Canola Watch quiz – Cutworm theme

1. For agricultural crops on the Prairies, how many species of cutworms are generally considered to be of important economic significance?

2. In Western Canada, three of the six most common cutworm crop pest species overwinter as larvae. Two overwinter as eggs. Those that overwinter as eggs often keep feeding longer into the season. Which two species overwinter as eggs?

3. Which of these two species feed mainly underground?

4. We’re close to the end of June. Will feeding end soon?

5. Will heavy rain after a long stretch of dry weather stop cutworms from feeding?

6. Normally we hear of cutworms feeding in patches. Is it possible to have cutworms feeding across a whole field?

7. Spraying in the evening or at night is recommended for cutworms. Will spraying during the day do anything?

8. Which of the following insects can be confused with cutworms?

9. Cutworms will feed on a wide variety of crops, including the most common crops in Western Canada. These include canola, wheat, barley, oats, pulses, soybeans, sunflowers and corn.

10. Predatory insects offer no help when it comes to cutworms.

11. The cutworm threshold for canola says to apply insecticide when stand loss is 25-30%. This is a nominal threshold. What does that mean?

12. What cutworm species is this?


Photo credit: John Gavloski

13. What cutworm species is this?