By Roger White

Researcher keeping eye on weevil migration

Apr 10, 2017 | 12:50 PM

Agriculture Canada researchers are paying close attention to an insect that could wreak havoc with faba and pea bean yields.

The pea leaf weevil has been moving further north in Saskatchewan and there are some fears the pest could reach the North Battleford area soon.

“Historically the pea leaf weevil population has been concentrated in the South West tip of the province near Swift Current,” Agriculture Canada scientist Meghan Vankosky said. “We are hoping to find out if the pea leaf weevil is on the move and breeding and overwintering in the Battleford, Saskatoon and Moose Jaw areas.”

Vankosky and her team are currently looking for farmer co-operators to set up traps on field margins and check them over a six week period.

“We will be using pheromone traps to attract the weevil,” Vankosky added. These traps will allow us to study the weevil and learn more about the species.”

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The pheromone traps are buried into the ground so the top of the trap is level with the ground. The pheromone is that of an adult male pea leaf weevil which is attractive to both male and female and will lure the insect to the trap.

“We have had some interest from a number of farmers in the area who have reached out through Saskatchewan Pulse Growers and I’m encouraged that more will follow suit and allow us to monitor their fields,” she said.

Adult pea leaf weevils feed on the foliage of the plants and leave crescent shaped notches along the leaves. As plants get older they become more resilient to the weevil, but the insect will still attack the leaves reducing the photosynthetic area of the plant and possibly reducing yields.

While Vankosky is concerned about the migration of the pea leaf weevil to this part of the province, she assured farmers there is no cause for alarm at this stage.

“We are just trying to be proactive rather than reactive as it pertains to the pea leaf weevil,” she said.

roger.white@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNow