The Challenge

The role of natural enemies in insect pest regulation is known but is not incorporated in the conventional economic action thresholds used in pest management decisions. Using pest density alone may underestimate natural suppression which can result in the indiscriminate use of insecticides.

The Project

Identify important natural enemies against diamondback moth in the canola cropping systems and quantify their contributions to their management. The dynamic between diamondback moths and parasitoids will also be explored.

The Results

This section will be updated upon completion of the project.

Grower Benefits

The results collected will provide inclusive pest management thresholds and will help conserve natural enemies in the canola agroecosystems of western Canada.

Keywords: Natural enemies, Beneficial, Beneficial insects, Economic threshold, Suppression, Biocontrol, Diamondback moth, Dynamic action threshold