Pod-eating insects — including bertha armyworm, lygus and diamondback moth larvae — are at low levels in general in 2016. The biggest factors regulating insect populations are (1) weather, (2) natural enemies and (3) competing food sources. Each is working in favour of lower insect pest pressure this year…
Diamondback moth
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Diamondback moth larvae and grasshoppers have been reported, but so far nothing of widespread significance. The photo shows what grasshoppers can do to a canola plant, but their damage is usually isolated to small patches. Bertha armyworm adult traps are coming down with very little in the way of hotspots…
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Thresholds are 100-150 larvae per square metre in immature to flowering plants and 200-300 larvae per square metre (20-30 per square foot) in plants with flowers and pods. While these nominal thresholds are based on dense stands of 150-200 plants per square metre, plant population is not a major factor. Fewer plants will have more branching and more pods, so…