Cold temperatures may have slowed growth of the canola crop, but that doesn’t mean flea beetles are hibernating. Keep scouting for these early season pests every few days, and remember that days of protection from a seed treatment start ticking away as soon as the seed goes in the ground, says Matt Stanford, agronomy specialist for the Canola Council of Canada.

 “Cool conditions make slow emerging canola plants more vulnerable,” he says. “Even in weather like this, flea beetles are showing up in traps in the Saskatoon area.”

 Be extra vigilant in areas where flea beetle populations were high last fall. Look for flea beetles and evidence of feeding on weeds like wild mustard, stinkweed and shepherd’s purse, Stanford advises. With cooler air temperatures, flea beetles may be inclined to stay closer to the ground where it’s warmer and they can feed off stems, he adds.

If you see shot holes in cotyledons and true leaves made by feeding flea beetles, step up monitoring. Flea beetle activity can increase dramatically, even exceeding the action threshold of 25% damage in a matter of days if conditions become warm and dry, says Stanford.

 Flea beetle forecasting and control – FAQ AARD http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/faq8031?opendocument

The Canola Growers Manual – Flea beetle information and ID http://www.canola-council.org/canola_growers_manual.aspx

MAFRI Flea Beetle Fact Sheet http://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/crops/insects/fad09s00.html

Canola Scouting and Sweep Net Insect ID Card http://www.canola-council.org/canola_resources/product10.aspx

 For more information, contact:

 Matthew Stanford, Southern Alberta and Southwestern Saskatchewan, 403-327-4832 or
Kelly Funke, Communications Officer, 204-982-2111

 For more information in your area, contact:

Derwyn Hammond, Manitoba, 204-729-9011
Jim Bessel, North Central & North Eastern Saskatchewan, 306-373-6771
David Vanthuyne, Eastern Saskatchewan, 306-946-3588
John Mayko, West-Central Alberta, 780-764-2593
Doug Moisey, East-Central Alberta and Northwestern Saskatchewan, 780-645-3624
Erin Brock, Peace Region, 780-568-3326

 This media release is supported regionally by:

Alberta Canola Producers Commission; Saskatchewan Canola Development Commission; Manitoba Canola Growers Association; Canola Council of Canada; Peace River Agriculture Development Fund; B.C. Ministry of Agriculture and Lands.