Western Region IPM Special
Grants Program
Title: IPM Cutworm Regional
survey and Forecast
Proposal No. #99-E-2
Annual Report for FY 2000
Principle Investigators:
Dr.
Sue L Blodgett
Department of Entomology
Montana
State University
Bozeman,
MT 59717
(406)
994-2402
gdj@montana.edu
Mr.
William T. Lanier
Department of Entomology
Montana
State University
Bozeman,
MT 59717
(406)
994-5690
wlanier@montana.edu
Dr.
Gregory D. Johnson
Deptment
of Entomology
Montana
State University
Bozeman,
MT 59717
(406)
994-3861
Contributors:
Nebraska
Dr. Gary Hein, University of
Nebraska.
South Dakota
Dr. Louis Hesler, USDA-ARS,
Brookings South Dakota
Dr. Michael A. Catangui,
South Dakota State University
Project Description and
Abstract
Cutworms have caused serious but sporadic damage to small grains the northern Great Plains (Burton et al. 1980, Byers & Stuble 1987). It is difficult to predict in which years larval cutworm populations may occur and monitoring small grain for the larval stage of the two species, army and pale western cutworm, is difficult and time consuming. Outbreaks do not necessarily occur in successive years but are sporadic in nature. An areawide method for monitoring adult populations has been conducted in Montana and has helped in the forecast of damaging cutworm populations. Forecasting the potential for damaging cutworm outbreaks allows producers, consultants and Extension personnel to improve the timing of costly and time consuming monitoring practices for damaging larval stage. Pheromones, identified for both army and pale western cutworms are used to monitor the incidence and relative abundance of both moth species. The proposed project will incorporate key environmental data into a risk model that will deliver improved predictions of army and pale western cutworm activity and risk assessments.
Narrative
Report of Accomplishments:
Objective
1. Establish intensive monitoring sites for adult pale western and army cutworm
moths in Montana, Nebraska, and Wyoming.
Procedures:
A pilot effort to establish cutworm monitoring
across Montana was initiated in 1992, 3 sites, in Gallatin, Hill and Pondera
counties. The pilot effort expanded to
Big Horn, Couteau, Daniels, Fallon/Carter, Fergus, Hill, Liberty, Phillips,
Pondera, Prairie, Richland, Rooosevelt, Teton and Toole by 1998. With funding
from the USDA Western Region IPM program in 1999 the project expanded to a
total of 23 Montana Counties, 4
Nebraska, 5 in South Dakota, and 1 in Wyoming.
The county sites are managed by county agents who
coordinate monitoring of the sites by 4-H students, local science classes,
consultants and local producers.
Each site consists of a Phero Tech Unitrap (Phero Tech Inc.) hung directly from a
12" wire hangar which in turn is hung from one 2" by 2" by 2’
crossbar attached to the top of a post.
Trapped moths are counted and disposed of weekly if
possible, a record of the number of
moths trapped for each date and site is submitted. If possible, the same area
for placing the traps is used from year to year. The same pheromone is placed
in the same trap (i.e. don't place a pale western pheromones in an army cutworm
trap).
Objective 2. Determine the relationship between spring pale western and army cutworm larvae population and previous fall adult pheromone trap catches.
Procedures:
The larval scouting program was initiated in 2000
and will provide data to correlate with fall adult counts.
Objective 3. Develop a simple forecast for pale western and army cutworms that incorporates adult activity (from pheromone monitoring) and critical weather data.
Procedures:
The Cutworm Survey report was developed for web entry
of cutworm moth flight data and was deployed on the web at http://Cutworm.org, in March 1998. Web browser
screens enabled the cooperators to enter trap catch data and graph and print
entries.
The goal is to present a Unfavorable, Neutral,
Favorable cutworm risk warning to producers. This level of Risk warning has
been employed successfully across the Canadian prairies to forecast Bertha
Armyworm and Orange Wheat Blossom midge.
Objective 4. Deliver the pale western and army cutworm risk forecast, regionally.
Procedures:
Delivery of forecast and risk warning are facilitated by the use of geographic
information systems (GIS). GIS systems are used as a tool to model or depict
data points (insect numbers, weather data) and to display the results spatially
in a map format. GIS systems employ different algorithms to average point data,
such as insect population numbers. A visual display, such as a map with contour
lines, enhances the interpretation of the point data. Because of the
variability of insect sampling methods, the dynamic nature of agriculture
systems and the assumptions made when models were developed, it is important
that maps used for risk warnings are accompanied by explanatory notes. It is
important that researchers and extension agrologists not only highlight the
potential risk of a pest species but also make producers aware of the
limitations of the forecast.
