Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-m9kch Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-03T01:39:15.752Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Analysis of grasshopper (Orthoptera: Acrididae) population surveys in Saskatchewan: 1972–20041

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 April 2012

O. Olfert ,
D. Giffen  and
S. Hartley
O. Olfert*
Affiliation:
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Saskatoon Research Centre, 107 Science Place, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada S7N 0X2
D. Giffen
Affiliation:
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Saskatoon Research Centre, 107 Science Place, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada S7N 0X2
S. Hartley
Affiliation:
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food, 133–3085 Albert Street, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada S4S 0B1
*
2Corresponding author (e-mail: olferto@agr.gc.ca).
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Grasshopper population forecasting and monitoring methods in western Canada have traditionally been linked to pest control decisions primarily by providing warnings of the likelihood of crop damage. Risk to crops is categorized as very light (1–4 grasshoppers/m2), light (>4–8 grasshoppers/m2), moderate (>8–12 grasshoppers/m2), severe (>12–24 grasshoppers/m2), or very severe (>24 grasshoppers/m2). A summary of grasshopper infestation by risk category indicated that in 29 of 33 years, infestations warranted ratings of severe or very severe, with the majority of these infestations occurring in the 1980s. Infestations involving the two categories severe and very severe encompassed about 84 900 and 85 600 km2 of agricultural land during the two largest infestations in 1985 and 2002, respectively. Keeping grasshopper populations below economic thresholds through preventative measures is the goal of integrated pest management. To determine when control measures are warranted, producers are asked to monitor grasshopper populations and estimate the number of grasshoppers per square metre. Economic thresholds provide guidance in making a decision as to whether control is warranted in different crops. Using economic thresholds as a guide, this study identified the eco-districts most at risk of crop damage within each of four major eco-regions of Saskatchewan. Overall, risk was highest in five eco-districts of the Mixed Grassland Eco-region. These findings provide guidance for the agriculture industry in relation to grasshopper management and for future survey programs in relation to targeting regions of the province most at risk from grasshoppers.

Résumé

Les méthodes de surveillance et de prédiction des populations de criquets dans l'Ouest canadien sont traditionnellement associées aux décisions de lutte contre les ravageurs, principalement parce qu'elles fournissent des avertissements de la probabilité de dommages aux récoltes. Le risque pour les récoltes est réparti en catégories: très léger (1–4 criquets/m2), léger (>4–8 criquets/m2), moyen (>8–12 criquets/m2), grand (>12–24 criquets/m2) et extrême (>24 criquets/m2). L'examen global des infestations de criquets par catégorie de risque montre que, dans 29 de 33 années d'infestations, la cote de risque a atteint le niveau de grand ou d'extrême; la plupart de ces infestations se sont produites dans les années 1980. Les risques d'infestation qualifiés de grands et d'extrêmes s'appliquaient à respectivement 84 900 et 85 600 km2 de terres agricoles durant les deux principales infestations de 1985 et de 2002. La lutte intégrée vise à maintenir les populations de criquets à des densités inférieures aux seuils d'importance économique à l'aide de mesures préventives. Afin de déterminer quand les mesures de lutte sont nécessaires, on demande aux producteurs de surveiller les populations de criquets et d'estimer le nombre de criquets par mètre carré. Ces seuils économiques servent de critères pour décider si les mesures de lutte sont requises pour les différentes cultures. En utilisant les seuils économiques comme critères, notre étude identifie les écodistricts les plus susceptibles de subir des dommages aux récoltes dans chacune des quatre écorégions principales de la Saskatchewan. Globalement, le risque est maximal dans cinq écodistricts de l'écorégion de la prairie mixte. Nos résultats fournissent à l'industrie agricole des indications sur la gestion des criquets et sur les programmes futurs de surveillance dans le but de cibler les régions de la province les plus exposées aux ravages des criquets.

[Traduit par la Rédaction]

Type
Articles
Information
The Canadian Entomologist , Volume 138 , Issue 6 , December 2006 , pp. 875 - 887
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 2006

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

1

Contribution No. 1665 of the Saskatoon Research Centre.

