*Updated 05June2023* Help us welcome our newest student, Jadeyn!
Amanda Jorgensen - IPM Technician
I am one of the two technicians working in the Insect Pest
Management (IPM) lab at AAFC-Beaverlodge. My name is Amanda Jorgensen, and I
have 10 years of experience working in our lab now. You can read my previous
posts here: 2019,
2017,
and 2016.
I have completed a B.Sc. in Biology and Environmental Sciences, and a M.Sc.
comparing the effectiveness of different monitoring tools for detecting and
estimating wheat midge populations in the Peace River region. If you want you
can read more about my work on wheat
midge monitoring or seasonal
wheat midge emergence. For the last five years, I have been responsible for
a number of projects in forage seed production (clover, alfalfa, creeping red
fescue, timothy grass, etc.).
Figure 1. Amanda
Jorgensen releasing R. pilosa (a weed biocontrol agent) in a patch of common
yellow toadflax (Photo: AAFC-Dufton 2022).
These projects have had strong biodiversity components and
have examined the seasonal patterns, population density, and distribution of
both pest and beneficial insect species. We have also been monitoring for and
tracking the introduction of invasive species in our area – including red clover casebearer
moth, European
skipper, cereal
leaf beetle, and pea
leaf weevil, as well as invasive species that aren’t here yet – like Japanese beetle and Agriotes wireworms.
Figure 2. A red
clover casebearer moth larva standing on a red clover flowerhead (Photo:
AAFC-Jorgensen 2020).
We still need to conduct statistical analyses on the data we
collected over the last few years, but biodiversity as well as numbers of beneficial insects appear to be
quite high in the perennial, flowering crops. We see plenty of parasitoid wasps, ladybird beetles, and
pollinators such as hoverflies
and native
bees when we are sampling these fields.
Figure 3. A
hoverfly (Scaeva sp.) feeding on nectar from false soloman’s seal flowers
(Photo: AAFC-Jorgensen 2020).
Going forward, I will be shifting gears to focus on annual
crops for our Prairie Pest Monitoring Network and our canola survey. We will also be participating in two
living labs projects that span a variety of crops – one focusing on enhancing ecosystem services, which
includes an insect biodiversity component, and one focusing on agronomic best practices for
sustainability. I’m looking forward to collaborating on these new
projects.
Shelby Dufton - IPM Technician
Hello again! My name is Shelby Dufton and I am one of two
technicians working in the Insect Pest Management Program (IPM) at the
Beaverlodge Research Farm. Our upcoming field season will be my 10th
year with our program and I can’t believe how time has flown by (see my
previous posts here: 2019,
2017,
2016,
2016).
I have a Bachelor’s of Science in Environmental Science from the University of
British Columbia and a Master’s of Science degree in Biology with the
University of Lethbridge. While completing my degrees, I worked as a co-op
student and then as a Master’s student with the Beaverlodge Research Farm,
which inspired a lifelong passion for entomology. I was hired as a research
technician in 2018.
Figure 4. Shelby taking a break
somewhere in Alberta.
Over the past five years, I have worked with a number of our
local producers and really appreciate the amount of work that goes into
agricultural production throughout the Peace River region! For our program, I
typically organize and run our monitoring of annual crops throughout the region
during the field season. This includes monitoring with the Prairie Pest Monitoring Network, the Canola Agronomic Research
Program, and our annual
canola survey. In the winter, I typically work on insect identification,
data reporting, writing1,2,
and extension. Many of our recent projects have included a natural enemies component,
with a focus on carabid beetles (ground beetles). I have been able to expand on
my work from my Master’s
thesis and continued assessing much of the carabid biodiversity throughout
a variety of crops in the Peace River region (canola, creeping red fescue,
peas, wheat, red and white clover, and timothy).
Figure 5. Working hard to collect one
of our largest creeping red fescue samples of 2022.
This summer we are needing your help to complete our annual
canola survey! We are looking for permission to enter canola fields all across
the Peace River region. If you would like to help – more information can be
found here!
Figure 6. Shelby participating in the 2019 Peace River Region Canola Survey.