Currently the Western Region Cutworm Risk Warning is
delivered via the prototype “Cutworm.org” web site. Pertinent conditions in
three seasons are coordinated to create annual Cutworm risk warnings.
1. For eight weeks in the
fall adult cutworm moths (Pale Western and Army) are trapped using the protocol
described by County Agents, Extension Specialists, producers and Consultants.
Cooperators are encouraged to enter the trap counts each week via the web form
at “Cutworm.org”.
Once
the data is entered it is possible for the user to view the data as a graph.
The graphing options offer graphs of both army and
pale western by state (above), county (year), site (week), site (year), site
(historical).
Or in table format, which displays data from
specific traps.
2. Winter/spring is the second critical activity period incorporated into
development of the Risk warning. Degree day data is accumulated from January 1
and compared to activity thresholds determined by research. A simple rating
method based on accumulated degree days (high, medium, low) is used to indicate
the risk or timing of cutworm (larva) occurring. To increase the accuracy of
the degree-day based warning, precipitation data is collected and included in
the risk warning for each site.
Predictions
based on adult flight catches.
Prediction based on adult flight catches and
temperature and moisture conditions.
To
allow forecasting:
3.
During the third and final year of the Western Region Cutworm Risk warning
project the above warning modules (Fall adult trap counts, accumulated weather,
forecasted weather, larval counts) will be used to form a graphical risk
warning. The graphical risk warning will present the above warning modules in a
format resembling a weather map.
Using the interconnectivity of the Web a cooperative
arrangement is being explored with the Integrated Plant Protection Center at
Oregon State University. Dr. Leonard Coop has developed an extensive IPM Weather
Data and Degree-Day Web site for pest management decision making in the Pacific
Northwest. The cooperation will expand the scope of this site and use it
ability to graph GIS information and interpolate between data points to
represent cutworm infestations.
Results have been published in the MSU-ES-IPM Montana Crop Health Report, two related articles “How to Decide Whether It's Economical to Treat Cutworms and Aphids” and “They're Baaaack . . . Cutworms and Russian Wheat Aphids Like the Mild Dry Winter” were printed in 9 and 13 newspapers respectively (March 29, 2000) and at http://www.montana.edu/wwwpb/ag/ receiving 567 hits.
Delivery of the Results has occurred throughout the project through a variety of MSU-Extension Service meetings and workshops and in-house training sessions.
|
Date/2000 |
Location |
Title/Function |
Attendance |
Time (min) |
|
Jan 4 |
Bozeman |
CPMS – Agent Training |
50 |
90 |
|
Jan 11 |
Bozeman |
CPMS – CCA Training |
50 |
120 |
|
Jan 18 |
Great Falls |
11 County PAT |
380 |
45 |
|
Jan 19 |
Great Falls |
11 County PAT |
275 |
45 |
|
Jan 21 |
Great Falls |
MAGIE 2000 – Sawfly control (w/ P. Hatfield) |
35 |
60 |
|
Jan 26 |
Great Falls |
MABA – Dryland insect pest update |
200 |
40 |
|
Jan 26 |
Great Falls |
MABA - Irrigated insect pest update |
45 |
40 |
|
Jan 28 |
Manhattan |
Manhattan Potato Producers |
18 |
45 |
|
Feb 8 |
Fairfield |
Insects of barley |
35 |
60 |
|
Feb 9 |
Choteau |
Insects of barley and wheat |
35 |
60 |
|
Feb 17 |
Billings |
Alfalfa Seed Growers |
60 |
30 |
|
Feb 25 |
Huntley |
SARC Advisory Committee |
15 |
30 |
|
Mar 8 |
Kalispell |
Alfalfa pest control |
75 |
60 |
|
Mar 22 |
Ft. Benton |
IPM |
60 |
60 |
|
Jun 6 |
Wolf Pt |
Alfalfa field tour |
60 |
45 |
|
Jun 7 |
Valley County |
Alfalfa field tour |
75 |
45 |
|
Jun 27 |
Moore |
SPM Field day – ground beetle research |
75 |
15 |
|
Jul 12 |
SARC |
Field day presentation |
125 |
15 |
|
Jul 25 |
Fairfield |
Barley tour |
100 |
20 |
|
Nov 10 |
Bozeman |
MT Seed Potato Conf |
125 |
30 |
|
Nov 30 |
Great Falls |
MT GrainGrowers & Stockgrowers |
55 |
30 |