References

Anonymous. 1999. Economic thresholds of insect pests. Farm facts. Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food, Regina.Google Scholar
Edwards, R.L. 1960. Relationship between grasshopper abundance and weather conditions in Saskatchewan, 1930–1958. The Canadian Entomologist, 92: 619–624.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gage, S.H., and Mukerji, M.K. 1977. A perspective of grasshopper population distribution in Saskatchewan and interrelationships with weather. Environmental Entomology, 6: 469–479.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gage, S.H., Mukerji, M.K., and Randell, R.L. 1976. A predictive model for seasonal occurrence of three grasshopper species in Saskatchewan (Orthoptera: Acrididae). The Canadian Entomologist, 108: 245–253.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
INTERA TYDAC Technologies Inc. 1993. SPANS GIS — reference manual. PCI Geomatics Ltd., Richmond Hill, Ontario.Google Scholar
Johnson, D.L. 1988. Spatial and temporal computer analysis of insects and weather: grasshoppers and rainfall in Alberta. Memoirs of the Entomological Society of Canada, 146: 33–48.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Johnson, D.L. 1989. Spatial autocorrelation, spatial modeling, and improvements in grasshopper survey methodology. The Canadian Entomologist, 121: 579–588.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kemp, W.P. 1986. Thermoregulation in three range-land grasshopper species. The Canadian Entomologist, 118: 335–343.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kirkwood, V., Bootsma, A., de Jong, R., Dumanski, J., Hiley, J.C., Huffman, E.C., Moore, A., Onofrei, C., Pettapiece, W.W., and Vigier, B. 1993. Agroecological Resource Area databases for the prairies: user's manual. CLBRR Contribution No. 9317. Technical Bulletin 1993-13E, Research Branch, Agriculture Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.Google Scholar
Lactin, D.J., and Johnson, D.L. 1998. Environmental, physical and behavioural determinants of body temperature in grasshopper nymphs (Orthoptera: Acrididae). The Canadian Entomologist, 130: 551–577.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mukerji, M.K., Gage, S.H., and Randell, R.L. 1977. Influence of embryonic development and heat on population trend of three grasshopper species (Orthoptera: Acrididae) in Saskatchewan. The Canadian Entomologist, 109: 229–236.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Olfert, O. 1986. Insect pests of wheat in western Canada and their control. In Wheat production in Canada — a review. Edited by Slinkard, A.E. and Fowler, D.B.. University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon. pp. 415–430.Google Scholar
Olfert, O. 2000. What is the role of grassland vegetation in grasshopper population dynamics? In Grasshoppers and grassland health. Edited by Lockwood, J.A., Latchininsky, A.V., and Sergeev, M.J.. Kluwer Academic Publishers, New York. pp. 61–70.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Olfert, O., and Slinkard, A. 1999. Grasshopper (Orthoptera: Acrididae) damage to flowers and pods of lentil (Lens culinaris L.). Crop Protection, 18: 527–530.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Olfert, O., Hinks, C.F., Biederbeck, V.O., Slinkard, A.E., and Weiss, R.M. 1995. Annual legume green manures and their acceptability to grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Acrididae). Crop Protection, 14: 349–354.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Olfert, O., Hartley, S., Gavloski, J., and Giffen, D. 2006. The 2006 Saskatchewan and Manitoba grasshopper forecast. 2005 crop variety highlights and insect pest forecasts. Technical Bulletin No. 2006-01, Saskatoon Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Saskatoon. pp. 10–11.Google Scholar
Onsager, J.E., and Olfert, O. 2000. What tools have potential for pest management of Acrididae?: a North American perspective. In Grasshoppers and grassland health. Edited by Lockwood, J.A., Latchininsky, A.V., and Sergeev, M.J.. Kluwer Academic Publishers, New York. pp. 145–156.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Riegert, P.W. 1968. A history of grasshopper abundance surveys and forecasts of outbreaks in Saskatchewan. Memoirs of the Entomological Society of Canada, 52: 1–99.Google Scholar