Monitoring the canola flower midge with pheromone-baited traps

The Challenge

There is currently no reliable monitoring and forecasting tools for the canola flower midge in the Prairies.

The Project

Develop a pheromone-monitoring for the canola flowering midge through determining factors effecting pheromone-baited trap capture of male canola flower midge, economic threshold of the insect, abiotic conditions that effect midge emergence and population densities, and the implications of emergence behaviour and oviposition behaviour of the midge.

The Results

Developed a reliable, pheromone-trapping system to monitor Contarinia brassicola (canola midge). Midge damage is more prevalent at the field edges compared to the interior, and larvae can occasionally be found in pods later in the season. Continued monitoring and vigilance will be required to understand its full pest potential.

Grower Benefits

Further developing a pest monitoring tool for the canola flower midge will aid growers and agronomists in maintain plant health with increasing protection and sustainability of canola.