Wireworms in Nova Scotia

Wireworms in transplants

For those of you who missed Dr. Christine Noronha's presentation on wireworms last week, you can find her presentation here. 

While many areas in Nova Scotia thankfully do not report wireworm problems, there are definitely high populations in some fields.  Last spring, we set traps in a few fields around the province.  Below is a graph from a vegetable field in Colchester County, showing high numbers of Agriotes sputator, one of the more voracious click beetle (adult wireworm) species.  Click beetle flight happens earlier in the warmer parts of the province such as the Valley.

Click beetle catch in Colchester County, 2016.

Perennia has set out some click beetle pheromone traps again this year, and we just collected our first sample.  Below is a photo of our first "haul" from Annapolis County.  On the left is A. obscurus, the middle is A. sputator, and on the right is A. lineatus.  Pheromone traps only attract males, so do not reduce the click beetle/wireworm population, but do give us a good idea of pest levels.  

May 23, 2017 click beetle catch from Annapolis County.

Wireworm updates

Dr. Christine Noronha is an entomologist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in PEI with a particular interest in wireworms.  She will be visiting Nova Scotia this week and will give an overview of wireworms and their lifecycle (similar to last year’s presentation), as well as the most recent updates and highlights from her research into this pest. 

The presentation will take place at the Kentville Research Station (32 Main Street, Kentville) on Friday, May 12^th, 2017 at 9 am in the Perennia Training Room.  I know it’s a busy time of year, but we hope you can join us! 

Quality Assurance: Funding opportunity for Foreign Material Detection

There is currently funding available to help potato producers and packers off-set the costs of purchasing and installing metal detection systems for potato packaging.  Potato growers and packers can apply to the program and receive up to 50% of the total cost of purchasing and installing a metal detection unit, up to $15,000.  Certain conditions apply; the deadline for applications is October 31, 2015.  More details can be found here: http://novascotia.ca/programs/potato-assurance-system/

Early Blight (Alternaria solani) of Potato

Primary damage to potatoes by early blight is attributed to premature defoliation of the potato plants, which results in tuber yield reduction.  Initial infection occurs on older leaves with concentric dark brown spots.  Disease severity is highest when potato plants are injured, under stress or lack proper nutrition.

Please consult the 2014 Potato Crop Weed and Pest Control Guide for information on control options.