Assessing the impact of Contarinia sp. on canola production across the Prairies

The Challenge

In 2016, canola flower midge, Contarinia brassicola, was reported in Saskatchewan for the first time. Implications of this insect pest on canola crops in Canadian Prairies are unknown.

The Project

Determine the source and distribution pattern of canola flower midge to produce distribution maps to evaluate risks, understand the life history and phenology of the midge, and determine their impact on yield.

The Results

Canola flower midge was found to occur in the Peace River region and across central Alberta and Saskatchewan. The project demonstrated that adult midge only lay eggs on or near canola buds and that larvae only develop inside the buds, which can cause significant yield loss if there are high midge densities.

Grower Benefits

Identifying distribution and phenology of the canola flower midge will be used to optimize a monitoring system to predict population density and yield loss of canola fields, leading to improved insect pest management of canola flower midge.