New Swede Midge Locations

Swede midge larvae inside floret. Source: Julie Soroka, AAFC

A swede midge infestation has been confirmed near Meota, Saskatchewan, well outside the Nipawin-Carrot River epicentre. Higher numbers have also been reported near Hudson Bay, Saskatchewan, indicating an eastward migration as well. But while the insect seems to be spreading in distribution, overall numbers and levels of damage are down this year across the province. Click here for more photos of typical damage.

Manitoba: Pheromone traps have yielded just one verified swede midge so far in 2014, but a new batch of traps have not been screened yet.

Alberta: No swede midge have been reported to date in Alberta traps in 2014.
 
If growers and agronomists across the Prairies see symptoms they think might be swede midge, open up the affected distorted tissues and look for clear, cream or yellow coloured maggots. Use a hand lens or good magnifying glass, if possible. If they find maggots, please save them in alcohol and send them to Julie Soroka with AAFC in Saskatoon. Contact her by email at Julie.Soroka@agr.gc.ca.

If you don’t find any maggots, email clear and focused images of the damage to Soroka. She or her research associate Lars Andreassen will attempt to identify the cause.

See a video of Julie Soroka talking about swede midge on Canola School.

Source: Alberta Canola Producers Commission