Crop insect information

Overview

There are many insects that affect various crops throughout Alberta. Read the following information and resources to learn more about these insects and their:

• history
• life cycle
• crop damage
• monitoring
• control

Prominent crop pests

High risk insect pest species with the potential to cause major crop losses that are actively monitored, surveyed and predicted.

• Bertha Armyworm
• Cabbage Seedpod Weevil
• Cutworm
• Diamondback Moth
• Grasshopper
• Pea Leaf Weevil
• Wheat Midge
• Wheat Stem Sawfly
• Wireworm

Other crop pests

Insect pest species with the potential to cause crop loss in isolated fields or parts of fields and rarely affect wide areas.

• Cabbage Maggot
• Canola Flower Midge
• Cereal Leaf Beetle
• Cereal Aphid
• Lesser Grain Borer
• Lygus Bugs
  • Video: Sweeping Canola for Lygus Bugs
• Swede Midge (Contarinia nasturtii)
  • Video: Building a Swede Midge Trap
• Wheat Leaf Miner (PDF, 98 KB)

Invasive species

For a listing of insect pest species that are a major threat to cause crop and ornamental plant loss, but are not currently found in Alberta, please visit the Alberta Insect Pest Monitoring Network page.

Horticulture pests

Pest species of greenhouse and horticultural field crops.

• Sweet pepper greenhouse pests
• Strawberry insects and mite pests