Ecosystems are strange and wonderful places, and the ecosystem within canola fields is no exception. It can be easy to overlook the incredible abundance of interactions between different arthropods, including insects and spiders, happening within the canola canopy. Plus, when a farmer or agronomist sees damaged plants, it can be challenging to figure out if… Read More
Category: Beneficial Insects
As a young boy, Dr. Charles Vincent loved heading to the family farm just outside of Montreal, Quebec. His fascination with farming led him to start a degree in agronomy, where he instead fell in love with the study of insects, eventually leading to a 40-year career studying agriculture pests for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada…. Read More
It’s time to close out July with some important reminders, a plan for trying new things, and a prompting to check for ladybugs. On this episode of Wheat Pete’s Word, host Peter Johnson also has to correct his math on soil organic matter goals, but that’s OK, that’s how we learn. Listen on to hear… Read More
A flowering canola crop looks pretty and smells great — to humans and insects alike. Canola has a laundry list of insect pest species, from ones that target stems and leaves, to super destructive pests that destroy pods and ruin seeds. A sweep net is a humble tool, but one that when wielded by a… Read More
While it is well understood that beneficial insects are an important factor in crop pest management, there has been little research into how aware farmers are of the insects that contribute to successful harvests. Beneficial species such as lady beetles, lacewings and ground beetles can help reduce the need to spray and can be hard… Read More
The insect world is a fascinating mix of prey and predator. Wherever there are insects — pest or beneficial — there are dynamic interactions that can greatly impact behaviour and even population dynamics, even if insects are not being eaten or attacked. Understanding the stress of interaction and awareness of their enemies without actually being… Read More
It’s a beetle-eat-worm world out there in the field, and it pays to know which insects are doing the eating of others, says Tyler Wist in this latest episode of the Pests and Predators podcast, brought to you by Field Heroes. Wist, entomologist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada at Saskatoon, says that Ladybird beetles are… Read More
Orange wheat blossom midge — or simply, the wheat midge — devastated spring wheat yields in the ’90s. Since then, wheat breeders have been working hard to build protection into wheat varieties. To help with tips to scout for the pest, why spraying is a limited option, how Field Heroes help, and what’s new in… Read More
Ground beetles are some of the most abundant natural enemies for crop insect pests, but their free services in the field often remain overlooked and under-appreciated, says an entomology professor from the University of Manitoba. “They’re far more abundant than most people realize, but many of our species are really restricted to the ground and… Read More
Earthworms are not just great for fishing bait, but also an indication of soil health. Or is that actually true? The origin of this topic popped into my head as I travelled across the Prairies last week shooting agronomic videos. At a couple stops the farmers referenced earthworm populations as an indication of soil health…. Read More