Flea beetles poised to feast on canola crops: insect specialist
Saskatchewan’s canola growers have reasons to fear flea beetles this year, according to the province’s insect pest specialist
James Tansey said one way to get around flea beetle damage has always been to plant early, but farmers were not afforded that opportunity this year due to the long winter. Added to that has been the recent weeks of hot, dry weather.
“What this means is the potential for young seedlings to be exposed to high flea beetle numbers and high flea beetle activity,” he said.
Tansey said a more mature seedling has much higher resistance to flea beetles then a younger seedling because the younger plants will be beginning development at a time when flea beetles are at their peak numbers for the year. Tansey said insecticidal seed treatments are still very effective, but not against all species.