visitors and some super entomological identification skills at work!

Figure 5. Shelby talking insects with students while they completed the insect scavenger hunt.

Figure 6. Amanda describing insect characteristics for the pinned voucher specimens.

Figure 7. More student visitors to our booth - we had really great interest and excellent questions!

Figure 8. We brought 70 "prize" ground beetles and, by the end of the day, 60-some were adopted to good homes by our enthusiastic student visitors!

#Entomology #Agriculture #WiSTEM #WestCdnAg #CareerOpportunities #PeaceRiverRegion #AAFC #IPM #FieldHeroes #NaturalEnemies

Biological control research activities we contribute towards (1999-2023)

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!

Fall field scouting in grasses grown for seed

Last week, a call related to damaged creeping red fescue growing near Bear Canyon triggered a conversation of things to keep in mind when heading out to scout grass fields in the Fall:

Several species of insects utilize grasses grown for seed. Compared to annual crops, perennial grasses grown for seed are typically left in production for 2-3 years (and even longer) so the soil profile is disturbed less frequently when it comes to tillage and seeding. The soil profile stability offers a unique habitat to soil-dwelling organisms. Cutworms, webworms, wireworms, and many species of beetles are just a handful of insect groups that can be found in grass seed production systems and spend large portions of their lifecycle below ground. Even though pest species can be present, natural enemies and pollinator species also inhabit grass fields grown for seed. 

More in-depth scouting information can be reviewed in the Alberta Forage Manual. This resource includes two sections describing (i) pest and (ii) beneficial species of arthropods typically present in western Canadian grass seed production systems. Download a searchable PDF copy.

Learn when and where to look in the field by reviewing these cutworm scouting tips published by the Prairie Pest Monitoring Network. The PPMN has multiple cutworm-related posts archived from the past  growing seasons and you can review that list here.

If you find insect larvae, determine if it has legs, where the legs are positioned and how many legs are visible. This step helps determine if it's a cutworm, fly larva, or beetle larva. Use Figure 1 below and note how many pairs of legs and where those legs are positioned. 

Figure 1. Picture key to identifying insect larvae copied from ENTFACT-017: Recognizing Insect Larval Types by Lee Townsend, Extension Entomologist, University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service.   https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef017

Estimate length of the larva. In the fall, all larvae can be very small and exceedingly difficult to find.  In fact, easily encountering larvae in the fall may mean a high density of overwintering individuals are present so live specimens should be examined by an expert. Mark areas of the field where larvae are present in fall. Additionally, prioritize the field for spring field scouting weekly through April, May and June! 

When it comes to cutworms, review this excellent Cutworm Field Guide. This resource is a searchable PDF guide to all things cutworms including descriptions and photos of different cutworm larvae, host-crop associations, and scouting tips.