Aarika Harpe - Casual Technician
You may have seen my first and second year introduction
posts before, but I thought I should reintroduce myself. Hi again, I am Aarika
Harpe! I have been here since May 2022 and I am looking forward to my fourth
summer working with the Beaverlodge Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program as
if it was my first. When I’m not working you can find me enjoyingthe outdoors, hiking, or painting prairie landscapes.
Figure 7. A rainy day of fieldwork in a 2022 canola Prairie Pest Monitoring site!
Throughout
the winter, I worked on processing the wide variety of samples collected in the
summer of 2022. For our 2022 CAP-AIP Creeping Red Fescue project, I weighed and
germinated creeping red fescue seed samples to assess silvertop damage. I also
worked on identifying different species
from pitfall traps in various crops (creeping red fescue, canola, clover, and peas). We use pitfall
traps to monitor pests including
wireworms and pea leaf weevil as well as biodiversity throughout the Peace
River region. Learning insect identification has been very interesting and I am
ready to identify more critters from all around the Peace! I enjoyed being able to
see all of the behind the scenes work that happens in the winter months, and
there is A LOT!
Figure 8. Always safety first when completing our bio-security sanitation protocol before entering the field.
This spring, I have been getting back into the swing of things fieldwork-wise
and I am excited to be outside again! I look forward to a
great summer with great people. The 2023 field season will be filled with new adventures and memories
that I am ready for!
Madysen Jones - Student
Hi, my name is Madysen Jones and I am a
returning student working within the Integrated Pest Management Program (IPM) at
the Beaverlodge Research Farm for the 2023 summer months. My educational
background consists of a Bachelor of Education from the University of Alberta
and I am currently studying psychology at the University of Alberta in a
Bachelor of Arts Program.
Figure 9. Maddy river boating on the Wapiti
River.
This will be my second time working in a
research setting. As a lifelong resident of Beaverlodge, I am excited to
continue to learn more about the research that comes out of the Beaverlodge
Research Farm! So far, I have been preparing for upcoming field work, and
collecting our first of diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella) and flea
beetle (various Chrysomelidae species) traps for our 2023 Prairie Pest
Monitoring project. I look forward to learning more about identification of arthropod
species and how they affect the different crops in the Peace River region.
Gareth Larsen - Student
Hello! My name is Gareth Larsen and I am a co-op student
with the University of Victoria working in the Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
program at the Beaverlodge Research Farm from May to December 2023.
Figure 10. Gareth braves a cold Albertan winter.
I am a fourth year science undergraduate student majoring in
Biology with a minor in Environmental Studies at the University of Victoria. I
was introduced to entomology through a university course which piqued my
interest in the subject and developed into my hobby of insect photography.
AAs a trained chef and biology student, food production and
challenges that surround it (including the impact of insect pests) hold a great
deal of interest to me. This interest inspired many questions during my co-op
terms with the Cereal Breeding and Weeds and Agronomy departments with
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada at the Lacombe Research and Development Centre.
While conducting field work with these groups, I was intrigued by the insects I
saw in our research plots and would often try to identify them and their ecological
roles.
Figure 11. Gareth mowing at the Lacombe Research and Development Centre.
I look forward to the opportunity to learn more about insect
pests and become familiar with insects of the Peace River region through my
work with the Beaverlodge IPM program!
Jadeyn Lunn - Student
Hello, my name
is Jadeyn. I am a 20 year old student working with the Integrated Pest
Management (IPM) program at the Beaverlodge Research Farm. I am the newest
member of the team and will be working from May to August 2023, when I return
for the last year of my degree! I am diving into the fourth year of my Bachelor
of Science degree at The King’s University. Currently, I am majoring in
chemistry and minoring in kinesiology and plan to pursue a career in education
or pharmacy.
Previously, I
did seasonal work sorting and packaging various tree seedlings. Although I do
not have a background in entomology, I
am enthused at this opportunity to deepen my knowledge and gain experience in a
different realm of science. I grew up on a farm in the hamlet of Elmworth and
look forward to learning more about agriculture in my community through applicable
hands-on practice and research. Outside of school, I played college basketball
for three years, and enjoy other sports and activities including hiking and
beach volleyball. I also enjoy gardening, painting, baking, camping, and
reading.
Figure 12. Jadeyn
enjoying a sunny autumn day at a pumpkin patch outside of Edmonton.
